About neighbours and their dramas

[Zarachristmas]

I don't normally post stuff like this, where I live and work I meet people from all walks of life, live and let live and all that.

I've got some neighbours and they always seem to have some drama going on. Several things throughout last year and loads over Christmas and again last night.

They live over the road and I'm not even sure exactly who lives in the house but it's definitely a man a woman and some kids, maybe some other adults.

Last night 10pm there were cars speeding up and down the street, a woman jumped in front of a car and the driver drove at her at speed then she jumped out of the way. Loads of people shouting and banging at the door of this house then a man carrying another really drunk man into the house crying and shouting. Loads of little kids running about outside with all that going on.

On a previous night the woman, another woman and loads of little kids were all outside smashing the windows of the mans van, all shouting and kicking and smashing up the van with bricks.

Another night the woman was kicking the door of the house down again with the kids, the man was driving up and down past and they were all chasing him up the street, the women called the police complaining he'd locked them out and eventually they all went off in another woman's car at about midnight. For ages then the door was hanging off and we saw the man moving out with some of the children, but then they all came back.

That's just a snippet of the latest but pretty much there's always shouting and arguing, cars whizzing around, things being smashed up, always late at night and always including several small children.

My question is would you do anything? If so what would you do?

On one level they are annoying me because they are keeping my son awake at night with the noise, but I think they're awful really having all those kids up night after night seeing all that going on.

The first few times I just thought they're having some domestic problems but it's becoming a twice weekly thing.

[Magzmarsh]

Some people live very chaotic lives to the point that's their normal reality.

[pipsqueak25]

i'd be speaking to the police if damage is being done, people are being threatened or hurt, anti social behaviour etc and speak to the council to boot, sounds horrendous tbh.

[CrossfireHurricane]

That sounds horrific to live near.
Have you got a local psco you can speak to?

[pipsqueak25]

magz yes that's true but that is not an excuse for them to inflict their chaos on everyone else though.

[Snowflakes1122]

The two options I can think of are complain or move.
Although they don't sound the sort you can have a friendly chat about the noise.

Sounds awful for you.

[Zarachristmas]

Oh I know, I get they've got their problems.

I'm thinking should I report them to their landlord for the noise, should I report them to social services because of the kids, or should I just ignore it and mind my own business.

[BIgBagofJelly]

I would call the police for such serious incidents (people driving into other people at speed, smashing up vans). I'd be inclined to also contact social services and describe what you've seen factually and they can then decide whether or not to pursue the matter further.

[ElleMcElle]

I'd move out of Albert Square pronto.

helpful face

[Magzmarsh]

I understand that pip. I just meant because that's their normal it's very difficult to reason with them.

[Snowflakes1122]

Police is probably better than going to landlord, because they'll keep it anonymous.
Landlord doesn't have to keep your name out of it, and you don't want your windows next to be smashed.

[pipsqueak25]

yes def get on the phone and complain, personally i wouldn't confront them in person.

[5000candlesinthewind]

I'd move. Very selfish but I'd be tempted not to make any sort of complaint otherwise you'd have to declare it to potential buyers

[pipsqueak25]

mag i totally agree with you, it is difficult isn't it ? the kids grow up seeing this and think it's the norm then it carries on to the next generation again,

[Magzmarsh]

Yes it's a horrible cycle and folk like the op are caught in the crossfire. Just hellish for all concerned

[Zarachristmas]

I would call the police but the police have been out to them a few times. The night that the women were kicking the door down I heard them telling the police how none of the mans cars were insured or mot'd but nothing happened. He's still driving the cars.

Moving is on the cards anyway but in the meantime I'm here opposite them.

Wish they'd just stfu, what is making me angry is knowing their children have got school the next day and their out until 11pm involved in all that.

[MiddleClassProblem]

I would call the police if they're having another late night debacle particularly if someone might get seriously hurt. If an incident occurred such as the nearly running the lady over I would try and film it. Sounds totally toxic.

[pipsqueak25]

keep calling the police , council and social services, this could end very badly for someone.

[Aki23]

what pipsqueak said, but otherwise dont get involved. I would be worried they would turn on me

[SaskiaRembrandtWasFramed]

If the police have been involved I would guess social services know about them, but it would be an idea to contact them because you might have extra info they aren't aware of. It sounds awful, those poor children.

[sparechange]

I would call the police for each and every incident, because that's the best chance of the family receiving the multi-agency help they so clearly need

[JoffreyBaratheon]

Yes, there's trouble in paradise with our dodgy neighbours too. They've been arguing for hours on end daily, for the past month (only letting up on a few days round Xmas because they had visitors).

Last night, my teenager - who has better hearing than me - said he heard the word "affair" and "What's he got that I haven't?" etc, etc. Like an episode of Eastenders. Little kids in the house all along, and at one point my son said he heard them screaming at one of the kids to get out of the room. He said they were also squaring up to eachother and lots of "I'm not afraid of you!" and "Get out of my face!"

TBH they are never apart (unemployed and one never leaves the house without the other as only lone of them drives and it's remote, here) so I suspect she's being Catfished on FB or something.

We have given up on it. Police do nothing. NSPCC and SS brief involvement then left them to it. RSPCA called when they thoughtfully kicked their dog in the stomach, in the drive in broad daylight (They did nothing because we didn't film it). It goes on and on. I said to my husband - who also heard more than me, a couple of nights back, why didnt he ring the coppers and he said, well we've got the SS, police, council, everyone involved and no-one ever does a thing. Might be better to let one of them kill the other (she is as violent and scary as he is) and then someone will take notice and get those kids to safety.

I may be a cynic but 3 years of this shit daily makes me think - sod it. Nobody cares.

[MagicChicken]

I would have called the police the first time it happened and every other time since. I would also be informing SS and saying that I was concerned for the welfare of the children.

I would be filming everything I could and giving it to the police and to SS. I would also be trying to find out who the landlord is and lodge a complaint with them. They are being antisocial, causing a breach of the peace, breaking the law by driving without tax and insurance, they risk running over a pedestrian and are setting awful examples to their poor children and sooner or later someone is going to get badly hurt or killed.

I would not stop complaining to anyone who might listen until either things improved, the children were removed from them or the whole family moved on to inflict their chaos and dysfunction onto someone else.

[Chrissiecat]

I am glad you are planning to move Zarachristmas.

I feel sorry for the children involved, what a life for them.

Not great for all you neighbours.

[JoffreyBaratheon]

ETA: You're risking being done for harassment if you keep on at the council, SS, the police - without hard evidence (ie: film everything you see).

I have been logging this on and off, but am getting to the point I feel it's all pointless.

[Trainspotting1984]

My advice would be not the council if you want to move. It will be recorded and you're supposed to declare it when you sell. If you don't declare it may well just come up.

If you're renting- move! It sounds awful