Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Neighbour shouting in communal corridors about killing someone with a knife (title edited by MNHQ)

126 replies

Itsmeaga1n · 15/09/2018 17:59

So last night it all kicked off in the building I live in .. a neighbour on my corridor was screaming about killing someone with a knife, about killing the police, about buying drugs and them stealing her money ... the police were called (not by me) and arrested her. She shouted that she's bipolar and hadnt taken her medication. Also before the police arrived she used racist language beginning with p followed by a word rhyming with hunt.

I'm shaken, scared to go out of my flat at night (I'm a single parent, my dd is 17 and I definitely don't want her out on her own).

Is there anything I can do to have this person removed ? I feel she should be in sheltered accommodation as she's dangerous. I live in a housing association flat but not sheltered so she's not supervised.

OP posts:
Haggishaggispudding · 15/09/2018 20:24

Why is the question

“How do I get her removed” being conveniently ignored?!

Original poster
Itsmeaga1n · 15/09/2018 20:26

Weed is definitely being bought or sold in her flat and being used as I can smell it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Itsmeaga1n · 15/09/2018 20:29

And yes removed because I don't feel this accommodation is suitable for her and don't want to live in an environment where I don't feel safe and where I'm woken in the early hours by potentially drug induced shouting and singing. That doesn't mean I'm not sympathetic to her mental health problems Sad It does mean i don't feel safe.

OP posts:
FissionChips · 15/09/2018 20:35

Why isn’t the accommodation suitable for her?

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 15/09/2018 20:37

It might not be that the accommodation isn’t suitable for her

But only suitable if she is getting the right support

She is vulnerable this in turn can make others vulnerable around her

HoleyCoMoley · 15/09/2018 20:37

We had as similar situation in privately owned flats, she started running around naked, throwing furniture out the window at people, putting used sani towels through letterbox, we called the police several times, they couldnt do much, in the end we called 999 for an ambulance as she was obviously having a major crisis. This can be very frightening for everyone concerned but perhaps she would be better in supported housing and the police and h.a. Do need to get involved if drugs are used.

Haggishaggispudding · 15/09/2018 20:40

It sounds like the question should be “who do I speak to so this lady gets supported with the right help so this doesn’t happen again”. Not “how do I get rid of this lady whose mental health problems are inconvenient to me.”

Trishtashtosh · 15/09/2018 20:42

There are so really holier than thou people on this thread OP. Don't get involved with this at all and for goodness sake don't go round and offer tea and sympathy.
I would find this highly disturbing and upsetting and yes would look to move as soon as possible.

AutisticHedgehog · 15/09/2018 20:43

haggis - this thread is all about convenience. Or rather inconvenience. It is inconvenient living near someone with MH problems so it’s best to try to paint them as a drug dealer (.which wasn’t case in OP) as then that makes it a great reason to get rid of the inconvenient mentally ill people.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 15/09/2018 20:44

You know services are stretched to breaking point

And people simply are not getting the support they need

And in many cases rather than intervention things come to a head either sectioning or arresting

And other people suffer because of services being so poor not just those who are needing the support

specialsubject · 15/09/2018 20:48

mn comprehension failure as usual. the neighbour may not be a dealer but some will be along soon if they have not already moved in.

Haggishaggispudding · 15/09/2018 20:48

There are so really holier than thou people on this thread OP. Don't get involved with this at all and for goodness sake don't go round and offer tea and sympathy.

I wouldn’t advocate this at all actually. I would speak to the HA and see what can actually be done to help this lady. Not try to have her thrown out of her home Hmm

anotherNCmn · 15/09/2018 20:56

You don't get her removed. When well she'll be perfectly normal to live next to.

She isn't well currently. Unfortunately some people with MH do have dual diagnosis and self medicate with drugs which can exacerbate their conditions.

But if you're having noise and drugs problems - you just report those to the local authoritity the same way you would anyone else.

What you don't do is decide that bipolar = crazy violent killer. (Because it very much doesn't and far more people without a diagnosis commit crime than those with)

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 15/09/2018 20:58

Ok pause for a second - do we know for sure the person shouting IS actually bi-polar, off her meds, needs support, is having mental health issues?

I'm just raising this point as through previous work I've been involved in, I have met drug addicts/criminals/both who used to claim various conditions etc to avoid arrest/gain sympathy/gain access to hospital in the hope of stealing/seek to manipulate friends, family or support services to be able to continue their drug habits.

I'm just saying if she's shouting about stabbing someone, she could just as easily be high as she could be bi-polar or anything else, all we know is what OP heard her claim. So all this debate about her situation and needs could be based on a lie. Lots of people on drugs lie, a lot.

Original poster
Itsmeaga1n · 15/09/2018 21:08

Ok I'm not going to justify myself any longer. I'm sure drugs are involved as I've heard what they say and smelt weed. I feel if she's talking about killing people and possesses a knife she should be in housing where they keep an eye on her and not where others are potentially endangered. I dont think I should be scared in my flat. The reason i believe she's bipolar is because she was screaming that at the police last night. I dont know for sure.

OP posts:
bookbuddy · 15/09/2018 21:13

I completely understand as one of our neighbors had a complex mental health condition. During one of his episodes he went through our block stabbing the doors with knives and a hammer it was terrifying. He was always unpredictable though and I was very relieved when we moved. Living in close proximity to some one that can be unpredictably violent is awful. He injured himself countless times and was hospitalised or arrested numerous times over the few years I lived there. He could not manage his condition and should of been rehomed for his and the residents safety. I heard that he died recently by misadventures with illegal drugs, it’s very sad. I feel he was let down by the system very badly and by default us too.

Halfahunnerstillastunner · 15/09/2018 21:22

I'm on your side OP, I don't mean you have to justify anything at all. I'm just saying we don't truly know her condition or situation so the posters saying you need to be nice and support her cos she has MH issues, really don't know that for truth. She could be bi-polar or she could be a drug user who doesn't want to be removed by the police. (Or both possibly but we don't know).

You need to keep yourself and your daughter safe so if that means complaining, complain away.

AutisticHedgehog · 15/09/2018 21:27

OP I think it the facts about your neighbour are now utterly irrelevant. None of us know.

But the stigma towards people who have MH issues has been highlighted very clearly on this thread.

So sad, but so unsurprising.

For every £1 the government spends on cancer research - the public donates £2.75.

For every £1 the government spends on MH services, the public donates 0.33p

That’s statistic, and the sentiment it reflects, is clearly seen on this thread.

So so sad. We will have to look to next generation to try to overcome the stigma as clearly this generation is lost.

Believeitornot · 15/09/2018 21:27

This isn’t about inconvenience Hmm

It is scary living near people with severe mental health issue who aren’t being supported. No doubt due to the government cuts. It’s scary because you might be at risk! Be sympathetic all you like but I’d like to see how people would react if it was them.

I would want to leave or for them to be supported properly.

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 15/09/2018 21:27

She could certainly be both or suffering drug induced psychosis the police being there often isn’t what any of isn’t would want in our doorstep

Of course you should feel safe you are not in a position to not take what she is vocalising seriously

stripeszebra · 15/09/2018 21:29

Scary neighbours here. Loud & violent.
None of it directed at me. Police arrive and deal with situations. Always have DD in same room as me when it going on.
Do you know your other neighbours? To talk to them about this? Or go round when it starts?

EnthusiasmIsDisturbed · 15/09/2018 21:32

Of course there should be better understanding of mh issues this thread isn’t about that

But when someone is making threats it’s not for non professionals or those that do not know their background to try and intervene and calm them down or just brush it off as someone ranting because they haven’t taken their medication unfortunately for many people not taking their medication can cause them to become aggressive and/or self harm

AutisticHedgehog · 15/09/2018 21:37

But on the opening post the OP, without knowing any of the circumstances, asked how she could get this person removed.

Should that be the default position - someone says something threatening and they should be removed from their home, irrespective of whether the are psychopathic, drunk, high or mentally ill.

A one size fits all policy should be applied?

feedmecoffee · 15/09/2018 21:39

I have complex PTSD and other MH and don't think OP is unreasonable or rude... what about other people in the building with mental health. My Mh comes from severe domestic abuse and that woman shouting and carrying a knife would've more than likely sent me right into a serious panic attack... shouting, anger, drugs and violence are huge triggers for me. The woman clearly shouldn't be living without care or support and the drug use will be making her condition worse. OP is right, She needs to be in supported accommodation or a hospital. Just saying that everyone is jumping in to support the woman in question for her mh but she could be affecting others with mh by her scary actions. She doesn't sound like a safe person I hope they move her somewhere where she can get the right professional help and not be such a threat/Risk to others xx

FissionChips · 15/09/2018 21:41

But when someone is making threats it’s not for non professionals or those that do not know their background to try and intervene and calm them down or just brush it off as someone ranting because they haven’t taken their medication unfortunately for many people not taking their medication can cause them to become aggressive and/or self harm

She was arrested, the police would’ve had her speak to a MH nurse to assess whether she posed a danger. The op has no reason to believe that she’s going to get hurt.