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Would this bother you....and would there be any point reporting to police?

48 replies

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 22/05/2020 23:00

We live in an area that is not at all well off but very safe and quiet - pensioners, young families, some forces families - very relaxed and friendly.

Since lockdown started, I have noticed a woman around. She quite clearly has mental health issues (which I sympathise with) but her behaviour is making my hackles rise and I wonder what others would feel?

She walks in the local park, always very fast, with a big dog off the lead and muttering obscenities constantly under her breath, sometimes shouting at them. About a fortnight ago, she walked past us in the park and started going on about my children ("yeah yeah, fucking kids, I can fucking see you, keep the fuck out of my dog's way"). We were not remotely in her way, for context.

We have seen her on our daily walks a couple of times now and she has been chuntering at other people similarly.

Today, we were coming back from our walk, and as we turned onto our street, she came barrelling down the steps of the end house. We didn't have time to get out of her way. She jogged up behind us and called "I am behind you!" - well yeah - and before we had had time to do more than register her, she barged past us to her car which was parked at the kerb. She then started shouting "keep them in tighter, that's what reins are for" (our toddlers are always on reins out and about).

I know it doesn't sound like much but her tone and body language are really aggressive.

I am thinking of noting her number plate next time I see her and if she says anything that could be seen as threatening to the dc, giving 101 a ring.

I know that probably sounds bats, but she has a real nasty vibe.

OP posts:
Spidey66 · 23/05/2020 10:15

Like Molly333, I work in community mental health. We regularly get alerts from the police about people with clear mental health issues who are causing anti social behaviour. I would report it, not to get her onto trouble but to see if she needs support.

It maybe she's already known to services, and if so can make them aware of a change in her presentation.

The police are normally sympathetic to people with clear mental health issues and have good relationships with local mental health services.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 23/05/2020 15:09

Hi, thanks for this. I will keep an eye out and report if I see her behaving aggressively again.

OP posts:
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 05/07/2020 23:16

Hi, am updating this as there has been another incident.

My mum was over today and mentioned that she had been out in the street in front of the house with my twins and her dog (waiting for DH and DD1 to join her) one day last week. Apparently as she waited, the woman approached her, then veered off into the road screeching abuse along the lines of "Fuck you, I expect you think you think I'm going to fucking move for you and your fucking dog and kids, can't you fucking control them" etc

DH and my mum seem to take the whole thing as a joke ("what finishing school did she go to" sort of response) but I feel like anyone who is happy to scream obscenities at toddlers and ladies in their 70s is not stable, and I don't want my children subjected to this.

We have agreed I will only ring if anything else happens but I feel uneasy.

OP posts:
JoeCalFuckingZaghe · 05/07/2020 23:20

Do any of your neighbours have issue with her? Has she done this to anyone else or does she just have an issue with you?

namechange30000 · 05/07/2020 23:20

Trip her up next time she walks past you.

PerditaProvokesEnmity · 05/07/2020 23:33

I would be strongly inclined to go and knock on the door of the house you saw her visiting. (Only while you're sure she's not there.) Say why you're concerned - and maybe try to find out if this woman is a welcome guest there or not. If she does have fairly serious, unsupported mental health problems, they (relatives / friends?) might be struggling to help her.

(I am assuming you have genuine concerns and she's not just walking whilst undesirable ...)

roastytoastie · 05/07/2020 23:37

I would not be happy if someone talked like that in front of my dc!

Maybe reporting her will get her some help that she may need?

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 06/07/2020 00:07

Perdita I don't really know the people there well enough for that. I know them by sight and would probably say hi if I saw them in their garden but that's it. Not really sure what you mean about being "undesirable". She has screamed swear words at my toddlers and mum for standing in the street outside my house. Obviously, I am concerned that she is behaving with high levels of verbal aggression to a pair of 2yos.

Joe my immediate neighbour is very elderly and only goes for a short walk every day - she hadn't noticed the woman when I asked, but then she is unlikely to encounter her - and my other NDNs have only just moved in. However I have seen her swearing at other people in the park.

OP posts:
PerditaProvokesEnmity · 06/07/2020 00:52

I don't think you'd need to know them - but can understand it's not a conversation you might want to have.

Just, imagining scenarios - if she's a close relative of theirs, they might need help and would be in a better position than you to seek it for her.

user187428496 · 06/07/2020 00:59

Standing blocking the pavement so she couldn't observe social distancing if she wanted to pass? That's pretty anti-social, isn't it?

PhilCornwall1 · 06/07/2020 05:49

Bollocks to her, I'd be giving her back some of what she's dishing out, we'll probably worse.

People who do this type of thing and think they can get away with it because others might be intimidated, really piss me off.

PhilCornwall1 · 06/07/2020 05:50

Standing blocking the pavement so she couldn't observe social distancing if she wanted to pass? That's pretty anti-social, isn't it?

Didn't take long for the social distancing excuse to pop up did it.

LeatherFlanny · 06/07/2020 06:04

Definitely call 101, or report online if you can. You'll need her reg though otherwise there's not much they can do if they can't trace her.
It's not wasting police time. I'm sure the police would rather spend time on redirecting the details to the local mental health team/adult social services than dealing with any crime she potentially could commit.

snitzelvoncrumb · 06/07/2020 06:32

I think you need to make a police report, if the situation escalates it might help to have already reported her.

newphoneswhodis · 06/07/2020 06:39

She hasn't done anything warranting police. I'm sorry but swearing is not a criminal offence. The police have much better things to be worrying about. Just stay out of her way.

Dogsaresomucheasier · 06/07/2020 06:43

Give 101 a call. You’ve mentioned at least 3 instances of threatening behaviour and have her reg so she can be traced.

Gin4thewin · 06/07/2020 06:44

Maybe call 101 more as a concern for welfare, she is 'technically' committing public order (theres many levels of this) although she wouldnt get arrested etc. In my force area, the neighbourhood team would usually go round and see her, more to offer support than anything and for a chat.

snitzelvoncrumb · 06/07/2020 06:54

I would report it so there is something on file. If she ends up getting assaulted for threatening someone's child it could help the parent having it on file that she does go around threatening people.

HollysBush · 06/07/2020 07:03

We used to have a neighbor who would shout threats and obscenities at my husband for no reason whatsoever. It used to really unnerve us. Then we heard him having a go at another neighbor. We reported him to the police who went round and had a chat with him.

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 06/07/2020 09:35

Thanks all. I don't want her arrested, I just want to be sure I can walk down my street without my 5yo and 2yos getting a mouthful!

OP posts:
doingitforthefrill · 06/07/2020 11:45

I would report it to the non emergency number OP, least that way it can be logged or they may already know of this lady and come out. It can’t be nice for any of you being made to feel uneasy like that.

MorningJuly · 06/07/2020 11:56

This is someone with mental health issues who is driving. Who could harm someone with her car, even if only taking out some ill-feeling on the next person (not stop at a crossing, for example).

Please report it via 101.

Janaih · 06/07/2020 12:02

Agree with pp my biggest worry is her driving if she is not behaving rationally. Definitely a log it with 101 situation.

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