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Original poster

A worried rant - someone keeps making false accusations against me

98 replies

LittleFlame · 08/04/2021 16:28

Just that really - not entirely sure what to do, but need to vent somewhere. Have NC as previous posts have mentioned the area I live or personal details.

We moved into our home three years ago. The first year went perfectly. In February last year, we got a letter from the council saying someone had made a noise complaint. We're not especially noisy and only share a wall with one neighbour, who is lovely and would have spoken to me directly. On further digging it related to a one off, loud late night party and screaming arguments in our garden. As it happened, whoever had called it in mentioned a specific date. We were at a wedding 200 miles away.

In April we had another letter saying we were putting building waste in our recycling. We weren't. Waste inspector from the council came round and again no problem.

In July, someone called the family services team at the council and said DH was mistreating our 1 year old DD - again, named two times where he was screaming and swearing at her in the garden, she was dirty and crying. I had a call from them while I was at work. They didn't mention specific dates but "last week" - we were on holiday. We chatted for a bit, I offered for them to come and see DD if they wanted but they said it wasn't necessary and closed the file.

In October we were woken up at 7am by an ambulance. Someone had called to say our child was in urgent need of medical treatment (unspecified). She was perfectly well and fast asleep. We woke her up, paramedics looked her over, were happy that she was well and OK and left. They said they knew the call hadn't come from us and the age of the child didn't match DD's age.

Three hours later, the police turn up. They've been called because someone said we turned away an ambulance and our child was sick. They saw her, were happy, and left. They did say they might have to refer onto social services but it has been 6 months and nothing further has happened, so I assume they didn't.

Last week someone called the fire brigade while DH had lit our firepit in the back garden so we could sit outside while it was chilly.

I really, really don't know what to do. We have an inkling of who it might be but no actual evidence to do anything legally - at this point if we sent a harassment warning, they could counter with the fact we have no actual evidence. I don't think the police could or would do anything. It feels like we're being targeted in our own home and it's escalating, sending emergency services to our house over and over seems mad. I'm dreading every day at the moment in case yet another thing kicks off and I don't know how we stop it.

OP posts:

Bluntness100 · 08/04/2021 16:33

Well it’s clearly a neighbour due to the fire pit. I think you need to contact the police now and get it investigated, not least becayse it’s a crime to misuse emergency services.

Who do you think it is?

TapeMeasureBlues · 08/04/2021 16:35

Gosh this is really worrying. Someone is doing this specifically to harrass you, there's no chance this is a series of misunderstandings or anything like that.
I would definitely seek advice from the police.
In the US there have been people who get SWAT teams sent out to people's homes because they don't like what they've written on Twitter or something.

Please keep a record of all of it with times and dates - tbh I'd be proactive about this, trying to get evidence of who it is and making sure the police are informed.
Sending emergency services is surely a crime? The police would need/be able to investigate that at least?

amusedbush · 08/04/2021 16:37

Misusing emergency services like that is disgusting. I agree that it’s time to take this to the police, though I’m not sure what they could do without a name.

Timeforabiscuit · 08/04/2021 16:39

Definitely log with the police, especially as they are using valuable public resource (fire brigade, ambulance, children's services). It won't be the first time this malicious caller would have pulled a stunt like this and it is an offence.

They can back track the calls and investigate.

If you have a council antisocial behaviour team, it may also be worth logging with them too.

Keep a log of absolutely everything so far, and continue to keep it updated, you might find they go quiet only for it to start up again.

A massive hug and hand hold as its infuriating and baffling in equal measure.

rubydoobydoo · 08/04/2021 16:41

There would be evidence if you reported it - the police would be able to check who called them and also who phoned for the ambulance and fire, it's wasting the time of the emergency services too. The calls they made would be recorded also.

Aquamarine1029 · 08/04/2021 16:41

You really need to go to the police. This is bordering on stalking, never mind harassment, and whoever this is involving the ambulance, fire brigade, police, and ss by making false statements. This is serious and needs to be treated as such.

Original poster

LittleFlame · 08/04/2021 16:41

That was my thought, but I also thought that perhaps the emergency services (particularly the fire, when it obviously wasn’t a 999 call) would have followed it up if it was a hoax. The problem is the reasonable person element, isn’t it? “I thought” the child was in danger; “I thought” I saw a fire.

We think it’s a neighbour three doors down. Slightly uphill, can see into our garden, won’t speak to us unless it’s to moan we’ve parked outside her house or some such nonsense. She was fairly chatty for the first few months but now almost pointedly ignores us. Last time we spoke she asked lots of intrusive questions about DD’s health and we haven’t spoken since.

OP posts:

TapeMeasureBlues · 08/04/2021 16:51

The police should be able to see the big picture - including the two reports when you weren't even there.
Calling an ambulance by "mistake" is a total overreaction when you can't see the child - and surely the paramedics can confirm the child was asleep, which is unlikely to have been a swift transition from screaming or whatever indication they supposedly had that DC was seriously ill!

problembottom · 08/04/2021 16:53

Gosh she sounds completely unhinged, if it is her. How upsetting. I would be logging this with the police. Even if they can't prove anything now it will be useful as this potentially escalates.

Bluntness100 · 08/04/2021 16:55

You need to report. Call the non emergency number, the amount of calls takes it past reasonable concern. Even if you’re good putting up with this it’s not right to let the emergency services be misused. If you let it continue you are also culpable.

Iwantacookie · 08/04/2021 16:57

Definitely inform the police. They will take swift action against people misusing 999

StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 08/04/2021 16:57

They might not be aware that the other services have been called out. So I would contact the police.

GoWalkabout · 08/04/2021 17:00

She is probably mentally unwell. Interesting it's often when you are away. I would certainly write to the council, police and ambulance service to say that you are aware of a number of these untrue reports and that you are unable to stop it happening because you don't know for sure who is calling them, but would welcome their advice or investigation.

ComDummings · 08/04/2021 17:01

Definitely report this, it is harassment

smellysmoke · 08/04/2021 17:05

def call the police, there have been so many incidents now, this is harassment and waste of emergency services time, the police should take it seriously. And yes your neighbour is unhinged.

saraclara · 08/04/2021 17:05

@Bluntness100

That. Apart from maybe the last sentence.

The fact that she's calling emergency services makes it a very clear and reasonable report. It's very possible that the police can liaise with the ambulance and fire services to find the number that the call was from. And they are certainly more likely to take it seriously than other forms of false accusations, as there will be clear records and reports to prove what you're saying.

CuriousaboutSamphire · 08/04/2021 17:07

You know when posters here say "Log it with 101" this is the perfect example of when you really should.

Once or twice is a misunderstanding. But all emergency services, over a period of time? That is a pattern of harrassment.

Call them with times and dates of the visits made and ask for their help!

TimmyOnTheBrain · 08/04/2021 17:12

Don't assume it's the nasty neighbour, it could just as likely be the 'lovely' one. People are weird. But yes, I would report this to the police. Whoever it is is misusing scarce emergency resources.

readingismycardio · 08/04/2021 17:13

This is crazy and it must be so upsetting for you! Definitely report, the police should be able to put two and two together and get her a lovely fine to stop misusing important services and harass you!!

FenceSplinters · 08/04/2021 17:14

You could speak to the neighbour directly. Come from the angle of ‘someone has been making these calls, and wasting the time of the emergency services, do you have any idea who might do it?’

amylou8 · 08/04/2021 17:14

I think you need to involve the Police to cover yourself incase this escalates. Without some sort of evidence of who's responsible they won't be able to take it any further, but it needs to be logged. Write a log of what has happened and ask that it be attached to the crime complaint. Also if you haven't already enable location history on your phone (Google timeline or similar), so that you can easily look back and see where you were at any given time if anything else is alleged.

SheldonesqueIsAlmostHuman · 08/04/2021 17:14

I’m sorry because this is hell on Earth.

At least I knew the person accusing me and he didn’t know my address and the evil doings didn’t follow me home.

I wish that I’d gone to the police instead of trusting my employer to contact them/deal with my colleague.

This won’t go away my love. It is time to sort it out.

Sanchez79 · 08/04/2021 17:16

It might be worth calling the Suzy Lamplugh helpline for advice. This definitely falls within their 'FOUR' definition of stalking:
Fixated
Obsessive
Unwanted
Repeated

Bluntness100 · 08/04/2021 17:16

The other thing op you need to recognise is whomever is doing it will be mentally unwell and in need of help. As galling as it is, for their sake as well you need to call it in. If they are in need of help this would enable them to get it.

LonginesPrime · 08/04/2021 17:17

We have an inkling of who it might be but no actual evidence to do anything legally

Yes but surely the police can trace the nuisance 999 calls?

Three hours later, the police turn up. They've been called because someone said we turned away an ambulance and our child was sick

I don't understand why the police didn't ask who this person was and I don't understand how the ambulance dispatcher didn't get the details.

And why would the police come round if they were attending because they thought a baby was sick? Surely they'd call an ambulance if they believed the caller? It all sounds very odd.

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