To think police sirens regularly blaring at 11.30

[jammydoger]

Are a monumental PITA and surely not necessary on a residential street late at night.

Wait till you need police help urgently then.

How regularly?

They generally don't use sirens on small residential streets late at night.

They wouldn't use sirens unless necessary. I would think myself lucky that the police response is effective. I would love to hear more police sirens around where I live.

Amber as far as I know police cars can still answer an urgent calls without waking everyone in a mile radius.

Counted 4 times so far this week.

you must live close to me :)

i live close to a busyish junction and there is a police station and ambulance station at the top of the hill so they put the sirens on to warn other drivers i hear them all night but does not bother me

Have to say I live in London maybe the're more siren happy down here.

i am in london too

nice part just the police and amulance service are kept busy

Doesn't bother me too much but scares DD who then struggles to get back to sleep. No police or fire station here. They must use our road as a cut through.

They're used on residential streets, which are often busy, to warn people of their presence so I was told by a PO many years ago.

IME the sirens only go on when they have to use them. They are hardly doing it just for the fun of it.

Of course they can answer urgent calls without using sirens but what if the particular urgent call requires sirens to frighten/put off/intimidate/warn the burglar/rapist/murderer/stalker/anti social fighter in the street.

I cannot understand the need for criticism of the force that are generally there for our protection.

I live in London too and they don't use their sirens in small residential streets

Occasionally you'll here the odd 'whoop' but that's only if they can't find the actual door number and they want the people to make themselves known.

Thyme It wasn't a criticism of the force but of the noise! Yes they do a great job, I get that. But really?
I can't see how a siren would scare off I thought there were environmental laws about late night noise and this falls into that category. If your LO was woken up night after night you'd also find it tiresome.

"But really?"

Well, yes.

Honestly, why do you think they are using the sirens, if not because they need to?

I've had 3 kids and they just all got used to it...same as now I don't hear it unless it's in my actual street.

If you think the emergency services are using them unnecessarily and regularly, you can complain...because they automatically log each time the blues and two are used.

If you live in a fairly busy residential area or near a busy junction, they're perfectly within their rights to use them.

As I'm reading this I can hear sirens outside! I probably wouldn't have even noticed (as it's a regular occurrence) had I not been reading this thread.

I live in a big city, dodgyish neighbourhood.

I live in London too and hear them often.

Its never disturbed my children either!

I'm quite sure they don't use them unless they need too.

It's known as the Borough's anthem here

Lots of sirens near me because i live opposite a hospital!! Also near several main roads & on an estate with blind bends; so if police / ambulance need to come onto the estate then sirens are essential.
Sirens are reassuring in a way because i know that help is out there if needed.
The Police helicopter is up over my estate or the park, or somewhere nearby at least once a day; i find it gets on my nerves but again; it's good to know that it's available if needed.

Have them all day and all night. Very large London hospital 1/4 mile from us, Main SW London Road at the end of mine. I notice them and I don't notice them. There's a job lot of them in the near distance right now though! I reckon on an average day I hear an ambulance at least 50 times, plod - sometimes more.

Police/Ambulance/Fire Engine do not normally use sirens unless its an emergency situation obviously?!! Its not like when you are dying or your house is on fire you say please hurry but be quiet in the residential areas.

Dont get why you would moan about that.

Oh yes, the helicopter a good couple or 3 times a week. Wandsworth nick's a mile or so t'other end of Common from me.

I lived for a long time in a flat overlooking that junction between Shepherds Bush and Earls Court. My dd's bedroom overlooked 12 lanes of traffic. Sirens went past at least 4 times an hour. You get used to it [hardened urbanite emoticon].

Oh yes, helicopters too!

Where I live now all I hear is the creak of the Cath Kidston oilcloths flapping against Farrow & Ball shaker units...