to think that 101 is for reporting police matters, which do NOT include

[Fideliney]

teenagers innocently entering parks, people removing their clothes in their own bedrooms or legally parked cars on public roads?

Window on car broken, would you call them? Probably not but they do actually want to know about that, for their statistics. Whilst it may be accidental, may be damage from loose road surface, it may be someone deliberately shooting windows with an air gun. It may link to another incident elsewhere in the area.

Abandoned vehicle - that's council, not police. Though how many people know that. Police I expect can let the caller know to whom they should report such things.

Twitter is useful these days, many community police inspectors have twitter accounts, where locals can ask them questions and they can then respond by saying what to do, which may be let 101 know.

Fideliney we have only got 101 recently, but if my (and all my friends and relatives) experiences with trying to report genuine, but non emergency, matters are anything to go by, it probably puts you through to a recorded message telling you that unless you can name the perpetrators, apprehend them (without touching them, because that's assault) and prepare a file for prosecution, then they're not interested. On the plus side, recorded crime is going down year on year, which is fantastic news

I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than ring 101...

Ha! Was worried about your imagination there Wandering.

I think Crystal should be made official MN 101 monitor.

For context on the naked man - it was glasgow tenement flats with huge bay windows and neither the OP nor the neighbour had curtains or blinds drawn at 11.30pm at night. Why not just close the curtains?

Thread is here www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/a2117977-WIBU-to-call-101-on-my-nasty-naked-neighbour

KarlWrenbury Perfectly reasonable in your case.

This isn't what the op is talking about.

Treacle that must be a horrible feeling. I'm not mad about the police response to (for e.g.) burglary here, but at least they don't expect you to be able to name suspects.

To be fair, there are always plenty of people saying 'don't do it' too.

In the naked man thread, it was the OP who wanted to call 101 and loads of people told her not to.

Am I the only person thinking of 'ugly naked guy' from Friends?

I think the ' why not close the curtains" is victim blaming
if someone is done for Section 5 public order for shouting racist abuse in the street - why dont the people not listen
why doesnt a rape victim get a taxi

no - why doesnt HE draw HIS curtains?!

Well the naked man one is probably the only example that is at all debatable Karl, but to call the OP the 'victim' is a bit strong. 'Victim blaming' is very strong IMHO.

I also live in a city with plenty of crime (not Glasgow) and I wouldn't expect a police response to that unless it was obviously targetted flashing or habitual.

I do think the question of why you would be sitting with your curtains open late at night staring into windows across the street is worth asking. Have you read the thread?

Maybe the definition of 'police matter' does differ from rural to urban areas though.

I did just search the site for '101' for more silly examples but there are too many to choose from. I'll have to pop back later. I have an inkling that neverthebride's knock at 5am example was a real thread though.

in fairness, it's probably not dark at 11.30 in Glasgow at this time of year, or not properly dark, so that explains the curtains not being drawn. We never draw our curtains at this time of year because it never gets dark enough. Although we maybe would if our neighbours were wandering around naked...

why should SHE close her curtains and him not?

lol at knock on door - how many of us have front door bells that are triggered by weird phone signals. - ours does sometimes

Have a wander over and read the thread Karl

I did. i couldnt believe the hassle the OP was getting.

Karl I agree actually, that he is the one who should show some manners and close his curtains. I was really only musing out loud about what I would probably do myself.

My two examples were both real! The knock on the door at 5am the OP was saying it was weird, couldn't imagine who it had been (didn't get up to look) and people suggesting she call 101.

The 'someone threw a cigarette butt in my garden should I call 101?'. Most people were saying no, don't be daft but some were saying 'yes, it is antisocial behaviour so a Police matter'.

Just two examples among many!.

In my team we have to gather statistics and data from a number of different agencies including the police. Our police contact has recently left and we do not know who will be supplying the data from now on. When my colleague called the number we have to try and find out, she was told they didn't know and she would be best off calling 101. I was

But he didn't do anything to make her a victim! She caught a eyeful while he was going about his business, in his home.

If he was standing fully naked, in front of the window, grinning at her, wanking...then yes, it would be victim blaming to tell her to shut her blinds. But he wasn't.

B

i think you would have to judge if he KNEW he would be visible to other people - am sure I have read of similar cases.

yup

these are the statutory defences

(a) The defendant had no reason to believe that there was any person within hearing or sight who was likely to be alarmed or distressed by his action.
(b) The defendant was in a dwelling and had no reason to believe that his behaviour would be seen or heard by any person outside any dwelling.

I missed the cigarette butt thread never

It is probably people egging each other on like that that results in some of the ludicrous 999 calls that get publicised from time to time.

I've called 101 for;

Mobility scooter left in pathway, surrounded by what looked like clothes and other belongings

Man walking down the street with a hat pulled down to just above his eyes and a scarf pulled up over his nose and a hat on. I have since seen him a number of times and it appears that he gets dressed up like that so he can rap to himself while walking.

I've only called 999 for medical emergencies I think.

ohi have only called 999 once for medical and it was TERRIFYING
i could barely make my fingers touch the buttons