Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to lodge a complaint against the police?

7 replies

wantacatplease · 27/09/2014 18:44

A couple of months ago, DH and I were in the garden when we heard our next door neighbour having a verbal altercation with their neighbours on the other side. This is a long-standing feud between the two of them; we have so far been
able to stay neutral and friendly with both sides.

During the row we heard raised voices and "are you threatening me?" type stuff but couldn't really hear who was the instigator so we just shuffled inside and stayed out of it.

The same night a police officer called at our door and DH answered while I was upstairs putting dd to bed. (I didn't directly hear the conversation.)
He said he told the PC exactly what we'd heard, which was raised voices but couldn't make out whose was whose. He said the PC seemed annoyed that DH couldn't be more specific about who said what. He said the PC said to him a few times "are you sure that's all you heard?"

Anyway, all was forgotten these last few weeks as we rarely run into the neighbours anyway. Then this afternoon, DH got out of his car and noticed our neighbour out in his front
garden. He said hello and the neighbour looked at DH in disgust and then went back to gardening. Again DH said "Hello X" to which X replied, "you expect me to say hello to you after what you told the police?"

DH told his side which is completely true, that we really didn't drop anyone in it because we hadn't heard all that much anyway. According to the neighbour, the police said that we said they were completely to blame!! And has blamed them for the entire incident based on what DH told them.

So what do we do? It has left me feeling pretty unsettled, but at the same time we can't be sure the neighbour isn't exaggerating what the police said DH said either. Is there any way to find out? Or make a complaint that this specific PC got it wrong? DH deals with police all the time in his line of work and never had anything like this before.

Or should we put it down to the neighbours exaggerating it maybe and let it go?

Just strange that they chose to fall out with us completely over this supposed police statement DH made that he didn't really make?

OP posts:
DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 27/09/2014 18:47

No I wouldn't. I would presume your neighbour has the wrong end of the stick. You've explained what happened, just leave it.

LEMmingaround · 27/09/2014 18:50

Please don't waste police time with this. They will have tried to remain neutral and your neighbour is provably miffed that he didn't get one over on his neighbour.

Whoopsadazy · 27/09/2014 18:51

I would presume your neighbour has the right end of the stick but there is no way on earth you'd get anywhere with a complaint so I wouldn't put myself through the hassle.

Moreisnnogedag · 27/09/2014 18:53

I'd put it down to the ndn trying to find out who did don them in. If the police went round to different houses it may be that someone did tell them more.

Police are usually pretty neutral in stuff like this.

wantacatplease · 27/09/2014 18:53

Thanks for replies!

Very good point, LEM...you're right. I love MN for getting objectivity. When you're stuck in the middle of it with neighbour saying the police have basically lied about what you've said it feels pretty unsettling. But you're both completely right.

OP posts:
LiverpoolLou · 27/09/2014 18:53

The neighbour may be seeing things through anger tinted glasses. He sends the PC to yours so you can back up his version; your DH doesn't do this because he can't; PC tells the neighbour this but the neighbour is too angry and interprets it as you telling the PC it's all his fault. IE if you're not on his team you must be on the other team.

wantacatplease · 27/09/2014 18:56

Very good point, Liverpool. I need a beer! Grin

OP posts:
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread