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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Saw Asian neighbour being harassed. Reported to 101. Now it's a crime, & I'm beside myself.

61 replies

Yoksha · 23/07/2018 17:26

This afternoon I witnessed a gang of boys, some on bikes, jeering, banging & shouting on my neighbour's door. I saw same boys on Saturday after lunch. They were cycling in & out of drives. I clocked them because they were strangers.

My neighbour came out his door. They were all jumping up and down, laughing and generally being disrespectful. He lost it and sped after them. He had his shoe in mid-air ready to throw. He was swearing etc. I pulled him back and advised him to stop. He told me this isn't the first time. They were being disrespectful from the ethnicity aspect. It went beyond jolly japes. There was a negative vibe to what I saw.

I called 101 to log what I'd seen. Obtained log nos. It transpires the ethnic disrespect is considered a racial hate crime. Went to give it to neighbour. Was intending to let him know that if he wanted to take it further, then it was up to him. I swear no longer than 3mins passed as I went out front door & there was my neighbour, a cop car with 2 constables, some upset young lads from another house and their grandparents. Lads were vehemently saying "it wasn't us". I didn't clock too much. Only vague ages. Well dressed etc. It turns out some were mates of this other neighbour's lads. My harassed neighbour hadn't called police. He was as bemused as me. The grandparents of the young lads also bemused. My BP has gone through the roof. I can't stop crying of repercussions. I want to run away and hide. I really wished I'd kept my big mouth shut. I'm not a young mum now. Grandma of 20 & 18 yrs olds. I'm just frightened & getting this out of perspective. Please give me a kick up the pants & tell me to calm down. This has all taken on a bizarre life of it's own.

OP posts:
Undercoverbanana · 23/07/2018 17:50

I am missing something here.

You witnessed race-hate crime. You reported it. Something is being done about it.

What’s the problem here. (Besides the little shits who committed it.)

drearydeardre · 23/07/2018 17:51

I suspect this will be logged as a hate incident rather than a hate crime
Do not worry
No-one was hurt - cop car seems a bit of an overreaction when everyone is saying how stretched the police are?

Angel75 · 23/07/2018 17:51

Listen, you did what you thought was best at the time. It could of turned out different and they could of been thanking you. Don't give it another thought.

InfiniteVariety · 23/07/2018 17:52

So are you saying the wrong boys have been accused? And you fear repercussions because of that?

Dandeliontea123 · 23/07/2018 17:54

Are you saying that the boys the police were talking to were mates of the lads who were harassing your neighbour?

BitOutOfPractice · 23/07/2018 17:56

You saw a crime. You reported it. Police are dealing with it.

Don't be upset. Bravo to you I say

AmazingGrace16 · 23/07/2018 17:56

It was a crime before you reported it. Your reporting had nothing to do with the choices those people made.

LighthouseSouth · 23/07/2018 17:56

I'm finding it hard to get your point but if it's this

"My harassed neighbour hadn't called police"

you mean he's upset you called police? Yes, I don't want anyone calling police if I'm racially abused. It isn't worth the aggravation - I shudder to think what would happen next. I've only been shouted at or threatened, or it's happened to us as a mixed race couple - I suppose if the flat was violently targeted it's different.

but if you are upset because your neighbour is upset, I can see why he's upset. It is up to the individual to report race crime. We have to live in our homes and the consequences are awful, we're in a bad period at the moment.

Redglitter · 23/07/2018 17:58

cop car seems a bit of an overreaction when everyone is saying how stretched the police are

The police just can't win. Criticised for not attending calls now criticised for turning up Hmm

Original poster
Yoksha · 23/07/2018 17:58

Wow! So many responses of common sense. Thank you munsnet. I gave my details, so didn't remain anonymous. My Dh is in agreement with you all. He said the same thing about speaking up in nazi Germany. I'm just embarrassed & overwhelmed. I grew up on a sink estate in 1960's Edinburgh. Had to deal with 5th generation organised crime. A friend's dad was murdered several years ago and some of his kids are in witness protection. So I guess I've just been living in a cosy bubble & lost perspective for logical reasons.

Thank you once again.

OP posts:
LighthouseSouth · 23/07/2018 18:00

OP I don't know if we cross posted

do you think your neighbour is okay with you reporting it?

BlancheM · 23/07/2018 18:01

I understand. It's easy to see why you're a bit shaken up. You did the right thing and are worried you've caused trouble. There is a difference between the detached advice of calling the police and then actually seeing the reality of it.
But you did do the right thing. I'm sure the racist thugs are feeling more shaken than you right now. The victim is lucky to have you as a neighbour Thanks

Undercoverbanana · 23/07/2018 18:02

Ah - so the police have questioned the wrong lads?

Next time - have your phone ready to film the little fuckers.

Race-hate is abominable.

TheBigFatMermaid · 23/07/2018 18:02

You reporting it did not make it a crime, it made it a reported crime, before you reported it, it was an unreported crime! You improved the situation potentially by making the police aware, but it does seem you were not the only one.

petrolpump28 · 23/07/2018 18:07

you did a brave and decent thing

StaplesCorner · 23/07/2018 18:09

I'm still confused why you were upset OP? And why was everyone so amused?

Original poster
Yoksha · 23/07/2018 18:10

Lighthouse

I'm upset coz my neighbour is upset. Thanks for helping me clarify.

I'd asked for this to just be logged as I couldn't speak for my neighbour. Come to think of events, I was put on hold and it sounded like PC was being told something. She did assure me that going forward was up to my neighbour? All good. I think another neighbour saw this and reported. Its the only logical conclusion. We've had a lot of crime on our streets around here lately. It's a really affluent area and it was all wealthy Asians targeted. We've all become jittery. Been told at resident's meetings to report anything to 101. Sorry if I'm drip-feeding.

OP posts:
CSIblonde · 23/07/2018 18:12

You did the right thing OP. Are you upset because you fear revenge attack? Do you have good security? Amazon: fake round, white plastic security camera you can hang on a nail or put inside in corner of window, £5 & £1.50 'CC TV in operation' sticker. Can't remember the make, but it looks more impressively tech like than the real old style expensive black ones you install on iron brackets. My neighbours were convinced it was a) real & b) expensive.

FermatsTheorem · 23/07/2018 18:13

Well done OP, you did the right thing.

I do completely get why you're bricking it, btw (and I think posters who don't understand probably live in very "naice" areas). I lived in a rough inner city area when I was younger, and the thought of the reprisals is terrifying - sounds like you had the same experience growing up in Edinburgh (my mum's an Edinburgh woman, so I know how rough some of the schemes are). However, from what you've said (specially if one of the other neighbours called 999, which it would seem is probably the case from the speed of the police reaction) you're now living in a much more decent area.

Undercoverbanana · 23/07/2018 18:14

Why is your neighbour upset? Surely they are not fans of rate-hate are they? Do you mean the neighbour who was being racially abused?

Was he upset about the abuse or upset because he wanted to deal with the little fuckers himself without the plod?

LighthouseSouth · 23/07/2018 18:14

OP, don't you think you should have asked your neighbour if he wanted a witness for reporting it himself?

I'm quite upset at the idea of the police turning up on my doorstep because I'd been racially abused outside my home and someone else had reported it.

good that going forward is up to your neighbour.

LighthouseSouth · 23/07/2018 18:16

@Undercoverbanana

sorry but your post really sounds like you have no idea how this stuff works. I'd never report racial abuse of me, I'd be fucking terrified Unless I was prepared to move.....

urkidding · 23/07/2018 18:21

Well done, Yoksha. If more people get together to report these crimes and stand together as a community, these spoilt brats would be afraid rather than getting away with harassment. Tomorrow, it may be you.

Greatorb · 23/07/2018 18:24

I can guarantee that calls to 101 can and do generate a blue light response. Last year I heard someone trying to fish my house keys through the letter box. By the time I got to the door, I saw them speeding off.

I managed to get a partial registration number, along with other details of the vehicle and reported to 101. While I was still on the phone, 2 police cars turned up on blue lights. Unfortunately, the person trying to break in wasn't caught.

Undercoverbanana · 23/07/2018 18:26

LighthouseSouth - Er - I understand racism when I see it/hear it. It is unacceptable and I believe every citizen has a right to tackle racism in their community. Little racist shits become tomorrow’s right-wing thugs and I don’t think that’s a world I want to live in. Same as if they were smashing windscreens or nicking iPhones in the area.

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