WWYD.. people sitting behind our garden

[Timechangeseverything]

Hi as the title says really, for the past 4 or 5 days there have been some people meeting up behind our back garden, not a problem in general but they come from about 8/9 and still there at 1am.

I wouldn't mind if they were quieter tbh but they are so loud, singing sometimes and shouting over each other. I think they are having a drink together really.

The problem is my kids bedrooms are at the back and they have been waking a lot these past few nights, when they wouldn't normally.

It was getting to me, but didnt want to approach them as I don't know how they would react tbh.

But tonight I have just heard a child calling mum and heard crying so I looked out and could see a child of maybe 8? Shouting, dad says you must come home now, he sent me to get you. Then more shouting mum,mum. I am tired please come on!
All the while the mum and others are laughing as though it is all a big joke.
Kid then cries and I see a man,guessing his dad coming and taking the kid back home.

It made me feel really awful witnessing that.

What should I do, if anything?

I should add my childhood was a bit..turbulent. So I'm not sure if this really is such an awful thing or if I'm right in feeling it is just so wrong.

That was long! Sorry!

[Esspee]

Some supermarkets play music to move people on when they are closed. Really cheesy stuff that nobody (apart from your great, great grandmother) could bear listening to.

[StillThatBitch]

The police won't care or do anything unless there's some kind of violence or crime taking place, with a child involved though maybe a different agency would take note? We had to call 101 (when lockdown was in full swing) due to a huge group gathering, music blaring, screaming, smashing bottles all over the local streets and so on, and the response was basically 'meh'. Unless you're in a really quiet area with a lot of police with nothing to do, I am guessing you'd get a similar lack of interest. Get all the smelly stuff as recommended above!

[LadyofTheManners]

@StillThatBitch

The police won't care or do anything unless there's some kind of violence or crime taking place, with a child involved though maybe a different agency would take note? We had to call 101 (when lockdown was in full swing) due to a huge group gathering, music blaring, screaming, smashing bottles all over the local streets and so on, and the response was basically 'meh'. Unless you're in a really quiet area with a lot of police with nothing to do, I am guessing you'd get a similar lack of interest. Get all the smelly stuff as recommended above!

Are you in a Thames Valley region? They've been utterly shitty. Useless to some and OTT to others.

[tara66]

Sprinkler on a timer?

[EverdeRose]

We had this often, our garden backs on to a woodland and we had a lot of people congregating drinking, drugs etc right up against the fence.
When DH went round to paint the fence a couple of years ago he found a bucket full of human shit. Saw red and planted a load of thorny bushes and dumped manure there until they were well established.
The bottom of our garden stank of shit for a year but at least it wasn't human.

[Justaboy]

Just stick up a couple of those Nuclear radiation risk signs:)

But these muppets prolly can't read anyway:(

[WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat]

Contact the police and say that there is a group of people meeting up there and you think they are taking drugs and you're concerned about discarded syringes etc. (Are there any there?)

[caramac04]

I really like the idea of something stinky. It’s non-confrontational and puts you in control rather than waiting for the police or council to help.
I’m concerned about the child but it does sound as if there is a responsible adult caring for her and maybe the DM generally parents well but is letting off steam in these difficult times. See how charitable I was there?
Also the idea of stinky stuff makes me laugh. Please do this.

[StillThatBitch]

@ladyofthemanners no in the North West. The GMP have been useless at backing up the lockdown rules in various different areas according to friends and family, as well as our own experiences. They are overstretched and underfunded but it has left us all feeling so disheartened.

[Zaphodsotherhead]

Could you borrow a barking dog?

Obviously this won't help your children sleep, but the sound of a ferocious dog scrabbling and barking at the fence might persuade them to move elsewhere. If it's anything like my dog they won't be able to hear themselves think anyway, and may move on.

Otherwise I second the stinky stuff idea. Can you hang something on the inside of your wall that would deter people from gathering, that they couldn't see and therefore rip down and chuck into the bushes? Got any dirty nappies you might want out to air?

[AlCalavicci]

I would ring 101 and ask all your nighbours to do so as well , even if they do nothing now it will be logged and if things escalate ( fights etc) there is already a established link.
In the mean time I would go with smelly stuff . Jeyes is a good idea the smell last for ages ( but you will have to put up with it too ) stink bombs short lived but horrid whiff. Something that will attract a lot of flies.
Go careful with sprinklers or hose pipes , they will know exactly where you live and it could cause more issues.

[LadyEloise]

That poor wee girl.
I'd report it.
Our local police are good for stuff like that. In the meantime I'd use Jeyes Fluid.
I hate the smell.

[TreestumpsAndTrampolines]

They'll ship Durian in the post?!? Christ, I would not be my postie's favourite person if I did that... that smell'll get through anything.

[jessstan2]

I would hate that. All that backs on to my back garden is someone else's and both are quite long with a tallish fence in between.

A tall fence or wall won't stop sound but it would prevent you seeing the people and give more privacy. In your position I would build one - the building work of it alone would stop people congregating immediately behind your garden and maybe you could even plant a few things on that side - things which will grow tall - to further deter them.

You have my sympathy which I know is no help at all.

As others have suggested, call police regularly and put down something very smelly.

[UselessTrees]

Bluetooth speaker concealed on your side of the fence. Playlist of menacing whispers at random intervals.

If that doesn't shift them, it's time to put on your killer clown outfit.

[WhereYouLeftIt]

If they're sitting behind your garden, and they're clearly not in a neighbouring garden - where actually are they? Is it a park, a street, a field?

I would wonder if 'business' is being conducted - drugs.

[Bahhhhhumbug]

Trouble is during lockdown peoples social habits have drastically changed, people couldn't go to pubs for a long time and now only under strict conditions, appts system, etc etc so some people simply haven't bothered going back and have stayed with the 'new going out' being staying in, having a few people in your garden or meeting a group outside. Our local park is full every fine night and day of people sat on the grass having drinks, a picnic or young lads with tins of beer, a radio playing etc. I can't let my dog off lead as l always had pre Covid for fear of her stepping on a glass or thinking 'ooh ham sandwiches' I feareven once the pubs get back to normal a lot of people, for the milder weather at least will stick to this new socialising as its way cheaper for one. Our park has a no drinking alcohol order so lm hoping if that's the case the police/local council will start to police this as many of these groups get quite rowdy and anti social and it's spoiling it for others.
Where are these people sitting btw? They must have somewhere to sit to be staying so long.

[RoobyMyrtle]

Put some weeds and/or grass clippings in a bucket of water. It will rot down I to a liquid that smells worse than Hades. Great for your plants, not so good for anyone sitting nearby 😉

[mummmy2017]

Get a pair of radios.
The kids will love them.
You can plant one in the hedge at night.
If you turn it on you can listen in the add to the conversation.
Will freek them out.

[Thinkingabout1t]

I would ring police, and council to report noise (can you record it?). But also social services because of the child. Good luck. Antisocial ‘neighbours’ are hell.

[BlankTimes]

Put some weeds and/or grass clippings in a bucket of water
I once enthusiastically made some natural nettle fertiliser (nettles soaked in a lidded container)
Note I did it once

[mumwon]

make sure the area is thoroughly wet - use bathwater & put up(fake) cctv with big official (looking) notice

[Beautiful3]

I would call 101 next time. But say it's a welfare check as you're concerned about a small boy crying wanting to go home to bed, while a group of adults are drinking. That would prompt them to come out.

[Nanny0gg]

What is the land behind your garden?

And report for a welfare checl

[BlackeyedSusan]

You could water the area earlier in the day.