Is the reasonable to ask (police related)?

[Jarli]

For the last month we've had occasional visits to a property on our road from the police. Multiple police cars, vans with several different forces and officers.

For the last few days it has been daily - starting at 6am. Lots of shouting, banging, sirens etc. The other day I walked onto the street and was told to get back.

I didn't ask because I thought it was none of my business and appreciate that the people who live their don't need their private lives spreading around, however, I am now wondering if it is appropriate to ask one of the police if they can give a brief explanation of what is going on.

There have been arrests each day but not the same people and not the person who I thought lived there.

I don't want to know details but would like some reassurance that it's safe for us to use the front garden if there's no police there. It's starting to make me quite nervous.

Also, I would like to know that the person who lives there is safe because they are vulnerable and were living alone. Although it seems that may not be the case now.

YABU - do not ask.
YANBU - seems fair to know without knowing the full details (which I don't want to know).

They can’t tell you, GDPR.

It's not GDPR - I am not asking them to share any information that would identify anyone.

I'm fairly sure that you'll be able to find out in minutes in your local FB page.

Police are unlikely to tell you what's going on.

Why do you fear for your safety?

They won't tell you why they're there. I'm not police but work with them pretty much daily, you can ask if there are any safety precautions you should take on relation to whatever had been going on eg not really down the street alone at night etc and they might give you some advice about whether it's likely to affect you or not and how to keep yourself safe. I'd imagine not tbh.

*walking down the street

Thanks @00100001 there's nothing on local FB page apart from the fact the helicopter has been over us regularly.

The part that has made me nervous is that the police shouted at me to stay back / move away the other day (which I did) but honestly it was a bit out of the blue and a bit of a shock. I do want to know it's safe to walk up and down the road and around the front of our property etc. If it has been a one off this week (as it was previously) it wouldn't have bothered me so much, but they have been here every day for the last three days now making arrests.

Thanks @HowLongCanICallitBabyWeight That's really helpful. I will look into asking it how you have framed it.

I'd make contact your local pcso/safer neighbourhood team.

Is there a safer neighbourhood officer (or whatever they are called now) for your area ? Do you have a residents’ assoc who can make the safety enquiry ?
Agree with how.

I think if an officer tells you to go back inside it’s completely reasonable to ask if you are safe in your own garden.
But they probably won’t give any other details.

The part that has made me nervous is that the police shouted at me to stay back / move away the other day (which I did) but honestly it was a bit out of the blue and a bit of a shock.

I think that’s likely to be due to the global pandemic op...

If it's at 6am that sounds like raids. Could be a drug den, someone could have been cukooed if there are lots of different people being arrested.
Although they shouldn't tell you, I'm sure if you asked one of them (if they look free to approach) they might give you an indication.

Where I lived previously, the flat next door was subject to a “dawn raid” and the occupants led out in handcuffs along with what looked like several hundred bags of evidence (I had a great view from my old living room!) They had been pretty shitty neighbours - noisy, coming and going very late, revving a string of £100k cars etc so it wasn’t a complete shock to us. The raid was carried out by the Met even though I was in Essex. When I left for work I asked a couple of the detectives what was going on - more along the lines of whether or not they would be back - and although I wasn’t told anything substantial they had kind of alluded to things about lots of money, seemingly never working etc. I gave the main detective my number (the people did come back, I assume on bail) but it transpired they hadn’t been paying rent - it was a £3k/month flat - and were evicted by bailiffs a couple of weeks later).

Anyway; he rang me about ten months later and told me the entire story, was on the phone for a good 90 minutes! Essentially it was one of the largest credit card fraud busts they’d ever carried out (with a side of drugs, guns and other gang activity). All got hefty prison sentences.

So I would say no harm in asking but I wasn’t really told anything until things were concluded and I suppose in the public domain.

Yes as pp said try your local PCSOs. Police would normally do door to door though anyway to speak to neighbours if it may affect them. The officers at the scene won't tell you much and if you approach it's usually met with "nosey neighbour". I say this as police .

We had a raid on a house near ours and the police posted letters to us and other neighbours just reassuring us. The letter was vague on details but just said that they had carried out a pre planned operation and that we should not worry. We knew it was drug related and it all came out in the papers a few months later.

@BlueLagoona I meant move away and round the corner of the street until someone told me it was OK to go into the house (not move away for social distancing reasons). Also been out to put the bins out and was told to go back inside (hadn't actually heard a thing that morning as I was cleaning with headphones on so it was only when I opened the front door I realised they were there again).

Will try to speak to a PCSO - thank you. Don't want to go through the resident's association because they are a bit gossipy and love drama.

@MamaLion1319

If it's at 6am that sounds like raids. Could be a drug den, someone could have been cukooed if there are lots of different people being arrested. Although they shouldn't tell you, I'm sure if you asked one of them (if they look free to approach) they might give you an indication.

I assumed this too from the fact someone vulnerable lives there, and it is not them being arrested.

Hmm I too have had a letter which reassured the street after a terrible event. However I’m at the criminal bar and I can just imagine what use I would make of this info when crossing poor neighbour about evidence etc. I’ll bet this practice has stopped or been rethought pending any trial. Not aware and hasn’t cropped up for a long time. Have done a few where media appeals became relevant including pre trial stuff.
Mostly now it’s social media use by everyone imaginable which is causing problems.

You're allowed to talk to police officers, just politely ask them when they arent dealing with the actual problem. They'll be able to tell you or they wont but at least you'll know one way or the other

As a PP poster said local Fb groups are fantastic for finding out the details of things like this.

Mostly now it’s social media use by everyone imaginable which is causing problems.

I really don't want to post on social media for this reason, but also because it is known in the local streets that a vulnerable person lives there as well and don't want anyone to highlight that fact.