To report neighbour’s having a party?

[WilsonMilson]

I’m currently waiting for Covid test results for my child who is off school with what I hope is a bad cold, but also had a high fever for 2 days so required testing. We are obviously isolating because of that.

Meanwhile, a neighbour along the street is currently having a party this afternoon. A bouncy castle has been put up and there are around 10 cars sitting outside, so goodness knows how many people are there, must be at least 20.

Current restrictions here limit to 6 people. And yet my neighbour clearly couldn’t give a fuck, and as a result we may all suffer by spreading and continuing this endless misery.

I don’t want to be a killjoy, but I feel like reporting it, and yet I don’t want to be ‘that’ person, it’s bad enough we can’t live a normal life at the moment without adding more grief. What would you do?

YABU - don’t report, we are becoming a police state, live and let live etc etc
YANBU - neighbour is a dick, report away.

No, I just couldn't bring myself to 'report' other people. I'd feel like the little snitchy kid at school. I also live in an area of fairly high crime and wouldn't want to try to divert police time and resources to this, even if they were likely to be interested, which I doubt. However I would think the neighbours were being out of order.

There were about 8 houses on my street having parties last night (big student area). I didn't report them as I don't think anyone would care enough to do anything about it.

Where are you? In lockdown area? If not they aren't doing anything wrong. 6 doesn't apply till tomorrow.

I wouldn't. I don't want to live in a world where we're reporting the kids' birthday parties to the police. I'm more worried about the kind of society we're creating than I am of Covid TBH.

And thats leaving aside the fact that 99% of the time the police won't have the time & resources to deal with it anyway surely?

@MarieIVanArkleStinks

Stop it. Just stop it.

All these people who are appointing themselves neighbourhood prefects and reporting their neighbours' comings and goings to the 'authorities' would do well to consider how that's turned out in the past. And then think on how history has a nasty habit of repeating itself.

This pandemic won't be around forever. But the shifts in the way people conduct themselves socially might take a lot longer to dissipate, if at all.

Would you like to live in the type of society where people are tapping away on their keyboards to the local police and/or 'marshals' (whoopee, we have those now too, no doubt sporting that ubiquitous symbol of authority the High Vis Jacket) because a neighbour, friend or family member is doing something Nanny State thinks they shouldn't? Perhaps even within the four walls and privacy of their own homes?

I'm dead certain I wouldn't.

Nah sorry the pandemic might not be here forever but it’s going to be here a darn sight longer as long as idiots don’t follow the guidance and have no consideration for how their reckless behaviour impact other people

Report them - it’s a shame for the kids that their parents lack sense

I dont want to be the sort of person who reports their neighbours for having a party so I think I would quietly seethe instead.

Its really hard to live and let live when there is a potentially deadly virus around isn't it.

I am just here to see how many people didn't read the OP and telling you the rules don't come in till tomorrow.

The fact there is a bouncy castle doesn't mean it's a children's party.

I think this is how we used to feel about drink driving though, like it wasn't any of our business.

I would feel really uncomfortable reporting something but also feel really frustrated with the risk takers.

I'd probably be indecisive for so long the party would be over anyway!

Just let it go. You are not there you are not going to get infected. Coronvirus not going away. We all have to just get on with life

@Hotcuppatea

Mind your own bloody business.

But it is everyone's business, surely?

There were parties here last night too (not a restricted area, rule of 6 not in force until Monday). I say let people crack on. It's not illegal yet. Plus, one of those parties was for a woman on our street who is dying of cancer. She was given 2 months to live and has had 4 or 5. So she could literally drop dead any moment regardless. If people want to take the risk on themselves in order to see her for what is probably one last time then frankly I don't blame them. We don't know everyone's personal situations and no-one made us the police.

Op clearly says that current restrictions where she is limit gathering to 6 people. So why are so many ignoring that? Don't you believe her?

I didn’t report them. I couldn’t make up my mind whether I wanted to be that person.
I have chosen the path of quietly seething instead and will be giving them some withering looks when I see them.
I don’t actually know them apart from a polite hello in passing, they only bought the house just before lockdown and few houses along, but we’re all detached with quite private gardens and so I haven’t even spoken to them much. Frankly I didn’t even know they had a child, so I’m not sure about the bouncy castle, but there was a lot of shrieking going on from kids earlier. Only a couple of cars left now, so the masses seem to have left.

They have form for this, this is probably the fourth or fifth time they’ve had loud parties since all this began, hence my enhanced annoyance.

I’m both fed up with being in a situation where I’m actually judging people for having parties, and nevertheless annoyed they are having parties.

I’m in an area with the rule of 6 currently.

But it is everyone's business, surely

Exactly. Let’s hope they don’t spread the virus onto an innocent person/s or take it into a school and close a bubble.

Turning a blind eye to something that could have devastating consequences isn’t something I could live with. If in an area with extra restrictions then clearly case numbers are high.

I just don't see how it's any different to the children being in the same class together. Some school "bubbles" round here consist of 100 children.

I’d report. A week ago I may have said don’t but until last week we had no cases in our council ward now we have 12 including some at school. We were on local lockdown until a week and half ago and all looked rosy.
I don’t like the rules but things are getting worse from a case perspective and if people carry on as normal then things will get worse

But why bother to keep the law when the Government thinks it's OK to break them?

Totes Unreasonable. You take your precautions as you see fit and let them do the same. The virus will be with us until there is a vaccine, all any measure can do is to stop the spread. Sweden

Leave them alone!

I wouldn't report. Just join their party and casually let slip that you were bored at home while waiting for your child's Covid test result.

Stop it. Just stop it.

All these people who are appointing themselves neighbourhood prefects and reporting their neighbours' comings and goings to the 'authorities' would do well to consider how that's turned out in the past. And then think on how history has a nasty habit of repeating itself.

This^. I’m with mariel

All the people saying "don't report it's none of your business" aren't taking this seriously enough.

Ffs people aren't going to get dragged off and thrown into a police cell for non-compliance, but depending on the severity of the breach they will be reminded by the police to be more responsible to others and themselves.

It's all of our business, people holding children's parties for 10+ children and miscellaneous parents in their garden shouldn't be doing it, they are being really selfish and irresponsible.

Each police force has put the process in for a reason, they need citizens to alert them to breaches and they are keeping metrics on non-compliance. We shouldn't see the police as the enemy, they are putting their own health on the line to maintain law and order in a time of a significant public health crisis, where the most severe aspect of this pandemic is Covidiocy.

It may seem fashionable to say mind your own business, but in this case, it is our business.

If none of us wants to be "that person", this situation will never end

No, I wouldn't report a children's birthday party.