homeless people on doorstep

[LeggyLoo]

Recently a group of ?homeless people have been meeting on our doorstep and spending about an hour late at night (loudly) talking to each other, seemingly catching up? and swapping/taking drugs. This isn't every night, but has been becoming more frequent over the last month.

We've had 2 break ins in the last 3 months. I don't think it is this group of people responsible- just for context of feeling uneasy about strangers congregating outside our front door and bedroom window.

I am completely sympathetic for the situation they are in, particularly in winter and during a pandemic. I also understand that living in a city there will always be homeless people- in no way am I 'looking down on them' or blaming them for their situation (If you find this relevant, we also make a yearly donation to a local homeless charity- I know AIBU can be brutal...).
There are various parks close by (including one on our road) with benches where they could meet, but I'm not sure why they have chosen our house?? For this reason I don't want to tell them to go away as it seems mean in the circumstances.

But I also have a 1.5 year old DS who has been woken by them and scared by loud strangers' voices and hasn't wanted to be away from me even after they've left as he is scared.

Any idea what I can do?! Can I contact anyone? Should I approach them myself to ask them to move on? Let them get on with it and accept my doorstep has become some sort of meeting place?

WTF? They are on your door step? Fo you live in flats or is it actually your front door?

I’m in C London and we get this quite a lot. Particularly on the neighbouring street which is more tucked away than ours. There’s also been an explosion in the last six weeks of drug dealing and taking and our residents association has taken to keeping a log of incidents - crack addicts hanging out in the communal hallway of flats at all hours, dealers operating in the underground garage or openly on the street in broad daylight. It’s been quite extraordinary to watch this mushroom.

Just really posting to confirm that this is a thing and perhaps especially now with the police not available and other services overwhelmed.

I get this a lot - my flat is on a corner with huge windows all the way round, only narrow balconies - they have no idea how much voices carry, and sometimes stand outside for an hour or more, chatting/arguing or shouting on phones. Because with me they are actually standing on the street, there isn't a great deal I can do - but if it was actually in a private doorway or garden, I would definitely ask them to move on of call non-emergency police.

Be polite as above then flower pots on steps so no where to sit.

This may should a bit odd but could they be accessing your WiFi? Only mention it as my old workplace drew a small crowd in the evening in an other deserted part of town because of the public access wifi. Took me ages to figure out why they where there specifically

Thanks for some really helpful replies

I wouldn't say I feel threatened, calling police feels rather extreme to me?

It is a private doorway rather than entrance to a communal building of flats.

Interesting to hear other Londoners have noticed this more recently. There's often a lot of incoherent drunk sounding shouting down our road in the evenings and at night, which again only started more recently.

I don't know for sure that they are swapping drugs on my doorstep, but they are swapping SOMETHING and I recognised the man from the area where I have seen him swapping drugs. He was very polite though (apart from the loitering on my doorstep!!). Unfortunately there are many homeless people around this area, some I have seen for the last 5 years since living here I wonder if the council/police has cracked down on loitering in parks so they are having to move on elsewhere- and this means moving on to residential streets?

@Pjsandbaileys good suggestion but our WiFi is private so can't be that

Btw there will be no hosepipes or spikes!!!!

Once of the issues is that a lot of nightshelters and sit up services aren't open at they usually would be because of social distancing and Covid regulations. The most transient and often those who use class A substances don't want to be in a hostel or B&B with a 10pm curfew, no alcohol allowed etc, DH has had cases walk out of that kind of provision recently because these are not people who find it comfortable to live with a routine/regime of sorts and addiction is powerful. These are people with complex needs, often dual diagnosis of substance addiction and mental health issues. They won't sit on a main Street as they'd get spotted by local police or homeless outreach.
DH & I both work in the criminal justice sector and don't find these groups of people intimidating, (DH often knows them and had intervened in various incidents in our greatest big town) but I can fully understand why lots of people would. They can be noisy, unpredictable and when that's on your doorstep and they know where you live you might not want to go in all guns blazing.
IME OP underneath the chaotic lifestyle, most are perfectly reasonable people, a quick 'sorry baby keeps being woken up by the chatter do you mind taking it elsewhere?' will likely get you a 'sorry love' and a move on, which is the outcome you want.

I too would hang out the window and politelty mention waking the baby.

If that failed, I'd contact the council and start a noise diary.

In the mean time, I'd play a radio/music within earshot. Something awful that isnt popular. I know this has worked in city centres where 'youths' hang out. Failing unpopular music, a recording of nails down a chalk board might work!

*nearest big town

I’m just amazed nobody has told you to invite them in, make cups of tea, use your facilities and maybe even let them stay the night.

Maybe get a CCTV camera installed or a sign on your doorstep stating “CCTV”. Or a Ring doorbell?

Perhaps also a strong movement activated floodlight?

Oh gosh I would be horrified. It's very quiet here I'd move!!

If you're willing ask if they'd mind meeting somewhere else as you have a baby and he keeps getting woken up. Be polite, they'll likely be sorry.

If you're not willing call the council.

If you're sick to the teeth of it.. or worried about needles/drugs. Call the police.

Thanks @KarlKennedysDurianFruit, they don't seem intimidating to me (apart from the noise! But it's not aggressive- just some very loud voices on an otherwise silent street). Useful to have some better understanding of why residential doorways may be a more popular place to stop now. Completely agree most are reasonable people not looking to cause any trouble, just living a very unfortunate life.

Previously people have sat there for a couple of minutes, had a conversation or something and then moved on, which doesn't bother me at all (as long as no mess left). But a larger group meeting I'm not so happy with, with the noise!

I will poke my head around the curtain again if they stop again, and stick my head out of the window if they don't move on.

I do really feel for them in the current situation

I used to knock around with some idiots who liked to get wasted in the communal garden of a large house converted into flats - one of them had lived there before their landlord sold it on. They all had homes, but didn't want to get caught in their own gardens round the corner doing various substances. I believe the communal garden now has a gate with a keypad lock.

I'd ask your doorstep squatters to find elsewhere to sit, or get someone to ask on your behalf.

Jesus, I wouldn't tolerate this for even a second.

It's true that they're not a 'special breed', but a group of people who have spent a good few hours drinking cheap cider, which can sometimes be the case with those who like to hang around on doorsteps, can be quite intimidating.

Yes I totally get that so you dial 101 and ask them to move on, not start wringing your hands because it 'seams mean'.

At the end of the day the OP has said I also have a 1.5 year old DS who has been woken by them and scared by loud strangers' voices and hasn't wanted to be away from me even after they've left as he is scared so it's a no brainer for most parents.

*seems

A bright security light should be enough to make your place less inviting.

I realise this is a very unusual case, and rare, and I'm not being deliberately sensationalist but Julie Davison died because she lived somewhere that had a dealer above her, and the property had a rep as somewhere to get drugs. She lived on the ground floor; the killer had been seen sitting on the communal doorstep at some point.

Get. Rid.

www.pressreader.com/uk/yorkshire-post/20121121/281487863634083

If you think there are drugs involved, then call the police and let them know. They are interested in this sort of thing, but they can't do anything about it if they don't know where it's happening.

[quote WaveWalker]I realise this is a very unusual case, and rare, and I'm not being deliberately sensationalist but Julie Davison died because she lived somewhere that had a dealer above her, and the property had a rep as somewhere to get drugs. She lived on the ground floor; the killer had been seen sitting on the communal doorstep at some point.

Get. Rid.

www.pressreader.com/uk/yorkshire-post/20121121/281487863634083[/quote]
I only know about the case because I bid on her old flat through social housing recently. I googled it to make sure the street was ok, then found out about what happened to Julie. I visited the street to check it out if I got the flat; there were beer bottles on the doorstep and a party flat next door. I didn't get the flat in the end and I think I'm actually a bit glad that I didn't.

Just politely ask them and tell them you have a young child who is being disturbed. If they were taking drugs I would not be happy especially if using needles. What about if they discard them recklessly and you end up with a needle stick injury.