Would you report this or not?

[itsonlyaradish]

I don't get on with my neighbours. They are generally quite common, unpleasant, chavvy (I know MN hates that word but they are). We live on an ex council estate, they are one of few remaining homes that are not privately owned or rented.

I have nothing against them living in a council/ HA house, I grew up in one myself and several of my family members still live in council housing in London. However this family tick every stereotype of council tenants - on benefits, loud music, garden full of crap, anti social behaviour etc. That's the background.

I generally try and ignore them. Even when they're driving round in an untaxed, un MOT'd car, when the younger kids of the family are spitting in the street, dropping litter etc, I dont do anything. They had about 80 people round for a party back in May and again I didn't report it.

Today, it's all kicked off. A couple of blokes were round earlier knocking on the door (just ordinary, middle aged men). No one answeredv and they left. A short while later 3 cars screech up with the older members of neighbours family and their mates. They're carrying what I'd think of as improvised weapons - garden tools like shears, bricks, empty bottles etc into the house and they're all fucking this and cunt that and we're gonna fuck them up. A few minutes later the mother starts yelling 'the fucking cunts are coming', all blokes smash loads of glass in the road, pile back in the cars and wheelspin off up the road.

They came back about 15 mins ago and it's all gone quiet although one of them is still on 'guard duty' sitting outside in the car. No further sign of the older men from earlier.

The whole thing feels like a crime about to happen - would you report? I'd want to do so anonymously if so as I can't be doing with them knowing it was me.

Reporting them to the HA is impossible as they only take reports if theres a live police investigation an then only verbally, otherwise they encourage you to discuss concerns with the difficult neighbour!

SO - YANBU - report them to non emergency number

YABU - don't get involved

Report your fears and observations anonymously.

Also you didn’t need the first two paragraphs as them living in a council house whilst the rest of the street have been brought (probably by ex council tenants) is completely irrelevant.

I think it is relevant to say they are in HA housing - one of the first comments on any neighbour dispute thread is do they own/ rent privately/ live in HA property.

Like I said, I grew up in a council house, my parents both worked but couldn't afford to buy a house, it's the same for many people. I'm not a snob about council houses, I wouldn't have bought this house if I was! Most council tenants are fine, some are not. These are in the latter category.

Well nothing more happened yesterday although they were all out on guard in the front garden drinking until 10ish, chatting some nonsense about posting videos online etc of what they were doing earlier. I think they think they're doing drill videos, except for the fact they're a bunch of skinny white boys from the suburbs.

I'd love to get them evicted except for the fact then they'll become someone else's problem and I wouldn't wish that on anyone.