Was I unreasonable to call the (non emergency) police number?

[Laughingstock91]

We live in a quiet residential street of terraced houses with lots of families and elderly people.

Was woken up at 1am last night by a car load of lads literally having an argument and fight in their car with the door open - swearing ‘you fcking c*t’ and punching each other. Went on for about 20 mins until the driver stormed off. The others were then smoking weed (i could hear them discussing it), pissing in the street and then at one point a bag of white powder came out!! I could see all this from my window after being woken up. This went on for about 2 hours. I decided to ring the non emergency line as their behaviour was really aggressive and really bloody noisy at 1am. The police did turn up and move them on thankfully.

Was it the right thing to call the police though? I did ring the non emergency line - it felt like anti social behaviour and I have 2 elderly neighbours who both live on their own. It also woke my kids up.

Aibu? These days I am not sure of the ‘right’ thing to do. I was home alone with my kids last night as DP works shifts so it felt scary & threatening.

Why wouldn't you call the non-emergency number that is literally what it's for? In fact when I called for something similar I got transferred to the emergency number as a crime was taking place. If the police hadn't thought it was necessary or were busy dealing with something more serious they wouldn't have turned up.

So to clarify - there were a group of men shouting and fighting at 1 am and after watching them for two hours you rang the non-urgent police line?

I'd say you were unreasonable - you should have dialled 999 when it first started.

I'd have called the police when the fight started. You're only unreasonable for waiting TWO HOURS to call!!

Why on earth did you wait two hours?

I think I waited a bit to see if anyone else on the street had noticed!! I had my window open a bit so it woke me up but it didn’t look like anyone else had woken up!

Am glad you all think I did the right thing even if I was maybe too cautious in ringing the police!!

YWBU to wait until 3am to call

Should have called 999.

I'd have called 999 when they started fighting

Is the dilemma that you under-reacted?

@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair I think it was that i overreacted but reading here it’s making me think I underreacted!

[quote Laughingstock91]@AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair I think it was that i overreacted but reading here it’s making me think I underreacted![/quote]
I'd say you definitely under-reacted. I don't think I'd have rung 999 but of course I'd report a drugged up group fight outside my house

They were arguing and fighting in the car - literally screaming at each other. By listening it sounded like they had been for a night out and had parked on our street and then it had all escalated. The driver disappeared for about half an hour after the argument as I think the passenger had punched him. It was a literal constant ‘you fcking c*nt’ shouting at top volume for ages. I think because my window was open; I heard it all! And it was 10 metres from my house so I could see and hear it all.

Of course. And I’d have asked them to get someone out ASAP if possible

Why would it be unreasonable?

If you want police to attend there and then you call 999.

You were absolutely right.

I would not have called 999 unless I thought a life was at risk. It sounds like this was more barking than biting.

So annoying for you and your neighbours though and hopefully they don’t be back anytime soon!

You saw a bag of white powder from your window? 🤨

What you first described is the bystander effect. You perceived that others were also aware and were doing nothing, so you didn't. It could have been a kidnapping, the driver could have gone to get a knife. You should have reacted sooner and 999 was appropriate.

I'd have dialled 999 as soon as the fighting started. Too many young men are killed or suffer life changing injuries from that sort of thing for me not to take it very seriously.

Without the fighting I'd definitely have called the non-emergency number.

Threads like this make me wonder how people blink and breathe without checking the internet first. In whose world would it not be reasonable to call the police?

@DiddyHeck

Threads like this make me wonder how people blink and breathe without checking the internet first. In whose world would it not be reasonable to call the police?

I try my best to have no involvement with the police. Don't trust them. I would probably also think they wouldn't do anything. Plus I would be worried about the police coming to my door thereby identifying me as the complainant. It's not too hard to understand why someone wouldn't call the police, or delay calling.

It's not too hard to understand why someone wouldn't call the police, or delay calling.

That's not the subject of the thread though is it?

The OP wants to know if she was unreasonable to have called them...

@DiddyHeck fair point.

Mind you the police obviously didn't do their job if they just 'moved them on' when the car would've stunk of weed and they had a bag of white powder.

I would have dialed 999!

The police did turn up and move them on thankfully.

Surely this answers your question? They don't just turn up because someone phones, they go if they consider it the right response.