Neighbours from hell

[Fullofhotcrossbuns]

I am looking for advice or options to help me against these awful people, here is a list so I do not drip feed.

House hold rubbish just thrown out into the street the latest addition are nappies.

House hold rubbish and nappies in the back garden which is now coming over to our garden we are concerned about rats.

Banging on the walls until 10:30-11pm most nights.

Drug use

Drug dealing

We went away and DH stayed home on few weekends ago they destroyed the front garden, on the Saturday they were kicking a ball against the house aiming for the windows whilst hanging around on our door step, Sunday morning they tried to break into the house but the dog started barking DH had kept it quiet to see how far they will go.

The people who visit them block our car in and refuse to move, stare at us when we are leaving the house, swear at us or make hand gestures.

Regularly have to listen to DA to the woman and kids when reported to the Police they asked what is the problem what do we expect them to do?

Benefit fraud.

Leave 4 and 6 year old outside screaming in the street during nice weather.

If driving in the area they will abuse us and the male does a “come fight me” gesture with his hands and arms.

It is all very draining and no one is willing to help us

Have you not considered reporting the benefit fraud? Because that would be jumped on and they would be in a lot of trouble.

You need to request a meeting with the most senior officer at yoir local station and make a complaint about the lack of action.
Get a ring door bell and a very large barky dog

Threatening to sue the housing association would have more impact, and remind the police of their duty of care. These people sound absolutely awful but the benefit fraud is going to be what the police are instructed to act on.

@Georgeskitchen

You need to request a meeting with the most senior officer at yoir local station and make a complaint about the lack of action. Get a ring door bell and a very large barky dog

We got a dog and spent a lot on alarm and cctv

@mrziggycoco

Have you not considered reporting the benefit fraud? Because that would be jumped on and they would be in a lot of trouble.

Reported it continually every day nothing has been done about it.

I just want to give my sympathy. Which I know isn't particularly helpful in itself. I've been in your exact situation and after the final straw, when I was physically attacked after ordering one of them off my doorstep, we moved. Literally gone within a fortnight of that
To a house we couldn't afford. And really suffered financially for about 2 years until our income changed enough that we could at least pay for the essentials without panicking.
We were robbing Peter to pay Paul constantly, swapping around credit cards. But it was either that or stat and have a complete mental breakdown. I was constantly freaking out and couldn't let the kids outside alone.
Do I really do feel for you.
Your post brought back a lot of memories of many yrs ago.
And this was HA too.
Only other suggestion I have is seeing if all the other neighbours would stand with you? Mine were too scared and I remember thinking that if all the households in the Close had contacted the HA and police together it might’ve been different.
I heard on the grapevine that the year after we fled, the main culprit was banged up and the rest of the family were evicted.
Too late for us!

IME the police couldn’t care less about benefit fraud. Sad to say neighbour disputes never end well and your best bet is just working on getting out of there.

I agree with Georgeskitchen about requesting a meeting with the most senior police officer. And don't be fobbed off.

Make an appointment to see your MP at their surgery. And, I'm not sure how it works, but think you can contact the party chair to let them know they ignore constituents' emails.

Talk to Environmental Health about the rubbish.

Keep a detailed timeline of everything that happens and when.

I've had similar neighbours in the past and the police did absolutely nothing. Mine set fire to my front door and they bought a dog and gave it a racist name and shouted the name at my toddler. They chased us in their cars whenever we left the house and they spat on my baby. Countless other things too. The police were USELESS. I offered them the spit from my baby as proof but they didn't what it.

In my unfortunately vast experience, you have to move. We had to do one of those schemes where a new build builder part exchanges as obvious we couldn't have viewers!

There was some good news after the saga was over. As we had part exchanged the house was sold cheap and it affected the house prices in the street for about a decade.

Have you phoned social services about the kids ?

This probably won't be any help to you but would it be possible to move a long way away thinking of another part of the country here? Somewhere where rent/ houses are cheaper and start afresh?
Only saying this as I know someone who did this because of neighbours but it was not in the league of what you are experiencing.
I'd be wary of moving anywhere in your area where you are, anywhere where they could possibly find out or see you around.
Just a thought if possible? I know I couldn't stay if I was you and for your own safety and your family you need to get out and quick 🙏🏻

Benefits fraud hotline? Have you informed them.

The law does not apply here it seems it a truly baffling situation if we were to do what these people do we would be dealt with instantly

Op honestly life is too short. Move. I know you’ve said it would be difficult but there has to be a way. You can’t live like this.

So you need to report, report, report.
Police 101 on speed dial. Local council & HA. Email too for paper trail.
Make sure you get incident numbers.

Then raise a community trigger.

@Fullofhotcrossbuns

Done that, the local MP ignores my emails.

As silly as this sounds DH has sent a file to a relative in the event of anything happening to him or us as a family to go to the media and report it .

DH has been assaulted three times over the last year by the neighbours partner and drug dealers.

This sounds appalling - I'm so sorry you're going through this.

All sounds alarming.

Its no good police saying its one word against another re your husbands assault... Assuming these people have previous? (search local papers for any convictions /local court archive...).
If there's extensive violence /intimidation you know of ... I'd write to police /MP/CPS.. Saying something like... We're reporting this as its true... The aggressor has a known history of violence /DV - while my DH has none such. We have video to support this. We are frightened for our lives.

In tandem... I would do some under the radar stuff....:

Benefit fraud report line

Do they likely drink drive /drugged drive? - you can report them anonymously via 101.

Their poor kids /wife... I'd report to social services (but obvs this will identify you)... Or you could ask social services to say a passer by heard screaming and shouting... More believable obvs if you are close to pavement!).

I'd throw every effort you can to move.

Many years ago I rented a place like this... My sympathy

Well that story of a man who stabbed his neighbour to death over parking should bloody prompt the police into action!you can’t educate pork as they say!kill them with kindness?play them at their own game?get one of those buzzers that only teenagers can apparently hear?

I work in the ASB team for a HA so if I got your case I'd be advising the following

Rubbish - report to environmental health, continuously. That's their domain but usually takes a good half a dozen reports or so before it will get picked up by the team

Drugs/dealing - HA cant do anything unless Police find evidence. Report report report. It may feel like police do nothing but reports go on an Intel file. Descriptions, car makes and models, number plates, times dates etc. Can report through crimestoppers anon. Takes ALOT of reports for police to look into.

Threatening behaviour - diarise everything. Dates, times and what happened and the impact it had on you. The HA should be dealing with this, offering mediation etc. I'm surprised they're just ignoring it. Worst best case scenario they could get a civil injunction out to protect you. But note this means you gathering a lot of current evidence (anything more than 6 months old is not useable), keeping diaries, getting videos, writing a witness statement (which the defendant is legally entitled to read) and potentially attending court.

DA - report to police every single time. For a record more than anything. If you are concerned for the children report to social services.

Happy for you to message me if you want any more advice.

@MsMiaWallace

So you need to report, report, report. Police 101 on speed dial. Local council & HA. Email too for paper trail. Make sure you get incident numbers.

Then raise a community trigger.

Since last June we have submitted over 250 reports that is how bad it is here and how much it is consuming our lives

Also, read the Antisocial Crime and Policing Act 2014, that details exactly what powers the Police and the HA have (note, HA has a lot less than the Local Authority)..

@Nidan2Sandan

I work in the ASB team for a HA so if I got your case I'd be advising the following

Rubbish - report to environmental health, continuously. That's their domain but usually takes a good half a dozen reports or so before it will get picked up by the team

Drugs/dealing - HA cant do anything unless Police find evidence. Report report report. It may feel like police do nothing but reports go on an Intel file. Descriptions, car makes and models, number plates, times dates etc. Can report through crimestoppers anon. Takes ALOT of reports for police to look into.

Threatening behaviour - diarise everything. Dates, times and what happened and the impact it had on you. The HA should be dealing with this, offering mediation etc. I'm surprised they're just ignoring it. Worst best case scenario they could get a civil injunction out to protect you. But note this means you gathering a lot of current evidence (anything more than 6 months old is not useable), keeping diaries, getting videos, writing a witness statement (which the defendant is legally entitled to read) and potentially attending court.

DA - report to police every single time. For a record more than anything. If you are concerned for the children report to social services.

Happy for you to message me if you want any more advice.

We had recordings of the children being sworn at and shouted at SS just paid visits for a while then stopped

Yup, doesnt surprise me. Sadly being sworn at isnt in the list of priorities for SS. But if you're hearing violence, that's more important and likely to peak interests more.

As part of my ASB team we also deal with domestic abuse and Adult/Children safeguarding and getting SS to pick up a referral is nigh on impossible. Especially in some Local Authorities further North, which shall remain nameless

This won't change until you move, Op.

I can't imagine how awful it is for you.