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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What can I do about this?! Neighbour issue

79 replies

TiredTilly · 13/08/2024 23:04

Im in need of some help I don’t really know what steps to take next. Starting beginning of this year ive been noticing dog poo outside my house every 2 weeks or so. Then dog poo inside my drive, like all the way in, and now dog poo intentionally right at my front door even on the bottom of the door. It’s driving DH insane his stepped on it a few times at night. his been insisting on cameras but landlord is refusing to allow it. It looks as if it’s intentionally placed outside our house and I’m really not sure why. Does anyone have any advice on what to do or have experienced similar? Is it a criminal offence can I file a complaint? I’ve watched neighbours walking their dogs around our area quite a few times and they always pick it up. Live in an area that’s quite secluded it couldn’t possible be someone that’s not part of the drive area. Thanks in advance.
posting in aibu for more traffic sorry 🙁

OP posts:
whereisthelifethatirecognize · 14/08/2024 11:46

TiredTilly · 13/08/2024 23:20

I don’t really want to think this or even mention it but me and my husband stick out in this neighbourhood. We are not of the main demographic. I don’t want to believe this is the reason 😞 it hurts.

I'm so sorry.

I would install cameras at your door. Make them obvious.

circular1985 · 14/08/2024 11:51

Check of blink cameras. We have one the sits looking out living room window. It's just a small box they doesn't need to be attached to anything. It then links up to your phone, like a ring door bell.

redalex261 · 14/08/2024 11:56

This does sound targeted with the car scratching etc. Velcro camera on door frame without removable SD. Stick on motion lights - very cheap from Amazon are fine outside if they are sheltered in porch from elements. Trail camera hidden in garden facing door is best idea, this will not be visible to bad bastard creeping up the path. Hope you get evidence if this is what’s happening and the police prosecute the nasty sods.

Kingoftheroad · 14/08/2024 12:02

Awe I am so sorry youre going through this.

Dirty filthy people.

It’s probably the agent issuing all these stupid rules. The landlord probably doesn’t know a thing. I’d contact the landlord directly. Also, as this seems to be a racial attack ask the police to contact the agency and advise them to allow you cameras

MrMucker · 14/08/2024 12:13

Fraaahnces · 14/08/2024 11:22

I’ve just popped in to say that nobody should have to live this way. I’m going to guess that your local police have an antisocial behaviour team that you could speak to about having been targeted for the reasons you mentioned above. No wonder you’re sad. I’m horrified that this shit still happens in this day and age. I’m so sorry.

Yes absolutely report this.
However the issue is not antisocial behaviour, the issue is Hate Crime.
Contact the police, submit a report immediately, and be sure to use those words.

Police respond to non emergency reports according to priority, and issues of Hate Crime figure far far higher up to them than "mere" Antisocial Behaviour.
Have a quick look at this
https://www.gov.uk/report-hate-crime

You WILL be taken seriously.

Report hate crime

Crimes committed against someone because of their race, religion, sexuality, disability or gender are hate crimes - how to report them to the police

https://www.gov.uk/report-hate-crime

GloriousGoosebumps · 14/08/2024 12:48

I would recommend the Blink outdoor camera. We bought ours for £50 in the Amazon Black Friday sale. They run on batteries, and you can simply hide it in a flowerpot / garden planter or you can buy mountings, for example a mount for a drainpipe or a mount with suction cups that you can use on the outside of your window.

What can I do about this?! Neighbour issue
What can I do about this?! Neighbour issue
What can I do about this?! Neighbour issue
WalkingonWheels · 14/08/2024 12:48

My ring doorbell is attached to my doorframe with an outdoor velcro commend strip. It's been there three years and hasn't ever come off, and won't damage the door frame.

Secradonugh · 14/08/2024 15:14

I setup a cheap 12v car style battery (from a mobility scooter) and a USB night vision camera in a cardboard box to help a farmer friend who had a fly tipper. Worked well enough to give the evidence to trading standards / Council and the police. (Police couldn't do anything unless there was a witness, and even then it's a civil offence). Might be useful for you to consider. Maybe even put the camera under the car and use the car to power it?(Don't know if that would work).

Oddly leading dog poo on private land is very similar, it's classed as "rubbish on private land", which is a civil matter.
If your council is lazy, they might start to look at "mediating", or if they are half decent, they will give a caution out to the dog owner, and if they are decent, they will give a Fixed Penalty notice to them. They can only do this if there is a clear picture from the cameras, I.e. don't cheap out on cameras.
You can take the dog owner to civil court, but I'd suspect that it won't change anything.

Just to set your expectations, the police will likely only offer to have a word with that person at best, because technically it's a civil matter. Try to make sure the camera only picks up things on "your" property, or IF it picks up anything on public land you must display a prominant sticker saying that you have a working CCTV system. Otherwise the police may have to tell you off for invading someone's privacy.
If you were living in fear from an abusive neighbour who was repeatedly harassing you, then the police would be able to take it a bit further perhaps. I wonder if defacement of property (I.e. the door) might be able to be said to be abusive.. I don't know.

You will need to keep the cameras there whilst you live there or that person doing it moves from the area. Therefore you need to hide them well or put them completely on display.

I know I sound very negative but you've just got to go around things the right way and believe that it will take time,, but you will get justice. The farmer's case took 9 months for the council to track the fly tipper and get their own evidence, and then 6 more months for the case to go to court. They did win, the fly tipper was given a £5,000 fine and 3 months prison term, suspended for I think 2 years.

GDPR:
Oh and that person has the right to ask for a copy of the recording showing them allowing the dog to crap on your door. You cannot show the images to any of the public, so no posting of it on twitter to embarass that person. You can share with council and police though. They can also ask for the erasur of any pesonal information that you have about them.

If they are the type of person who does this on purpose, they are probably the type who will try to sue you so please follow the GDPR advice.

It's all abit stupid but I think I've covered the technicalities. Apologees if I have missed something.

TiredTilly · 14/08/2024 18:48

MrMucker · 14/08/2024 12:13

Yes absolutely report this.
However the issue is not antisocial behaviour, the issue is Hate Crime.
Contact the police, submit a report immediately, and be sure to use those words.

Police respond to non emergency reports according to priority, and issues of Hate Crime figure far far higher up to them than "mere" Antisocial Behaviour.
Have a quick look at this
https://www.gov.uk/report-hate-crime

You WILL be taken seriously.

This is soo helpful thank you so much x

OP posts:
TiredTilly · 14/08/2024 18:51

Secradonugh · 14/08/2024 15:14

I setup a cheap 12v car style battery (from a mobility scooter) and a USB night vision camera in a cardboard box to help a farmer friend who had a fly tipper. Worked well enough to give the evidence to trading standards / Council and the police. (Police couldn't do anything unless there was a witness, and even then it's a civil offence). Might be useful for you to consider. Maybe even put the camera under the car and use the car to power it?(Don't know if that would work).

Oddly leading dog poo on private land is very similar, it's classed as "rubbish on private land", which is a civil matter.
If your council is lazy, they might start to look at "mediating", or if they are half decent, they will give a caution out to the dog owner, and if they are decent, they will give a Fixed Penalty notice to them. They can only do this if there is a clear picture from the cameras, I.e. don't cheap out on cameras.
You can take the dog owner to civil court, but I'd suspect that it won't change anything.

Just to set your expectations, the police will likely only offer to have a word with that person at best, because technically it's a civil matter. Try to make sure the camera only picks up things on "your" property, or IF it picks up anything on public land you must display a prominant sticker saying that you have a working CCTV system. Otherwise the police may have to tell you off for invading someone's privacy.
If you were living in fear from an abusive neighbour who was repeatedly harassing you, then the police would be able to take it a bit further perhaps. I wonder if defacement of property (I.e. the door) might be able to be said to be abusive.. I don't know.

You will need to keep the cameras there whilst you live there or that person doing it moves from the area. Therefore you need to hide them well or put them completely on display.

I know I sound very negative but you've just got to go around things the right way and believe that it will take time,, but you will get justice. The farmer's case took 9 months for the council to track the fly tipper and get their own evidence, and then 6 more months for the case to go to court. They did win, the fly tipper was given a £5,000 fine and 3 months prison term, suspended for I think 2 years.

GDPR:
Oh and that person has the right to ask for a copy of the recording showing them allowing the dog to crap on your door. You cannot show the images to any of the public, so no posting of it on twitter to embarass that person. You can share with council and police though. They can also ask for the erasur of any pesonal information that you have about them.

If they are the type of person who does this on purpose, they are probably the type who will try to sue you so please follow the GDPR advice.

It's all abit stupid but I think I've covered the technicalities. Apologees if I have missed something.

You’ve covered everything thank you so much.
going to get Velcro to stick the camera on the door and do a free standing on the windowsill.
I called the police they explained what to do and make sure to get proof. They said it’s absolutely a hate crime because they’ve even smashed my peephole on the door so I can’t see through it.
thank you guys ❤️

OP posts:
Arconialiving · 14/08/2024 21:17

Oh Op, I'm so sorry you're going through this, that's horrendous. I hope the police can make it stop.

Emmadaily · 14/08/2024 21:37

Yes definitely a hate crime and like what MrMucker says it will be absolutely prioritised
You will hopefully get an appointment at your local police station very soon then try start to get evidence to add to your statement
Good luck OP I really hope this is resolved very soon xx

timbuktootoo · 14/08/2024 21:46

So glad to hear you have been in touch with the police. Got everything crossed that when the cameras are set up you catch whatever absolute scumbag is doing this to you. Xx

itsmylife7 · 14/08/2024 21:59

Absolutely disgusting behaviour.

Hope you catch the nasty person responsible OP

Frasers · 14/08/2024 22:06

They smashed the peephole? God I’m so sorry op, what fucking scum. Get them on camera. We all want these pieces of shit off the streets.

Northernlights100 · 14/08/2024 22:38

OP it is awful that someone (or people) are doing this. I hope you find out who and it stops.

Leavingonaneasyyetplane · 14/08/2024 22:40

Another message to say that I'm so sorry you are dealing with such scum and I hope the replies regarding police contact and home security help. Are there any supportive neighbours you could include, certainly I would support any neighbour being subjected to this abuse.

Secradonugh · 15/08/2024 19:49

TiredTilly · 14/08/2024 18:51

You’ve covered everything thank you so much.
going to get Velcro to stick the camera on the door and do a free standing on the windowsill.
I called the police they explained what to do and make sure to get proof. They said it’s absolutely a hate crime because they’ve even smashed my peephole on the door so I can’t see through it.
thank you guys ❤️

Excellent. I'm so pleased they say it's a hate crime, I really didn't think they would.
However I am unfortunately giggling like a silly teenage boy, because you said 'smashed my peephole' and I'm very juvenile. Hope you catch the fool.

WhereDoWeGoFromHereBill · 16/08/2024 08:29

Surely they will just steal the velcroed doorbell camera? If they have smashed the peep hole, they'll not think twice about stealing a camera.
With hoods up and face mask on obvs, so you can't identify them.

You'll have to keep it inside the house somehow

ChateauMargaux · 16/08/2024 08:41

Think about whether you want the camera visible where might also be damaged and removed or whether you want to put it somewhere it cannot be seen.

I hope you manage to get some evidence and it is quickly sorted.

Are you on chatting terms with yiur neighbours? Talk to them and they might also be able to keep an eye out. If they are with the same rental agency, you can be firm with the agency and require them to give you the same protection as they give your neighbours... ie a ring doorbell. Also, the police might give you a crime number about the smashed peephole so they can claim it on insurance... if they refuse, maybe a community police officer might contact them and advice them of the steps they should be taken to ensure your saftey and security.

Inspireme2 · 16/08/2024 08:49

Car dash camera that detects movement so will show anyone near your car even in park mode.
I would mount a camera for the front of the house that is not pemanently fixed.
What ever your demograhic you do not have to tolerate this.

ALovelyCupOfNameChange · 16/08/2024 08:54

We have arlo cameras as we rent. They are magnetic and have batteries so completely removable and need no drilling or permission. There’s now much cheaper versions.

your grey is you’ve asked and he said no (which is weird in itself and I doubt legal). But, if you’ve a drive presumably a dash cam which picks up parking is your friend here.

Disneyrunner · 17/08/2024 13:18

What a nightmare! I would suggest a large old fashioned web cam type camera in the window that is clearly visible - even without plugging it in it may be enough of a deterrent?
As for the dog poo I'd put something like lemon juice down that will smell strongly enough to make the dog want to move on ... no guarantee the owners won't bring the deposit back though unfortunately

Startingagainandagain · 17/08/2024 13:57

I think you already got some good advice OP but I just wanted to send you a virtual hug.

The people who are doing this are vile and cowardly and I am really sorry you are having that experience.

Emmz1510 · 17/08/2024 14:00

What is your landlord like? Trustworthy? S/he wouldn’t be trying to get rid of you would they? You absolutely need a camera. Others have made good suggestions for non permanent options. I would speak to the Police. They will probably suggest cameras and might help plead your case to the landlord.