To not understand what just happened

[Tiddleypom1]

We’ve just had the police call round to do a welfare check. We were completely shocked. Apparently there was a domestic disturbance and kids screaming for help reported. I have two DDs ( 4 and 6) who are quite noisy but v happy. They were playing in next doors garden early evening (with their 2 year old) all perfectly fine. They called on the neighbour too. This was completely untrue and the officers left swiftly. For context, we live on a new build estate - lovely quiet place and we know all our neighbours well. Our kids all play together, we socialise etc. so I’m at a loss. No feuds etc. Will this stay on our record now? Do they follow up? Why has this happened? Weirdly this also happened a few weeks ago to another close neighbour and she was just as baffled/upset. It all feels malicious

Well it obviously sounds like a neighbour who doesn’t much like the noise of the kids playing and has decided to make false allegations about you all as a result.

Obviously, the police have to check up on these things, but I wouldn’t worry about any more serious repercussions because it’ll be obvious what’s going on.

Maybe a miserable bugger neighbour who doesn’t like the sound of happy playing children?

If it is one dickhead reporting everyone with perfectly normal child-related noise, the police will cotton on fairly quickly and they’ll get short shrift. I know it’s a horrible thing to happen, but try and rise above it. You know you’ve done nothing wrong.

I’d guess have a very bitter, passive aggressive neighbour who seems to be causing trouble because they’re annoyed any time they hear children playing. Do you have any suspicions as to who the miserable beggar is?

This and all the above… what a horrible thing to happen to you and neighbours, so sorry. It’ll likely be someone who is so nice to your face sadly

Get a ring doorbell which records so you have evidence if need be.

The police are used to misuse of service reporting. A bitter Neighbour.

Thanks everyone. I feel better. My DH had only been home half an hour and we rarely shout at each other let alone are violent. Likewise I’ve never hit the kids or seen them fearful etc. I just can’t believe one of our neighbours would do this. Feel so betrayed (could they not have rung the doorbell and checked for themselves? We know everyone by name) urgh. What a mess.

It could also be that a perfectly kind neighbour is having some sort of mental health episode and genuinely believes a child is being harmed because they are hearing noises that aren't there. Not everyone is malicious but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a negative impact on those around them.

What happened to just ordering pizzas to your neighbours homes to wind them up?

10 years ago a twisted neighbour called the police out one Friday evening. It was about 6pm and about 10 children aged between 2 and 8 were playing out on the culdesac with 5 or 6 parents (one from each household involved) watching and supervising them and chatting. 2 had mugs of tea and one had a can of Coke. Apparently the report was of an out of control street party with alcohol and unsupervised children. The very confused PC and PCSO had a quick chat with the parents, said thank you for supervising your children so effectively and went on their way. We heard later that the caller had been told not to make false reports. Hopefully this will be the case for you too!

Made me smile. Too expensive now I guess 😏

Could it be possible there are two similar named streets eg Elm Close snd Elm Crescent in your town and they had the wrong one?

Does your garden back on to someone who is childless?

4-6 plus 2 yo - what time were they out until? Were they screaming and perhaps keeping someone’s baby awake?

Also consider it is not someone who actually lives on the estate but someone who knows some of the people who do

It can be really hard to tell where sound is coming from sometimes. I'd assume it's someone who thought they heard something of genuine concern, maybe misidentified the house or even direction it was coming from, and made a fair report. I wouldn't expect them to come and check themselves because putting yourself in the line of potential domestic violence mightn't be safe.

If it's malicious, the police will get the measure of them soon enough. I wouldn't worry about it.

It'll be someone who has too much time on their hands, unhappy in life, who smiles to your face but plots behind your back.

I had a malicious neighbour once. Had the police come round to my house claiming the house was cold and baby not been fed. Nice house, warm, baby fed and happy of course, everything in order as it should be. Police were as puzzled as me. The neighbours were very strange people, actually gave me the creeps, they did some weird things including this, so one of the reasons we moved. Nothing else ever came of it, wasn't passed on to the health visitor.

Probably a neighbour at the end of their tether with noisy kids.

What is acceptable kids being kids noise to some people is a living hell to others.

Maybe check if your kids are screaming and screeching when they're outside and if they are, obviously shush them to normal voices.