Would you report your neighbours?

[BadlyDrawnSimpsonsCharacter]

Sorry, another Covid-related thread.

Intrigued to see what the general consensus is on here, especially those of you who are under or are about to go under Tier 3.

If you saw your neighbours with someone in their garden, who you know are not occupants of the house (one, two, ten people, it doesn't matter) would you report them? Or would you leave them to it and crack on with your own business?

Whenever I've had conversations in real life it seems very 50/50, so I'm intrigued to see what the people of Mumsnet think.

25 people huddled together yes

15 people well spared no.

However my neighbours are very sweet and we have been looking after each other through lockdown. In one way or another. They are very sensible and considerate

Not unless it was a large house party.

I don't see the transmission risk when compared to being in a restaurant, on a plane/bus, or in the gym. I'm in Liverpool, we can do all of those things, but can't meet up in the garden. So no, I wouldn't report.

If there was a planned protest over closing the soft plays (and thus cancelling the Halloween parties) I'd join in this one.

No. Tier 2 here. One of our neighbours is currently undergoing treatment for cancer and is not at all well. He meets his grandchildren in his freezing cold garden, sitting in a metal chair, coat on, covered with a blanket, getting rained on and shivering.

I've spoken to him before and he says he's not losing this time with them. It might be all the time they have. If he and his family snuck inside to get out of the sleeting rain and into the warmth (against the rules here), there's not a chance in hell I'd report them and I'd be very angry with anyone who did.

No, I’d keep my nose out of their business.

I'd mind my own business. Always.

I think it does matter whether it is 1, 2 or 10 people. 10 people in an area where they are not allowed in a garden - yes, I would report them.

Maybe for a huge party, certainly not just a handful of people like either side of me are doing. I don't have the energy to care anymore.

You never know when you might need help from your neighbours so this sort of thing should be a last resort

Nope.

Nope, I would not.

In those circumstances, definitely not.
Tier 3 logic is interesting. Up to 6 people can sit in the park together, persons (not sure up to how many) can still go to the pub for dinner but you can't have 1 person in your garden. Hmmm.

www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/10/22/tier-3-lockdown-rules-high-alert-areas-restrictions/

I'd assume they were having an eye test.

Surely reporting neighbours for having guests in the garden is counterproductive, regardless of what the rules actually say, as they will just sneak then inside where they won't be seen instead (especially with the evenings drawing in and the cover of darkness). Inside there is an actual risk of spreading covid, whereas there is barely any evidence of spread outside.

The druggies over the back yes but they stink the place out to the degree we can't use our gardens due to the stench and sweary music so I don't feel I owe them any good neighbour vibes

My close neighbours? No they are good people who try their best to abide by the rules I won't report a slip

No. Why are people so eager to rat on their neighbours? Mind your own business!

No.

I’m really uncomfortable with law enforcement type activity around public health issues. There are real problems with this approach.

No. Everyone's got a reason for doing what they do.

Also certain reasons why people can still meet up are allowed . Caring for vulnerable people, childcare etc

If they were having an out of hand party probably but just one or two people absolutely not .

@RonaLisa couldn't agree with your post more. People have been frothing at the mouth to report others - the thought of considering reporting someone for having a chat with friends or family etc in their garden really concerns me.

Reminds me of a post I saw the other day:

"If you've ever wondered if you would have complied in 1930s Germany, now you know."

I would no longer bother as when I did report my neighbours for a loud, very noisy party last weekend, Kent police wouldn't attend because:

1. not enough patrols avaliable.
2. I couldn't prove there were more than six people there. Even though Kent police website states not to confront neighbours and I can't look through their window without being seen.

If it can't be locally enforced, and in my town it really isn't, there is no point. I will be sticking to the rules though and silently fume at those that don't. I'm about to be made redundant as Covid has destroyed my entire life the local business I work for so I'm probably bitter.

No, I'm not interested in what people around here are doing whatsoever. They could run around the street naked snogging each other for all I care.

No I wouldn’t.

Do you not think the police are going to be sick of phone calls from Nosey Norah reporting the fact her neighbour has a friend round for a cuppa.

If my neighbour was having a loud party then I would report but otherwise would leave it.

@Cyw2018

Surely reporting neighbours for having guests in the garden is counterproductive, regardless of what the rules actually say, as they will just sneak then inside where they won't be seen instead (especially with the evenings drawing in and the cover of darkness). Inside there is an actual risk of spreading covid, whereas there is barely any evidence of spread outside.

Yep. When people are limited in the out of home ways they can socialise with others, they're incentivised to do it inside the home instead, where they're least likely to be visible. This is not policeable, so what you end up with is more meeting up in small indoor spaces.