Can the police do this?? Totally dropped me in it with my neighbour who’s now threatened to kill me

[Anonymousmummmy]

Hi everyone, the police came to my door quite a few weeks ago and asked for my doorbell camera footage as my neighbour’s property (opposite me) had been damaged and my camera points at them. I checked the footage quickly and told the police it doesn’t show their property being damaged and they asked me to send everything around that timeframe anyway so I did (I didn’t know who damaged her property). At the end of one of the videos it showed my neighbour arguing with her bf and then him pushing her over (nothing crazy but obviously physical - they were both drunk from the look of it and I didn’t really think much about it as they were kind of fighting each other and it only lasted a few seconds). Anyway, never thought anymore about it since then, but boy do I wish I had excluded that stupid video.

The other day police arrived at their house late evening and arrested her bf - had no idea why, we were asleep in bed and only woke up to loads of police shouting loudly at them to open the door over and over again. Anyway, the next day my neighbour comes to my door and tells me that she knows I sent my doorbell videos to the police because the police showed her bf the video of them arguing, and they could see my car etc in the video so knew it was from me. She was livid when speaking to me and then told me if I ever mention her name or her bf’s name to the police ‘again’ (never knew what their names were to begin with), that she’ll ’bury me’. I didn’t say a word and just shut my front door. I’m not the type to argue at all and I was very scared and shaking at that point.

My question is, are the police allowed to do that? Show her bf the footage from my camera which makes me look like I snitched on them (was NOT my intention whatsoever - I thought they were looking for evidence of someone who damaged her property)? I don’t even get why it was a thing in the first place - I never thought anyone would get in trouble over a few secs of video of them shoving each other and her going onto the floor.

My bf went to speak with her yesterday after she threatened me and she said the police told her I called the police and reported them arguing the other day! I don’t know if she lied about this, or assumed it was me when it wasn’t; maybe the police said your ‘neighbour’ called and she assumed it was me?

Anyway, the police have totally landed me it in. I have lost trust in them now and will never share anything with them again. I thought I was helping catch someone who vandalised their property and now I’m here scared with my baby in case she decides to actually ‘bury me’…

Oh OP I’m so sorry, I have no idea on the legalities of this but it’s obviously left you vulnerable with a baby, the police are absolutely untrustworthy and to have done this without considering the outcome for you is beyond irresponsible. Call your local station and complain/ask to escalate the mistake. The sheer amount of flagrant disregard for the safety and protection for women and girls in the police is horrifying.

Classy

She should be arrested and cautioned herself - it's a crime to intimidate witnesses. I wouldn't hesitate to call the police to report.

And follow up in writing.

?

I think you need to complain as well op. And tbh I'd log that she's threatened you - presumably your ring doorbell captured it as well? If she ever did do anything in future you'd want to have that logged. I understand why they probably need to show what evidence they have but I imagine there was a way to make it less obvious that it came from your house. I'm sorry op that sounds really stressful and upsetting for you.

Pretty sure they can to some degree. I once reported a fight between neighbours and the police told them it was me and I got abuse for months before they ended up moving!

You need to report the threat.

Yes police can use footage in this way.

You need to call 101 and report the threat made.

You need to speak to the police again and tell them what's happened.

This

I had something similar happen a few years ago. Police knocked on our door asking what cctv had been captured. In a street of 12, two other neighbours didn’t get along. One of the neighbours keyed the others car in the early hours one morning. We caught it on cctv but I talked my husband out of handing it over. I was scared of the “car keying” neighbours as it was and feared retaliation as the cctv would have been very obvious which house handed it in.

We sold up soon after. Hated living in between the warring households and constantly avoiding people for fear of their volatility.

Even if you just get the police to explain to her that THEY approached YOU for the footage.

She seems to be under the mistaken impression that you took it upon yourself to send it off to them first.