Now what?!!

Gingernutty

I went to see a councillor at a local "festival" in the pouring rain.

As I left the house, I came across a child's plastic desk dumped on the pavement on my doorstep.

I took it with me.

When I gave the reasons for my visit, the councillor just sighed and pulled out his file.

Street drinking, people dumping stuff on their doorsteps, general antisocial behaviour, noise, criminal damage.....you know, the usual.

The house which is privately rented may not be on the rented housing register.

I also got in touch with HMRC to report a non resident landlord was renting out a house in my street and may not have declared the extra income.

So that's her grassed up. Again.

When I try, I can be quite evil

Gingernutty

After a dodgy weekend where a broken electronic dartboard was leant against next door and stuff thrown at it :eek: , today hit a new low.

It was the first day of the Summer holidays and it was bedlam.

The smallest kids found that the best new game in town is who can make the jump up the two steps, hit the front door (next door's void property) and make it shake.

This was after they'd inspected my front door keyhole and ascertained that there was a key in the door - so there must be someone in. :eek:

After receiving a couple of calls reassuring me that we are now on some sort of ASB 'round' where police officers will call round periodically, I had to call them twice today about the youngsters' rowdy behaviour.

When they naffed off at around 9pm, the place looked like a bomb site - they'd raided someones' recycling bin and left shredded cardboard all over everywhere.

The owner of the empty house next door called me, thanked me for looking out for his place and said he'd try to visit the house more regularly and try to get the parents of the kids onside.

I wished him luck with that plan. :rotfl:

Savvy_Sue

Gingernutty wrote: »

This was after they'd inspected my front door keyhole and ascertained that there was a key in the door - so there must be someone in. :eek:

I know you work odd shifts, but my insurance has a specific clause not to leave the key in the door overnight or when the property is empty. So if you leave it there while you're asleep it might be an issue, not sure.

Be very sure that they can't get the keys through the letter box - how could they see that the keys were there?

In fact you might want specific crime protection advice from the local police.

Gingernutty

Savvy_Sue wrote: »

I know you work odd shifts, but my insurance has a specific clause not to leave the key in the door overnight or when the property is empty. So if you leave it there while you're asleep it might be an issue, not sure.

Be very sure that they can't get the keys through the letter box - how could they see that the keys were there?

In fact you might want specific crime protection advice from the local police.

There's an escutcheon on the front of the door - they flipped it back to try and look through the keyhole.

The key is quite tight in the lock, the lock is 'thrown' and the key is quarter turned in the lock again to prevent it being manipulated from the letterbox.

The 'stormproof' letterbox is sprung and also has an inner flap so opening the outer flap gets you a view of the inner flap.

The housing authority who owns the house next door has replied by email and made themselves an appointment for midday Friday.

I'll be waiting.....:mad:

Gingernutty

This evening, at 19:30, I woke up for my night shift.

After removing my ear plugs I was surprised to hear nothing.

Nothing at all.

Not a peep.

The children weren't just playing quietly - they were not there at all.

They're usually called in around 20:30 - 21:00.

I suspect the housing association may have told the tenant about the visit.

I can't prove that though.

All I can do is pick up on the little clues........

Gingernutty

So

The meeting with the housing association reps was brief. They didn't tell anyone else they were coming btw.

I described what's been happening, showed them the rocking horse skeleton sitting in my recycling bin and explained that playing children who were simply being noisy isn't much of an issue - I just wish they'd leave my house and my neighbour's alone.

They explained that they can't be held responsible for other peoples' children, for rubbish dumped outside anyone else's houses and it's unreasonable to complain about noise during the day - I said obviously, their only concern was with their tenants and their properties.

As for the noise, I explained that for the last couple of days it's been so quiet during the day, that it's the first time I heard the washing machine going. The music's been that loud previously.

They agreed to give general advice about child safety in the holidays and about supervising responsibly as it is such a horrible neighbourhood, it simply isn't safe to let young children out unsupervised.

I also received a call today from the local police officer who told me to ask for him personally when reporting antisocial behaviour and the local councillor I spoke to on Saturday has passed on details from our conversation to the relevant council workers who've emailed me to introduce themselves.

Progress.

Gingernutty

I've had a meeting today with the Council's antisocial behaviour officer.

The first report she'd had was from a house across the road and had been complaining about the kids from MY house and the house of an old woman a couple of doors down who has also been tormented by the little ferals!! :mad: :eek: :rotfl:

The kiddies had been spending so long outside our houses that he thought they lived here.

Using a printout from this thread, I explained as well as I could about the vermin (insects, mice, rats and now foxes), the dumping, the antisocial behaviour, the noise, the lack of parental supervision and she chipped in with what she saw on the way down the street as she almost ran over small children and some idiot pushing a woman in a wheelchair into the path of oncoming traffic.

We have street drinkers, prostitutes, fly tipping, some legendary families she's been dealing with for years and a real problem with voids (empty properties).

There are plans in place and she and her team will do some observations.

She seemed very confident about the regeneration of the area and the new developments being built - she liked my house and what I was doing with it, envying a busted fireplace my late dad had got out of a skip as she left. :rotfl:

She left me her card to contact her to report any developments.

She seemed nice enough.......

Gingernutty

Gingernutty wrote: »

I've had a meeting today with the Council's antisocial behaviour officer.

The first report she'd had was from a house across the road and had been complaining about the kids from MY house and the house of an old woman a couple of doors down who has also been tormented by the little ferals!! :mad: :eek: :rotfl:

The kiddies had been spending so long outside our houses that he thought they lived here.

Using a printout from this thread, I explained as well as I could about the vermin (insects, mice, rats and now foxes), the dumping, the antisocial behaviour, the noise, the lack of parental supervision and she chipped in with what she saw on the way down the street as she almost ran over small children and some idiot pushing a woman in a wheelchair into the path of oncoming traffic.

We have street drinkers, prostitutes, fly tipping, some legendary families she's been dealing with for years and a real problem with voids (empty properties).

There are plans in place and she and her team will do some observations.

She seemed very confident about the regeneration of the area and the new developments being built - she liked my house and what I was doing with it, envying a busted fireplace my late dad had got out of a skip as she left. :rotfl:

She left me her card to contact her to report any developments.

She seemed nice enough.......

Although having said all that, I've had to call 101 (again :mad:) as the little ferals were taking flying kicks at the front door.

georgie262

I lived in a row of terraces growing up and there were LOADS of kids in our street. We were allowed to play out quite late in hindsight - probably later than I would be happy to leave my son out for now but it was very normal. However, bad behavior was not tolerated at all really. Me and my best friend neighbour write 'house' once on everyone's front posts and were made to write 'sorry' letters to all the neighbours and sent round with soapy water to wash it off everyones post. On another occasion I got in some serious trouble for 'shouting like a fish wife' for shouting my friend from one end of the street to the other.
From what you have described OP, the mother is not going to be understanding and unless she is completely intimidation I'd probably try and have a quiet word with her anyway before reporting her.

Gingernutty

Update.

After passing by and overhearing a conversation between one couple who have also had trouble and the mother of one of the more prominant children, I joined in.

She said she'd have a word.

After kiddo left more junk on the doorstep I had another word and then we chatted as she passed the house on the way to the shops and I showed her the damage to the front door.

Like a lot of kids, her LO, on being accused of something, told us that it wasn't just her it was .....and promptly listed a few of the other kids as well.

After a couple of other instances, I had reason to go to the door of another house and found one of the kids who'd been involved.

I spoke to the mother about the Japanese Knotweed in the garden, she said she'd tell the landlady and then I went into

"Is this [Name of her LO]?"

"Yes"

"Listen...."

The girl was immediately grounded for that day and, grassed up the rest of her little mates as well.

Mom told me that she'd have a word with the other kids and the mothers that she knew about and you know what?

Nothing.

Sure, they're screeching like whistles as they scream past my house. But they're going past my house. Nothing else.

Likey!

I am keeping a weather eye out though, just in case.