Would you call the police on neighbors if you hear domestic issues/violence ?

kizkiz

The reason the police get involved at an early stage is because of the research that was done in to murders which discovered that a vast percentage were domestic related and tend to start off with arguments and minor assaults first.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/jul/19/falling-murder-rate-domestic-violence

"As the official statisticians point out, more than two-thirds of murders involve a partner or an ex-partner, or stem from some other kind of family-related violence."

Early intervention can save lives.
I've seen plenty first hand, with good and sometimes horrific results

Rev

emweaver wrote: »

That is very unfortunate incident but does not mean every couple who argue will go onto kill the other.

Surely it is a waste of police time calling them out over a silly argument.

I absolutely agree. It was just an example, but to be honest I'd rather the police wasted a few mins for nothing than live with knowing I could have called and some poor person was walloped about because I didn't.

bitemebankers

ifstar wrote: »

The vast majority of the time, the police WILL respect your privacy if you tell them you don't want to have them contact you or attend at the door.

The "vast majority of the time" isn't good enough. The bottom line is, the police will disregard your privacy if it gets in their way.

I suspect you've had a bad experience but it is very far from the norm and shouldn't be used to put people off calling.

I'm NOT putting people off calling - quite the contrary, I stated that I would definitely call the police if I suspected domestic abuse.

What I am saying is, if you do call the police, take steps to ensure your anonymity rather than trusting them to look after it for you. It's just common sense, really.

Birdie85

I called the police on my ex-upstairs neighbour several times. Most Sunday mornings he'd stagger in after a bender at about 6am (often ringing our doorbell to buzz him in as he'd lost his key) and then the screaming would start. Once we heard the banging of things being thrown around and the death threats I was straight onto the police. I didn't care if I was being a nosey neighbour or over-reacting, I was scared for the girl upstairs and even if things were 'fine' I'd rather them being shocked into silence and dealing with disagreements in a less destructive manner after a couple of visits from the police (who were excellent every time and turned up within minutes of me calling the local police number) than carrying on the way that they were and it escalating into something seriously damaging over time. I (and other neighbours I later learned) followed each police visit with a complaint to the LL and they eventually got evicted.

jackyann

I have worked in the field of domestic abuse, and I would roughly echo the advice that most are giving:
If it just sounds like shouting, and possibly some door or wall hitting, don't call at first. Someone trying to control themselves is better hitting the door than a person.
Do call if you think there is any personal violence, if you actually hear threats or serious verbal abuse.
Consider calling if it happens so often at a pitch that bothers you, or makes you think that more is going on. Also consider it if children may be involved: verbal abuse can be damaging for them.

Do ask trusted others for their opinion - I remember the first time I heard a mum shout at a child I was so shocked I thought I should call NSPCC, as I came from a family where that didn't happen! BUT don't gossip with neighbours as that may inflame the situation.

Don't give your name - the police will be as tactful as they can. Sometimes it is the number of calls that show a pattern.

An early poster said that they had called the police but the victim would not press charges. The law has been changed so that in serious cases, the police can press charges.

And good for you for taking this seriously.

RevolvingDoor

I heard two domestic incidents in my street today, one was a man who I think had a drug issue shouting really loudly at his partner from outside the front door and then my next door neighbour (male) shouting at his girlfriend. I didn't call the police as I'm not sure whether to get involved or not.