What now?

Brickwall

I'm hoping someone can offer some advice.

We have a neighbour from hell at the bottom of the street. Basically the younger kids are running wild, more so when they're left on their own. The oldest seems to be about 13/14, I have to say she appears to be the instigator, the youngest is in nursery, it's a main road at the bottom of the street yet he's running all over the street with no shoes or socks on, the other one is about 9, then there is one that's looks about 5/6, they're slamming balls all over, throwing their shoes all over, bits of wood, stones, in fact anything they can get their hands on.

Tonight they were throwing their shoes all over, one of them was climbing on a neighbours car, they're on holiday at the mo, their dad lets them actually sit on the roof of their car, they've been running all over the gardens, throwing hands full of gravel all over the place. We've got two cars standing in the front garden, they don't care who's garden they're running in.

Tonight it just went too far, it was clear the parents were out, the kids were absolutely wild, I rang the none emergency police number, after about 20 minutes a police car came down the street, the kids were in their own back garden at the time, the police didn't stop and go to the house, just drove down the street and away. Ten minutes later the kids were out there again, throwing hands full of stones all over, I rang the none emergency number again, they told me that a car had been down the street but they hadn't seen the kids. I'd have thought they would have at least knocked at the house?

They're a completely unapproachable family, every other word starts with an "f". The letting agent just don't want to know, no one knows where the actual landlord is, I just don't know what else to do?

madwomanintraining

I would approach the council and start keeping a diary, see if they can help.

pinkshoes

I would get social services involved!

Brickwall

Would the council do anything considering it's not a council house?

The kids have no respect for anyone, even the nursery school kid sneers at people, if they see someone watching they just laugh at them and do it all the more. We have cctv on the front of the house, I feel like taking the recording to the police station and asking them if they'd be happy with this going on around their cars. The father has kids all over the place and they regularly stay there, in fact one of them lives there permanently, he's about 19, has a ladder up at his bedroom window and is coming and going up the ladder all night.

I can't believe that if the police come down the street and it's quiet they don't even knock at the house? I was wondering if giving the community police a ring would be worth while?

Detroit

When you called the police was it to complain about the behaviour? If so, you may have more success next time in calling to report that 4 young children are at risk, left without adult supervision, and in danger, in the road etc. I'd be very surprised if the police don't knock the door if you tell them this.
People often wrongly believe it is 'legal' to leave kids with 13 year olds. In fact, parents are liable if they leave their kids inadequately supervised, regardless of the age of the child supposed to be looking after them.
It seems this older child isn't responsible enough to keep the younger ones safe, and this should be addressed.
There are also numbers to report this type of neglect to social services.

Brickwall

Thanks for the reply.

The oldest one is the instigator, she starts the younger ones off, I'm sure she's well aware if the younger ones do any damage they can't be held legally responsible.

I'm stunned that the letting agent don't want to know, they won't even pass a message onto the landlord, and the police don't seem to want to know either. I told them that one child was 3/4 years old and was just running all over the road with nothing on his feet, they were still running around the street well after 10pm.

enthusiasticsaver

Social services? The police won't be interested unless there is criminal activity from the children so I guess if the cars are damaged they may be more useful. More of an issue is the care of the young children if no adult is supervising them. Letting agents are usually useless when it comes to their tenants. They only care about getting their rent not if their tenants are neighbours from hell.

DCFC79

The fact the younger 1 has nothing on his feet is of no importance. Its already been suggested but keep a diary and give social services a call.

The police have been involved before where children have been left unattended.

KxMx

I think the only thing you can do is keep trying and be persistent. Also look at how you are reporting things, careful wording as already suggested my trigger a different response. If you have CCTV to back claims up, use this to your advantage.

By all means get in touch with the community police as well.

DoctorDooLittle

You could do a land registry search for the property. That would give you the owner's name.

Even if you find him, he probably won't care unless his property is being damaged though.

If he's not interested in evicting them, your best option is probably to move.

The police won't be interested in kids causing trouble. What can they do about it anyway?

DoctorDooLittle

Brickwall wrote: »

I'm stunned that the letting agent don't want to know, .

Are you? I'd be more surprised if they were.