Freedom of information act?

debs66_2

hmm, just happened to read this news item:

http://news.aol.co.uk/police-told-to-harass-troublemakers/article/20080507223209990009

would a local councillor/MP look a bit apathetic if they do nothing when this is what the government is saying. will they walk the walk, or just talk the talk..?

comicmankev

m.colak wrote: »

Ummm abit confused surely the criminal damage act 1971 has a part in it which directly correlates to:

Damaging property/arson with intent to endanger life/recklessness

Section 1(2) of the Act makes it an offence to destroy or damage property, intending thereby to endanger the life of another, or being reckless as to whether the life of another would thereby be endangered <Archbold 23-13>.
If the damage is committed by fire, the offence is charged as arson with intent or being reckless as to whether the life of another would be thereby endangered.
Where the aggravated form of damaging property/arson is charged, specific counts should be preferred, as follows:

• intending to destroy/damage property or being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed/damaged and intending to endanger the life of another; or
• intending to destroy/damage property or being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed/damaged and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

surely the cops know the law . If someone deliberately starts a fire its arson (no matter whether its their property or not). If this doesn't work then the council (if council tenants) or mortgage company can take them to court as the property isn't owned by them anyway.

Thanks for that, it is a great bit of information. I just cant believe how little the police are doing, especially with what Jackie Smith said this morning - lol.

I have emailed my MP and she has already replied, so hopefully that will get somewhere.

Thanks all for your posts so far.

Mutantk

I sympathise with you enourmously - reading your posts, our problem wa a carbon copy - very similar instances all of which the police said were a nuisance, but not quite criminal - the bloke got away with it and he knew it and did it all the more - if the police went round to warn him off, he just didn't answer - the council were also involved but very disinterested as it was still not quite criminal, just annoying - it was a very distressing time for me. Thankfully he moved 2 weeks ago and the relief was immense - goodluck, keep plugging away with police.council etc

comicmankev

Sometimes it just feels so petty though, I can't believe I have to keep on at the police like this. My youngest is 15 months, and I also have a 7 year old. He is a very little man and I don't worry too much about myself (even though at one point the police said I was at the top of their priority list because they were concerned for my safety), but obviously I go to work and leave my rather small wife and children at home, and it makes things a lot more stressful.

black-saturn

I agree with the police thing. Report to the police every little thing he does. But don't ever retaliate as it could backfire on you. Whether he's had a criminal record or not makes no difference. He will still be living in the same place.

Mutantk

I too felt petty calling the police at 3am but in the end I took the attitude that I would make a nuisance of myself in the hope it would bore them and they would do more. We pushed for the police to issue a formal harrassment warning in the hopes it would warn him off but they were reluctant as apparantly it's hard to make it stick in court if it comes to it...this bloke was small too and around 60 but it didn't stop me feeling nervous of him - he was unpredictable and weird which is scarier in some ways...

comicmankev

Mutantk wrote: »

he was unpredictable and weird which is scarier in some ways...

Thats just it I think. And the fact that his girlfriend who was always a very nice chatty neighbour, has become more vindictive than him!

Well, after the MP emails I received 3 replies, and 2 phonecalls from real police! Still nothing done though, but hopefully if I keep making a pest out of myself it will.

Sharra

Surely if there's the evidence they can slap an asbo on him? If he breaches that, he's looking at prison.

comicmankev

To get an ASBO they provide you BOTH with ASBO diaries!!! God only knows what thats all about, but he has already filled up two daires about the things I've done, and I've not even been home this week - lol

Mutantk

We tried to get an Asbo on our neighbour but you'd be surprised how hard it is to obtain one.....it's actually the council not the police in matters such as this that have this power - and because the police tell them it's not 'quite criminal', they aren't interested!