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Coronavirus

Would (will?) you snitch on your neighbours?

(180 Posts)
MawB2 Thu 17-Sept-20 11:19:31

As recommended by the fragrant Priti Patel?
What happened to “we’re all in this together”, “Brutush common sense” , “Blitz spirit” ?
From Michael Deacon in today’s DT who puts it better than I could
To encourage us, the Home Secretary Priti Patel has told an interviewer that she would happily snitch on her neighbours, should she catch them breaking the law. (British law, that is. Breaking international law is, of course, a completely different matter.)
Reporters duly travelled to Witham in Essex, to ask Ms Patel’s neighbours for a response. One woman replied that, in the circumstances described, she would cordially invite the Home Secretary to “do one”

Tellingly, the woman added: “It was all right for Dominic Cummings to drive up to his second house. It seems like one rule for them and one rule for us

I think (more than) a few of us are saying “Hear, hear”.

Petalpop Fri 18-Sept-20 10:28:58

I would only tell if a neighbour was having a party with people coming and going all the time. This is highly unlikely because I live in a quiet road with mainly elderly neighbours or young neighbours with young children (who buy the houses when the oldies start disappearing).
There is no way I would report a neighbour that had more than 6 people in total paying a visit. I am not going to sit behind my twitchy curtains counting the people in.

Hollycat Fri 18-Sept-20 10:46:08

So what’s the matter with Priti Patel? I thought she was OK - she’s not?

JeannieB44 Fri 18-Sept-20 10:48:04

1984 here we come.

Shortlegs Fri 18-Sept-20 10:49:54

If you knew one of your neighbours was habitually drink driving would you inform the police of that? Personally, I can't see the difference. Also, probably time the Dominc Cummings comparisons were dropped. It's todays chip paper now.

JenniferEccles Fri 18-Sept-20 10:51:35

All these restrictions for various parts of the country are introduced.
All these conundrums about whether or not to report a neighbour......

Meanwhile Sweden has none of these problems as they have never had a lockdown.

Interestingly on graphs of increases in various European countries, the Swedish one is virtually flat.

Makes you think doesn’t it?

Fereshtay Fri 18-Sept-20 10:57:24

Agree with you totally. I would steer clear if my neighbours if they did that, but would not report it. Have to live with them after when hopefully this is all over. Government telling people to snitch on their neghbours is not right. We don't want to live in a Neo-facist society like in the war. Stay safe everybody

Morgie52 Fri 18-Sept-20 10:58:34

No I wouldn’t personally as I happen to like and get along with my neighbours and would like it to stay that way.

Lupin Fri 18-Sept-20 11:03:15

No, I wouldn't. I would stay out of their way, and if they asked why I'd tell them.

Moggycuddler Fri 18-Sept-20 11:04:11

Depends what they were doing. If it was a big gathering, or flouting rules more than once, probably yes, if we're talking about covid rules. Simply because it's that sort of behaviour that is causing the virus to become bad again - specially in the area where I live. Otherwise, if they were doing seriously bad stuff, drug dealing etc, yes. Anything like abuse, animal cruelty, yes. Too many people get away with these things because people are too scared or too "nice" to report other people. And yes to antisocial, noisy, nuisance behaviour too, if reasonable polite requests to stop don't work. Too many people are totally inconsiderate and bad behaviour goes on everywhere because people are reluctant to do anything about it.

justwokeup Fri 18-Sept-20 11:06:49

Agree absolutely with Franbern. If we comply with spying on our neighbours, a complete U-turn from the 'we're all in it together' attitude, our future is bleak. Far more insidious and frightening than Covid for me.

mbody Fri 18-Sept-20 11:08:32

Absolutely not

starlily106 Fri 18-Sept-20 11:16:13

No, I wouldn't snitch. If the latest rules are 30 people can meet to shoot birds, then why can't those who go metal detecting do so. If people can go to pubs until 10pm, then why can't a family meet up at a home. The rules are so stupid now that people are starting to think what the heck! I keep to the hand, face and space advice, dont go out unless I need to, for my benefit and for other folk as well. As others have said snitching points towards 1984.

catta5 Fri 18-Sept-20 11:18:40

If you lived in a decent law abiding area then no one would be breaking the rules as who wants a lockdown we want rid of this virus and let’s do what it takes.
We as people are responsible for our own actions let’s stop blaming the government It is who is spreading the virus not a government who are not sitting on buses or in shops with no masks Or even in groups with no masks or even poor bus driver saying please put your mask to cover your nose and as soon as elderly gentleman turns to find a seat he takes It down again

SillyNanny321 Fri 18-Sept-20 11:24:28

Certainly not! My neighbours are mid-20’s. Nice couple with small boy. Lots of friends & family in & out over Lockdown but did not occur to me to try to report them. They probably subscribe to the idea that as they are young they either will not catch the virus or it will be just like a heavy cold! Possibly for them but their parents are older & visit so could be very ill. It is up to them & I limit contact as much as possible without being unneighbourly. Sometimes a rather loud hint helps but certainly not ‘snitching’ as we all have to live together if this does ever go away!

albertina Fri 18-Sept-20 11:28:02

As I have bullies both sides here, it's unlikely that I would be brave enough. The past 7 years have been very difficult, but at least I didn't have to isolate here, I did it with my family.

I think people need to think carefully who they report as some folk ( eg man to my right here) are serious drug takers who are not always in control of their senses.

I think that the knock on effect of the arrogant Mr Cummings will make a lot of people break the rules.

Kate1949 Fri 18-Sept-20 11:34:01

I wouldn't be brave enough to report but I'm struggling to see what part of the rules people don't understand. In Birmingham we are in 'special measures' - two households are not to mix. Our neighbours, who are in their 70s, have just let their son and his children into their house. It makes me cross.

jerseygirl Fri 18-Sept-20 11:47:03

I wouldn't. People know the risks and its up to them to follow the rules. As long as it doesn't affect me i dont mind.

dogsmother Fri 18-Sept-20 11:47:27

Completely despise telltales.
It is something alien to my nature and it’s something I brought my children up not to do.
I make no apologies, I make my own judgment naturally and not everything is that simple of course.

leeds22 Fri 18-Sept-20 11:51:21

Holiday let 5 doors from us takes up to 20 people, if they continue to let then I might report the property. Otherwise keep my head down on neighbours comings and goings.

Chewbacca Fri 18-Sept-20 11:52:07

I'm only interested in what I do; I've no interest in what my neighbours get up to. As for snitching on them; no, this government seems rather too keen to get us to spy on others to make up for their own failure to manage this pandemic properly from the outset.

Franbern Fri 18-Sept-20 11:53:54

Nannapat1

Glad I don't live next door to you Missiseff!

Another one who is delighted not to have Nannapat1 as a neighbour. What a dreadful crime - actually seeing a hard-working daughter and g.child every week!!!!
You do not sound a very nice person Nannapat1 - would you have refused to have had this nurse treat you if you had gone into hospital???

Franbern Fri 18-Sept-20 11:55:17

Sorry Nannapat1 - would not mind you as a neighbour at all, Meant this to be directed to Missiseff.

ayse Fri 18-Sept-20 12:01:43

Franbern, I agree with you too.

Delila Fri 18-Sept-20 12:12:03

Definitely not.

Missiseff Fri 18-Sept-20 12:25:01

I didn't report these particular neighbours actually, just stopped speaking to them because I'm pissed off that they broke the rules. No loss. And the daughter isn't as hard working as you think, doesn't work with poorly patients etc. I did however report some neighbours a few doors down, as did the rest of the street, as they were having a house full of twenty-somethings round every day and night. If they had been carrying Covid & passed it on to one of my nearest and dearest by standing next to them in a shop etc I would have been more than angry, as I would have been if any one of them had been in a hospital bed next to my 86 yr old dad & the decision was made to treat them instead of him. So if that makes me nasty, so be it.