Neighbour complaint 2

Can I point out that two days is not an unreasonable time to wait for a Citizens Advice call back! You will get called but depending on the Citizens Advice (which is manned by volunteers and NOT funded by the government)

I wonder if your nice neighbour would be able to speak to the police about all this? Could he maybe ring your local station? This can't be right.

It was in response to my friendly neighbour's phone call. They said they weren't told to contact him first, this seems a bit convenient to me. When they went next door, if they did not explain, she now thinks I called them not my friendly neighbour.

Just hope this all calms down now and that PCSO does not try to call tomorrow and rail road me into anything. I shall try to be out pm tomorrow just in case.

Why did the police come last night if they didn't tell you what you've been accused of?

The answer I get from the PCSO, is that she is a Professional, I was a Professional also before I retired. I do worry that she is a, Professional, as she is in a Caring Profession. Camera has been tweeked today so I should be ok.

Police came at 7.30 last night and did not follow my neighbours instructions and call him first. I felt really intimidated they had been to my neighbour first. She has accused me of things, I don't know what! They will not tell me. They said they were not informed by whoever took the phone call that they had to call my kind neighbour first. I just want this whole thing to disappear. I have my name down for a part share bungalow next year just hope I can sell my house and leave.

By the way when I mentioned this to Police they said I would not need to mention the problem????

Possibly PCSO was intimidated by HT tenant, perfectly possible

That sounds better. If he will support you it will all feel less frightening. Suspect the PCSO is out of her depth.

That's good news. It's awful trying to sort things out on your own. What a nice man your neighbour sounds.. hopefully he'll help you through this and you can relax again.

Well done that man, someone with a bit of sense and not afraid to speak up makes all the difference. Hope it all gets quieter and the house owners tell their tenants to behave.

Hi everyone, sorry not to have replied but spent yesterday at CAB, not any use, directed me to go to a half our free solicitor but went to three and they did not provide the service. It seems few do.

Nevertheless, I have had a Knight in Shining Armour appear to my rescue. One of my near neighbours, he fitted the CCTV, rang the Police directly yesterday after he had looked on line and saw that these Agreements were for HT Tenants. He reiterated that I had not done anything and was being pushed into signing something. He had heard the noise during the two nights it occurred and confirmed it.

He also asked that they ring him back after they had spoken to the PCSO. The person he spoke to gave the impression that she did not think an owner occupier could be asked to sign either.

He also said that if I was contacted again to ask them to come after 6 pm, when he finished work, and he would be with me.

He is going to do a slight adjustment to the fixed camera "to be compliant".

So I slept easy last night. He has also told the other neighbour that if anything goes on over the holiday time we all must ring up and get a crime no. The only problem is most of my neighbours go to family over the holiday and I am on my own. My Knight in Shining Armour has said he will come to my rescue even then, I am to phone him, and he will come home. He will be at his Mum's 3 miles away. Luckily, he does not drink. We have always had lovely neighbours here. Just that tenants seem to think they can move in and upset the applecart.

This is very odd marieeliz. I’m so sorry you have this worry. If you think the PCSO is biased, as well as factually wrong, then you could ask to see her superior who should have more experience. It’s perfectly reasonable to ask to see a copy of the agreement, if she asks why then tell her you are seeking legal advice and/or considering mediation. Many local councils provide a mediator for neighbour disputes. Please don’t sign anything without informed advice. Can you go to the CAB? Or contact Age UK as Monica suggested? A letter to your MP wouldn’t go amiss either. I also think your CCTV shouldn’t cover any part of your neighbours property. I’m sorry if you have explained before who put the CCTV in for you, if an organisation you could ask them to come back and sort it. They should understand the regulations or of course they will be on the web somewhere. Hang onto the fact you have done nothing wrong. I’m sorry I don’t have a definite solution for you, this must be so difficult to manage on your own. .

Marieeliz I would get legal advice if I were you and not sign anything until you have.
Some social landlords try and insist that the police don't warn their tenants for ASB or harassment. The Harassment Act says otherwise.

You could suggest that your CCTV is helping you and is something called ''target hardening''. You may have to ask for Planning advice or permission to put CCTV on your own property.

Good luck. The Stalking Helpline gives advice on harassment too.

Refuse to sign anything at least until you have got a copy of it and consulted CAB or a solicitor.

I agree, there is definitely an attempt to road rail. Dig your toes in and say 'No'. I still would not sign. A premise of the agreement is that you did something wrong, which you have not. To my mind saying that 'you might report her to her employees' is pathetic.

I know CAB is over loaded with work everywhere, but they should still have replied by now. Try speaking to your local Age UK. They will have a help and advice centre they could direct you to a solicitor who can give you 30 minutes free advice. Have you spoken to your local councillor or your MP? If all fails try your local paper. or police complaints organisation.

But do not sign. If necessary burst into tears and cry as long as necessary or use the poor old lady being intimidated by the police line. The aim is to make them feel really uncomfortable and that nearly always works.

You are being railroaded by them because you are easy to deal with. Start not being easy to deal with.

I'm afraid you are on shaky ground with the CCTV if it covers any part of her property. Any footage of anything that is not your property is subject to the Data Protection Act and there are rules you must comply with in regard to this. Your neighbour could take you to court for invasion of privacy and failure to comply with the Act.
This is not to alarm you but can you get the camera adjusted?
I'm not sure on what grounds you could report her to her employer either. They will only be concerned with her competence and behaviour at work. Employers can't take action on behaviour outside work unless it is shown to reflect on what goes on in work.
I think you would be unwise to sign anything. Could you ask for mediation before this escalates?

When her family were causing the noise one of them must have realised it could effect her job as she urged them to stop.

The PCSO has been out and went to her first, although I had made the original complaint by phone to the HT, it seems the PCSO works with them. I have told the PCSO that I am the owner, she then said it is not the housing trust dealing with it, it is the Police and I work for the police so you can sign it even though you are the owner. She then said she wants to know asap as wants it signed by next week.

I feel I am being rail roaded into something for no reason. When I first spoke to PCSO on the phone she was sympathetic and made a number of comments supporting me but when she came after the visit next door she seemed to have changed her tune. I did wonder if there was sympathy for her as they are in similar occupations (NHS neighbour).

Neighbour seems more worried about perhaps it getting back to her employer and gathering evidence via CCTV and both of those things make me feel more secure. The CCTV is 75% on my property does not show her windows or doors just the front path as both paths run together but this is the area were the original assault took place.

I feel that the PCSO will be onto me again tomorrow to try to get me to agree and I am getting upset about this now. I have no close family to support me in this.

The PCSO asked that her path be removed from CCTV but it is a fixed camera which shows the complete front of my house garden and drive.

Surely there's no reason for anyone to think you would contact her employer anyway?
You'd be asking her landlord and/or the police to deal with further problems.
All your neighbour has to do is refrain from causing any problems and then she has no worries.

Good advice already given.

I would not be signing anything either. If you do then she may think that she can behave how she likes as you have signed to say you will not contact her employers. She should behave then and you wont !!!!
I also think the pcso thinks you are a tenant also so make sure you let them know you own your property.

It does all sound unusual. I did a quick Google search and the only references I can find to a Good Neighbour Agreement are linked to tenancies. Originators are primarily Housing Associations and Housing Departments, I found a mention in one police originated document but nothing generated by the police. I agree with primrose, ask for a copy to consider, it will speed things up with advice if you can show someone exactly what you are expected to sign. I do wonder though if a face to face chat with the PCSO might help clarify, if you ask her to drop a copy of the agreement for you to see you might be able to discover more. You could also find out if she understands your home is privately owned and you also own the flying freehold. I suspect she has only been given less than half the story. If that seems difficult is there anyone you could ask to be with you while you have the chat? I just wonder if it might help. PCSO’s do have variable skills and knowledge, if you are able to then get informed advice you may well find an easy challenge is possible. I know it’s easy to say but please try not to worry. If you understand a little more about the agreement and can get some good advice, someone on your side, it will all seem less difficult.

You haven't done anything wrong so why would you want to sign any agreement with the neighbour? I don't know why the police would be involved in any such agreement, never heard of such a thing. What would they do if she or her visitors cause more trouble and break the agreement?
It would be down to her landlords to deal with her and take any action. She should of already signed an agreement to not cause problems as part of her tenancy.

Your within your rights to have CCTV as long as it's not pointing at her home.
If she is so concerned about being reported she only has to behave herself and not cause any problems.

Stick to your guns and say you won't sign anything.

I would ask for a copy of what they want you to sign and take it to the CAB or a solicitor for advice. The police have a set of rules already to enforce for behaviour - it's the law! As you are a homeowner, there's no need for the housing association to monitor your behaviour.
I wonder if the PCSO has made an incorrect assumption and thinks you are a tenant too.

If your neighbour has made a retaliatory accusation against you, the police can either investigate it or ignore it - not ask you to sign bits of paper.

Get a copy of the document and someone who can give you legal advice. What a nightmare neighbour!

Maybe the signing of this agreement is a starting point? A goodwill gesture on both parts. Then it remains to be seen if either party (your neighbour) breaks the terms of the agreement.