Party Time...

[Scarlett]

The house opposite me has new students in and they are having a BIG party. It's been earsplitting drum and bass for 5 hours now. What is an acceptable time to phone the (non-urgent) police and ask them to tell them to turn it down if they are passing? It's coming up to midnight now and I'd really like to go to sleep..

[Caran]

Why not go round and in a neighbourly way ask them to turn down the music. If that doesn't work then call the police.

[Scarlett]

Can't walk Caran!

[Maydup]

In that case, now is a suitable time.

[Buenchico]

Strictly speaking, noise problems are nothing to do with the police. (They're dealt with by the local council's Environmental Health department). However they might be prepared to 'have a quiet word' with your neighbours (if they can make themselves heard over the music!).

Personally, I'd never even think about complaining about a noisy party until at least 2am.

[Caran]

Sorry Scarlett didn't realise that, in that case get on the phone.

[ummmm]

What did you do?

[Scarlett]

I phoned 150, stressed the non-urgentness of it, apologised, and just said if you are passing could you have a word. They phoned me back for more info. A LOT of info including whether I am black or white, married or single, whether they were doing it maliciously etc! The police had a quiet word but actually it made no difference. The drum and bass was still going on at 3.45am. So I will write them a friendly letter and let them know how close proximity our houses are and that the windows are very old and walls thin!

[Eve]

Maybe see if having a polite friendly word helps. I think it's Fresher's Week - lots going on here, I'm sure I've missed a lot of the "best" bits with being poorly but often some right treats to be seen with some of the themed pub crawls. I live very near studentville and the uni here though thankfully away from student houses.

Maybe it will calm down a bit after the excitement of them all being back after the summer (am guessing maybe upper year students if in private housing).

A word with their landlord or the university may be an idea if things continue, doesn't reflect well on them if their students are annoying the locals. Hope you can sort it quietly though and they are decent people. I'd always worry about possible kickbacks if you get on the wrong side of them though that is no reason to suffer.