Neighbour Altercation

[brainiac]

This morning I had an argument with my neighbour, whose two friends drive/reverse into our private courtyard in front of my house several times every day to pick up and drop off the neighbour's dog. For many months this has been getting on my nerves and finally I said something to the woman of the couple who continually drive in. Big argument which I shan't bore you with. Suffice to say, the male of the couple marched up to my front door, swore at me and said that if I ever say anything to him in future "You'll leave here in a *** bucket" I told him to leave and that if he ever threatened me again like that I'd call the police and report it. My question is: would the police take this seriously?

[ummmm]

In my experience....No, they won't. They'll look at you like you're wasting their time.

Just my experience though.

[Baldric]

When you say 'our private courtyard' do you mean yours and yours alone or do you and the neighbour share the courtyard?

[brainiac]

Hi Baldric. It's a gravel courtyard for 11 houses, and there's plenty of room to park further down, or in the road before you turn in - I'm in a village. Absolutely no need to reverse past my front garden (I have no back garden) right up to the front door of the neighbour - they could park a bit further away and just walk 20/30 yards to her door, which was my point!

[Answerprancer]

They will arrive and listen to both sides of the story and try to reason with both of you. Well, at least that's what they're supposed to do.
Unless the bloke gets properly intimidating I'd call the non emergency line.

[Answerprancer]

..also, I'd film any further encounters with your phone if I were you.

[Baldric]

Problem is if it's a communal area I don't think there's too much you can do to prevent it.

[Answerprancer]

^ that's probably true.

[brainiac]

Thanks, AP. That's what I would do if he has a go at me again: ring the 101 non-emergency number. It's a strange phrase that he used (which is why it stuck in my memory) and I was wondering if others found it as threatening as I did - the asterisks are a swear word beginning with F. Funnily enough, in spite if him saying they'd drive in any time they wanted, they've not been seen since.....

[sinderella]

the police take everything seriously
you are seriously over the top with your reaction
it is shared.and you arent sharing!

[silliemillie]

I think it sounds threatening to me. If it happens again I would certainly ring the Police.

[brainiac]

Sinderella, my point is that the people driving in and causing the nuisance don't live in the courtyard.

[ummmm]

Sinderella - No, they don't everything seriously. We are often seen as just 'paperwork'

[EDDIE51]

The point is the people reversing into the 'Private' courtyard are doing so at the request of a resident to provide a service to that resident. They have as much 'right' to use it as you do.
Unless this is a secured courtyard with a locked gate it is not 'Private' at all, it is just part of the public highway.
Don't bother with the police there is no offence being committed, if anything it is you who is at fault. The neighbours friends are just doing what they have been asked to do for another resident of the same courtyard.
Think of it if the situation was reversed , you were dropping off the dog
and another resident came up to you and objected to you driving past their house to do it. How would you feel?

[silliemillie]

I think (correct me if I'm wrong Braniac) the OP was asking about being threatened.


It's not for us to pass judgement on weather or not she/he should feel peed off about the driveway issue.

I think the Police would be interested in that. You have a right to feel safe in your own home.

[mastercraft]

The Police are legally bound to respond to any kind of "Threatening Behaviour". Inform them and at least rest assured that they are aware of the situation.

[Dinger2]

Yes they would.Have you considered erecting a gate,or cheaper one of those lockable,raise/lower steal pillars in the middle to stop unwanted vehicles trespassing on your property ??

[EDDIE51]

If you read the question brainiac was annoyed about someone driving past his/her house to drop off a neighbor's dog, brainiac then went out and started an argument with the other driver. The other driver was just doing what they had arranged to do for the neighbour and therefore entitled to drive past brainiac's house as often as necessary to drop off the resident's dog.
The courtyard is described as 'Private' but as I explained this will not be true unless it is secured and gated with access only on request and not open to the public. The courtyard is almost certainly part of the public highway as far as access is concerned, free to anyone at any time.

[murraymints]

afraid it is a put up with it situation..all public thoroughfare..had you been sole owner then a gate could be erected..annoying..however the threats etc ought to be reported

[dannyk13]

If the only problem is your annoyance with their actions then I doubt that the police would be interested.

[EDDIE51]

Any 'threat' was only a response to brainiac's self admitted starting of an argument with the driver who was just driving past to drop off another residents dog. We do not know the form of words brainiac used to the other driver, but as brainiac says '' for many months this has been getting on my nerves'' it is likely to have been viewed as 'threatening' and or 'confrontational '
I am making the point that any reporting by brainiac of a 'threat' is probably going to be countered by the other driver saying that he was threatened first and only responded . All in all this is a classic 'storm in a teacup' and best just forgotten about.