I am very concerned for a dear old friend of mine who is being threatend by her next door neighbours. They want her to move out so they can have a young couple or a family living there instead.
There's been firecrackers through the letterbox, grafitti sprayed on the front door and not to mention verbal abuse whenever she goes outside. The abuse started after she lost her husband, about a year ago, but has gotten worse the last couple of months.
I went down to visit her some weeks ago and was shocked by the neighbours behavior. The police doesn't take it seriously and I did speak with some other neighbours, but they didn't want to get involved.
She doesn't want to sell her house which she has lived in for almost 50 years. I fear for her health as well as her safety as this is a great strain on her.
Please, can you give me some advice on how to help her?
2007-01-06 03:07:05 · 16 answers · asked by Tuppence 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I should mention that the neighbours are influencial in the local community. I have been to see a social worker, who's only advice was to persuade her to move.
2007-01-06 03:23:56 · update #1
Yes, she ownes the house herself and the property is kept in perfect condition.
2007-01-06 03:30:01 · update #2
It is very sad when a lonely,elderly lady is terrorised by evil neighbours. The police cannot be there all the time so I think the only way to defend against these people is to pursue all legal avenues such as reporting them to the police,council,getting a restraining order on them, setting up a camera in a window. I have one of these security cameras. It is under an inch square so is virtually invisible. You plug it into the mains and it radios the pictures and sounds to your television for recording on video. If you like she could borrow mine for as long as it takes. I will come and set it up for you if the lady doesn't live too far away(please email me- click on the avatar/picture of me and it will show the email link. Click on it to email.)
As a last resort perhaps consider selling because it is hell living with neighbours like that.
2007-01-06 03:16:33 · answer #1 · answered by Birdman 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
There are laws against elder abuse - get in touch with your local health authority and council and inform them about what's going on. Write down everything that happens - whether it's direct aggression or verbal threats or even dirty looks. Inform all authorities anytime something happens - ie the police, the health authority (specificially the social worker in charge of elder abuse) and the council.
If at all possible, rig up a cctv to capture her front entrance and install security lighting at the front and back of the house - all those things are cheaply available from argos now. If nothing else, you can use videotape to back up her claims
I would keep going back to the authorities - there can be a reluctance to deal with things like this, but persistance will win the day. It's shocking to think an elderly lady can't be left alone to live her life, and very sad too.
Keep in regular touch with her, and if you can organise it, try to have many people calling to her regularly, for moral support and also to let people know she has support.
2007-01-06 03:10:11 · answer #2 · answered by RM 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
this is absolutely scandalous, especially as the police are reluctant to get involved. I would, first of all, keep a diary of all incidents, however minor - that will form valuable evidence. Then contact your local council as there are laws about antisocial behaviour. I guess the trouble is poving that it is these people who did the crimes, if there's no evidence the police will have little to work on. I'd immediately contact your MP and go to see him/her - they have enormous influence, don't underestimate what can be done.
The best answer, in an ideal world, would be to go to a local pub where the heavies hang out and pay them £500 to go round to these people and frighten the **** out of them - gosh, don't you wish there was a friendly villain around when you needed them?
Your neighbour is very lucky to have you and I admire you enormously for taking this up on their behalf. Clearly, a polite approach has not worked with these people so you have to use all of the law, including a solicitor if necessary, to deal with this. I suspect that the police will take more notice of you - an articulate and calm person - than they will of a frightened meek woman.
Good luck, please let us know how you get on.
2007-01-06 03:43:06 · answer #3 · answered by gorgeousfluffpot 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your friend own's her house selling it would not necessary mean a family or young couple would move in. Is she telling you every thing, have you seen or heard the threats yourself. Try talking to the neighbours and get their side of the story. If your friend is right then try and collect evidence and then report it to the police again.
2007-01-06 03:21:47 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Get some legal advice. She needs to keep a detailed log of all abuse and keep on at the police. Any possibility of a small camera at her door? Any recording of the situation might at least get the police to take it seriously. It sucks. Sorry.
2007-01-06 03:11:32 · answer #5 · answered by ammie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I hope you listen to this. Both you and a few other people who are aware of this stay over with her for a night or two. Have both camcorders set up and ready to record. Dont have ure cars parked nearby. They will know there is someone there. Make it seem the people who came to visit are now gone but have 3 people stay and keep watch. Do this on a saturday night.
Get it on tape. Arrange for a "homehelp" to stay with her at nights.
Also be aware that sometimes even our dear elders can make up stories because they feel alone and scared but please, arrange what i just asked of you to be sure. She has gone through enough. Please do this.
Give her a warm hug from me please. My heart goes out to her.
xxxxxx
2007-01-06 03:29:49 · answer #6 · answered by tomy 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the local council can still prosecute these people anti social behaviour apply's to us all.
get the police more involved and ask her to record all these instidents to show the police dates times,who it is...
older people need our support in the community and neighbours need to stick together no matter of age..
2007-01-06 03:14:18 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ghandi once said...An eye for an eye leaves everyone blind. But now he's dead, and India has nuclear weapons. I never trust men who wear sandals and expect to be taken seriously either.
Get some LARGE DOGS! I will not advocate violence and I wish we could all get along...unfortunately the American empire has us all under a veil of repression.
So fire with fire is the only way.
2007-01-06 03:20:44 · answer #8 · answered by Stevie G 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I would call the Adult Protection Agency, or KEEP BUGGING the police until they do take you serious. Spend as much time as you can with the elderly, soon, YOU will be old too.
2007-01-06 03:11:13 · answer #9 · answered by D.C 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
she should gather some good evidence and go to court.
maybe she should also consider getting a small security camera installed or something to catch the neighboors in action.
2007-01-06 03:28:58 · answer #10 · answered by *~$The 1 nd onlii shawty$~* 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋