Caerwent Community Neighbourhood Watch
POLICE NOTES
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If you have had your annual holiday by the time this article is printed,, I hope you had an enjoyable time. This month I'd like to offer advice on the problem of noisy neighbours. Unfortunately, you can pick your house but you can't pick your neighbours and sometimes you may live next to a family that has loud parties, family arguments or plays loud music for long periods at unsociable hours. The legislation covering problems of this nature are covered in the ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH ACT and the CONTROL OF POLLUTION ACT. Both of these Acts are generally the County Council's responsibility to investigate and prosecute any offenders. However before resorting to any legal action - which will take many months - it is always best to try to solve these matters amicably. If you are on speaking terms with your neighbour, approach them and try to discuss the problem. It may be that the person making the loud noise is a son or daughter who plays the music when the parents are out and that they are unaware of the problem. Most reasonable people will apologise and take action to prevent a recurrence. Unfortunately, not everyone is considerate or reasonable so, if the problems continue, you will have to resort to legal action. As a rough guide, if you can hear the music inside your own house with the windows shut, it may be considered as excessive. Outside normal working hours, call the police who, on arriving, will assess the level of noise. If the officers believe that the noise is excessive then they will ask the offenders to turn the noise down. This usually works and very often there are no further incidents. However, if the problem continues then you should contact the Council Environmental Health Office. They will then set up noise monitoring equipment in the victim's house and, over several months, monitor the noise. When sufficient evidence is obtained they will send warning letters and pursue legal action. RECENT CRIME PATTERS Regrettably, CAERWENT, CRICK AND LLANVAIR DISCOED are popular areas for persons to dump vehicles. Many of the current owners of these vehicles are untraceable which means that the Council and you, via the Council Tax, have to pay for their collection and disposal. If you see anyone abandoning a vehicle or find one dumped, report it to the police and try to remember a description of the person who abandoned it. This is, unfortunately, an ongoing problem. I welcome all constructive comments, critical or otherwise, about my articles. If there is any aspect of general criminal law tnat you would like to know about, let me know and I will write an article on it. A GENERAL REMINDER! If you see any suspicious activity - don't worry about 'disturbing the police'. Please just dial Caldicot Police Station on 01291-430999 or 999 straight away. Remember, your efforts can make a real difference. Until next month. Ashley Turner. PC 737, Community Police Constable |