Episode 3 Noise Squad


Episode 3

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Transcript


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All over the UK, millions of people just like you and me

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are being driven up the wall by anti-social nuisance noise...

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ALARM BEEPS

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You know, when I go to work I always feel stressed, and...

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I always feel angry at work.

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It really is stressful and irritating

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and it makes you feel really frustrated.

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You just want to tell them to shut up.

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..persistent parties,

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aggravating alarms

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and banging builders.

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They're keeping us awake,

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disturbing our peace and quiet and driving us to despair.

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I just feel very cross and angry and upset at the moment.

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When you wake me up in the middle of the night, three o'clock,

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that's when I have to get in your face.

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But the fightback is on.

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Come down, we're getting complaints about the noise.

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Across the country, dedicated enforcement teams

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are getting to grips with nuisance noise, 24/7.

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You can't just leave it and let them get away with it.

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You have to keep going on and on and on.

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I do need the names of all the tenants that live in the property.

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Enough is enough. It's time to put an end to nuisance noise.

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Can you open the door, please?

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It's time to meet the no-nonsense Noise Squad.

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Cracking down on nuisance noise on today's show,

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officers call for police back-up to deal with some rowdy revellers.

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They're dropping plastic bottles or glasses down on top of us,

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I'm wondering if you can send some officers round to give us assistance.

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The team tackle a repeat offender.

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We've had a complaint about the noise, it's way too loud.

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It's vibrating the floor and the ceilings and things,

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and it's disturbing your neighbours.

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And in the early hours of the morning,

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a noise maker turns violent.

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Can I have the police, please? I'm being assaulted.

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All over the country,

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noisy neighbours are driving us round the bend.

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It's like hell, like a war zone.

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No matter how many times I asked the person to stop it,

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it was just happening over and over, and it was driving me insane.

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It's one of the biggest problems

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that Noise Squads everywhere have to deal with.

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We've had complaints from some of the residents

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about the little party you're having up there.

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Go and turn the music down and then come back and talk to me.

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If they would just be more considerate to people...

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but they just don't want to be.

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And in Westminster, in central London,

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the team are called out night after night

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to deal with noisy neighbours who just won't shut up.

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If you go upstairs and do the same thing,

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you will be committing an offence.

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If I knock on your door before midnight

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and tell you the music is too loud

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that music must not get up again to that level.

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Make sure it doesn't go on again.

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Noise Officer Steve Richardson

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has been part of the Westminster Noise Team for seven years,

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and he knows better than most that when a noise officer is called to deal with a complaint,

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they're never quite sure who, or what, they'll have to deal with.

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I was assaulted just recently,

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it was only what they call a common assault,

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just, I was pushed over.

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I felt really shocked.

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You think, "OK, right, this has happened, what do I do now?"

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I've got to call the police,

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you've got to get out of the situation,

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get away to a place of safety.

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Yeah, you just go into training mode, I suppose.

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Tonight, Steve's on his way to deal with an alleged noisy neighbour

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that two people have called in to complain about.

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There's loud music from a flat,

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but one person has registered a complaint

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and doesn't want a call-back so we can't go into their flat to witness,

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which would have made it nigh-on impossible to deal with,

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but fortunately another resident is also affected,

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who's willing to let us in to witness,

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so hopefully we'll be able to...

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witness the nuisance from their flat,

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if it is a nuisance,

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and then approach the people that are making the noise.

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When he arrives, Steve heads for one of the complainant's flats

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and hears some disturbing news about the noise maker.

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Allegedly, he produced a dagger when confronted about noise in the past.

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If he's likely to produce a dagger,

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I'm minded to call the police to assist us with talking to him.

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It's a worrying development for Steve.

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For now, he decides to continue without police back-up

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and heads off to find which flat the noise is coming from.

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But it's all gone quiet.

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That's very odd.

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We were just in the flat there,

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and you could clearly hear the music in the flat...

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..which was a nuisance. It's now quarter to two in the morning, and...

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it would have clearly kept... it would have...

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It would have kept someone awake in there.

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I've literally just stepped over the threshold, and it's gone quiet.

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Steve goes to tell the resident the music has stopped.

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Sorry to disturb you again.

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It's gone very quiet.

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The problem I've got is because there was three flats

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it could have come from, I've got to be exactly certain.

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So, we're going to ring the police, see if he's known to the police.

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We'll hang about, see if it starts up again

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and then we'll come back up.

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I'll try not to disturb you any more. Sorry.

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A chat with some other residents returning from a night out

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adds to Steve's concerns that this could be a dangerous situation.

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They have confirmed that the guy

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has threatened violence

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and does play his music loud.

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This is really serious stuff.

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Steve doesn't know if these stories are true

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but he's not going to take any risks and calls the police.

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I'm ringing from Westminster Council, from the Noise Team.

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I've got me voice low because I'm just outside some flats,

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I don't want to disturb people.

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I just wanted to try and check to see

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whether a person was known to you.

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He asks the police if the noise maker

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has any previous history of violence or carrying weapons.

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Yep, thank you very much.

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They've logged what that person's reported to us

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in a similar situation.

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It seems that he was playing music, about two weeks ago,

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and they went...

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You know, I'm assuming they went and asked him to turn it down

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and he threatened them with a dagger.

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That's what I've been told.

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But it seems it wasn't reported to the police,

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so we can't knock on the door at the moment.

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They've said if there's another complaint tonight

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and we're certain where it's coming from,

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the police will come down later on and visit with us.

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Although the reports of threats of violence are just hearsay,

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Steve is understandably wary.

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I'm not willing to visit without the police

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because this was pretty much exactly what happened when I was assaulted

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so I'm not happy to visit without the police.

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I'm just going to go up and check. I thought I might have heard something.

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As he was about to leave,

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Steve thinks he's heard the music come back on.

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He's right.

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MUFFLED MUSIC

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And he listens to try and work out where the noise is coming from.

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With pop music blaring out,

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the noise maker starts shouting to add to the noise.

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SHOUTING

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I'll just go and give the police a ring.

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We'll join Steve later as he gets police back-up

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and confronts the nuisance noise maker.

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Hello, it's the police. Can you open the door, please?

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Last year, the Noise Team in York

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dealt with over 2,500 complaints.

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Right, I just wanted to give you an update.

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We're hoping to carry out a seizure...

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We've just got another party we've got to go and deal with

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at the moment and then you're next on the list.

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Right, we'll be with you in about ten minutes. OK, bye, now.

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They deal with everything from noisy neighbours...

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ROWDY SINGING

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I've a right to celebrate, it's cost me a lot of money.

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..to crowing cockerels...

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-Can you bring them inside, overnight?

-No, don't be daft.

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..and faulty alarms.

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ALARM SHRIEKS

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Apparently, they've not been able to sleep for the last few nights.

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Trainee officer Siobhan Metcalfe is learning the ropes

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with the council's Noise Squad and today she's heading out on a call

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with senior colleague, Craig Delorenzo.

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We're just off to a complaint about loud music.

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It's just come in and the lady who's made the complaint

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is really frustrated about the level of music,

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so I'm expecting it to be very loud.

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I have met the complainant before,

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but we're unsure where the noise is coming from on this occasion.

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So, part of this complaint will be

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to locate the source of the noise.

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When they arrive on site, Craig and Siobhan head inside.

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The complainant doesn't want to be on camera

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but the pounding bass can be heard in their flat.

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BASS THUMPS

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Craig asked the complainant to put their TV on

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to see if the music can still be heard.

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Could you stick it on for us? Just so we've got

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some sort of background to say that it's disturbing you from doing that.

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What we'll do is, we'll just make some notes

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for about 20 minutes or so, and then I'm going to go,

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you know, and tell them to...

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This isn't acceptable, cos it's too loud.

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Craig is clear that this is a noise nuisance.

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He's going to be serving an abatement notice

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and explains what will happen if it's ignored.

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If he doesn't listen to us then the consequences are

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that we'll take his stereo, he'll go to court

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and he could get a fine, you know?

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That's the consequences,

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and if he carries on, he'll get another fine.

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Having monitored the noise, it's time to take action

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and Craig and Siobhan head to the noise maker's flat.

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Telling people how to behave in their own home

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isn't usually particularly popular

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and the team don't know how this noise maker is going to react.

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LATCH CLICKS

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Hi, Craig from the council. I've had a noise complaint. It's way too loud.

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It's vibrating the floor and the ceilings and things,

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and it's disturbing your neighbours.

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So what I'm going to do is... You've turned it off for us, now,

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we're going to serve you with what's called an abatement notice

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saying that you must not cause a nuisance to your neighbours.

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You need to keep your noise to a reasonable level,

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even during the day, OK? And make sure it doesn't cause a problem.

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It was way too loud today.

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I don't really play the music all the time,

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it's maybe once a week, only for an hour, so...

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If it's causing a problem, I don't mind turning it off.

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It is causing quite a problem today and, you know,

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we're not going to stop you playing your music but what you have to do

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is play it at a reasonable level.

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If you want to play it at that level, you'll have to wear earphones.

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-Yeah, that's fine.

-We'll be back in an hour or two

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-and if you're not in, we'll just put it through your door. All right?

-Thank you very much.

-Thank you.

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Message delivered, but there have been issues with loud music

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coming from this flat in the past

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and as they head off, Craig's not convinced

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this is the end of the matter.

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Although I hope that the abatement notice resolves the matter,

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I don't think that this is the end of this issue.

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I think he may be trying to play a bit of cat and mouse today.

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He was compliant and agreed to do what we asked him to do today,

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but I think when we're not there it's going to be a different story

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and he's going to put his music on again.

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So, it's just a matter of catching him.

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But we've given him the benefit of the doubt and hopefully,

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you know, after today there won't be any further problems.

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When deciding if something is a statutory noise nuisance

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that needs to be dealt with,

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officers have to use their own judgement.

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As a trainee, this has been a useful experience for Siobhan.

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I've only seen a couple so far,

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and that's probably one of the better ones that I've seen.

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I've worked with a case before when I listened to

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the recording equipment, that was a stat nuisance we'd considered,

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but not as good as witnessing it first hand.

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If you're being bothered by anti-social nuisance noise,

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you don't have to put up with it.

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Help is at hand.

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Your local council have more powers than the police

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when it comes to enforcing the law on nuisance noise,

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so if you've got a problem, pick up the phone

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and call the council, not the cops.

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Having written up the abatement notice,

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Siobhan heads off with her colleague, James, to serve it

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and it's a big moment for her.

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I've been with an officer and served a notice before,

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but this is the first time I've done it myself.

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The noise maker may have been reasonable

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when she was last at his flat but there's no guarantee

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Siobhan will get the same response when she serves the notice.

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As this is the first time she's taken the lead

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and done it herself, she needs to stay calm

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and be very clear about why the notice is being served

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and what it means.

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DOG BARKS

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The good news is there's no music being played,

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but the dog's pretty loud.

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Hiya, it's Siobhan and James from the council.

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The noise maker isn't at home but Siobhan explains

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to the person who's answered the door what's going on.

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I've got some letters for you

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cos we came earlier on today and spoke to him about

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the level of noise and music, and said we were going to serve a notice.

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So there's one for you and one for him.

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The letter's in there as well. They explain what the problem was,

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so it's loud music, and from now on it's, kind of, a case of keeping it to a reasonable level.

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The person who answered the door is friendly and reasonable

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and Siobhan has served her first ever noise abatement notice.

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Today I thought that went pretty well.

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She seemed quite receptive to the problem that we'd had

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and she's already spoken to the person that caused the noise

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and she's assuring us it won't happen in future.

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In terms of me explaining the process

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and, kind of, what's going on, I felt a little bit apprehensive at first

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because I hadn't met the other lady but I had met him,

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but it seemed to go OK, so I was quite pleased.

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Nicely done, Siobhan.

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It's job done and, to date, there have been no further complaints

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about this flat and no further action has been necessary.

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In Westminster, Noise Enforcement Officer Steve Richardson

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has been called to a block of flats to deal with a nuisance noise maker

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who's playing loud music and shouting in the early hours.

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Allegedly, this noise maker has threatened violence

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when confronted about his noise-making in the past.

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They have confirmed that the guy has threatened violence.

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Not knowing who or what could confront him

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when he knocks on the noise maker's door is a real worry for Steve.

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MUFFLED SHOUTING AND BANGING

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So he's called in the police for back-up.

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We're just waiting for the police to give us a call

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to say that they're on their way.

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What I want to do with this one is to speak to the occupier,

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I want to confirm his details.

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Primarily, I want to get a reduction

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in the volume of the music straight away.

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Since Steve arrived on site,

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the music in the noise maker's flat has been going on and off.

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Having witnessed a nuisance taking place, though,

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he's going to be taking action,

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even though it's now almost four o'clock in the morning.

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If he's keeping his neighbours up at ten to four

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then I don't care if he does go back to bed,

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I think we should knock him up and disturb his sleep.

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Steve's had a bit of a noisy past, himself.

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He now plays in a function band, quietly,

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but it wasn't always that way.

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I shouldn't be a noise officer.

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I should be a rock star, of course.

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I did used to play in a heavier band and we were playing a gig once

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and the noise officer did turn up and we had to stop playing.

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The police arrive and Steve explains the situation.

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I want to just basically confirm who's in there tonight,

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who's making the noise tonight.

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So, I've already witnessed the nuisance,

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so I want to speak to him, get his details

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and take it from there, really.

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-What's the problem tonight? Is he making a noise, is he?

-Yeah.

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-Was there noise coming from that address tonight?

-Yeah.

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-Yeah, I've heard it.

-Is it musical?

-Yeah, music. And he's shouting.

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He's kind of going, "Come on," you know, just shouting around.

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Does it sound like there's more than one up there?

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Erm, I couldn't quite make out.

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I think the last time I listened, it sounded like there was only one.

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-OK.

-All right.

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As they head inside, the officers ask

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if he has any background info on the noise maker.

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Have you been here before?

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No, I haven't, no. I've been here, you know, here earlier.

0:18:540:18:58

But not anything in the past?

0:18:580:19:01

I was told that a neighbour had gone up to speak to him

0:19:010:19:06

to ask him to reduce the volume

0:19:060:19:09

and then he had come down and threatened them with a knife.

0:19:090:19:14

Do you want us to wait here or do you want us to go in first?

0:19:140:19:17

It's up to you.

0:19:170:19:19

If you can, kind of, do it one either side.

0:19:190:19:21

Not sure what to expect,

0:19:220:19:24

Steve and the police officers knock on the noise maker's door.

0:19:240:19:28

HE BANGS DOOR

0:19:280:19:30

Despite many attempts,

0:19:460:19:48

the noise maker doesn't come to the door.

0:19:480:19:50

Hello, it's the police, can you open the door, please?

0:19:500:19:54

MUSIC BLARES LOUDLY

0:19:540:19:56

There's some movement inside.

0:19:580:20:00

Hello, police. Can you open the door, please?

0:20:040:20:08

MUSIC STOPS

0:20:160:20:19

The music is turned off but there's still no sign of the occupant.

0:20:190:20:23

Hello, sir, it's the police. Can you open the door, please?

0:20:230:20:26

It's a tense time for Steve and the police officers.

0:20:280:20:32

-It's the police.

-Come on, then, we haven't got all night, mate.

0:20:340:20:38

Given the neighbours' allegations about threats of violence,

0:20:390:20:44

the police officers are prepared for trouble.

0:20:440:20:46

They're ready with pepper spray if the situation turns violent.

0:20:460:20:51

Finally, the door is opened.

0:20:510:20:53

-This guy here...

-I'm from Westminster Council.

0:20:560:20:58

The music that you're playing tonight...

0:20:580:21:01

You know it's 4am at the moment.

0:21:010:21:03

Can you just turn it down a bit?

0:21:030:21:04

Got to think of your neighbours, mate.

0:21:040:21:06

Cos even though you haven't got work in the morning, other people have.

0:21:060:21:10

After some gentle negotiation,

0:21:100:21:12

the noise maker agrees to be reasonable

0:21:120:21:15

and his neighbours can finally get some sleep.

0:21:150:21:19

He confides in Steve and the police

0:21:190:21:21

that he's been through some very difficult personal circumstances.

0:21:210:21:24

It's a little bit sad, really, when people get to that state,

0:21:260:21:29

you know, you do feel sympathy for them,

0:21:290:21:33

but also, you've got to deal with the problem that they're causing.

0:21:330:21:38

He's agreed to switch off the music, now,

0:21:380:21:41

so there's some improvement, there, for the residents tonight.

0:21:410:21:47

It's been a trying night for Steve,

0:21:470:21:49

but with the music off, he's decided that this time

0:21:490:21:53

he won't be taking any further action.

0:21:530:21:55

Steve's noise busting isn't over yet, though.

0:21:560:22:00

We'll join him later as he attends another call

0:22:000:22:02

about a noisy neighbour, and this time things do turn violent.

0:22:020:22:06

-Bleep.

-Can we have the police, please? I'm being assaulted.

0:22:060:22:10

In York, trainee officer Siobhan

0:22:100:22:13

takes the lead on a case for the first time.

0:22:130:22:17

I feel a little apprehensive.

0:22:170:22:19

I want it to go as well as possible and that it be a successful outcome.

0:22:190:22:22

And in Belfast, officers lay down the law to a student party.

0:22:220:22:28

Don't stand there lying. I was outside watching you,

0:22:280:22:30

acting Jack the Lad at the top window.

0:22:300:22:32

The number one complaint to most noise enforcement teams

0:22:410:22:45

around the UK is about noisy neighbours.

0:22:450:22:47

Parties, 24/7, seven days a week.

0:22:470:22:51

You know, even ten people, even five people can make

0:22:510:22:54

so much noise if they get a little bit drunk

0:22:540:22:56

and it all gets out of hand.

0:22:560:22:58

They party all night long and I don't mind,

0:22:580:23:02

but you, sort of, wake up and you think, "Why don't they stop?"

0:23:020:23:06

Neighbours that refuse to keep it down

0:23:070:23:10

and keep us awake into the early hours are a nightmare.

0:23:100:23:14

It can upset your whole living routine, you know?

0:23:140:23:18

Even to the point where you're unable to go to work

0:23:180:23:21

because you're, maybe, up all night.

0:23:210:23:23

With six years of experience on the job between them,

0:23:250:23:29

Joe and Steve of the Belfast Noise Squad are used to dealing

0:23:290:23:32

with complaints about noisy neighbours.

0:23:320:23:34

You need to turn the music right down, or off.

0:23:340:23:36

Bring in the guests from the back and keep the back door locked.

0:23:360:23:39

That's all right, now, there won't be a problem.

0:23:390:23:42

Tonight, the lads are working the Saturday night shift

0:23:420:23:45

and they've been called out to deal with a party

0:23:450:23:47

that neighbours say is too noisy.

0:23:470:23:49

Looks like the flats are one property.

0:23:490:23:51

Looks like they're all one property, the party's going on two floors.

0:23:510:23:55

If they'd close the windows

0:23:550:23:56

-I think that would probably sort the music out.

-Yeah.

0:23:560:23:59

Different councils approach nuisance noise in slightly different ways.

0:23:590:24:04

Here in Belfast, if the team witness nuisance noise

0:24:060:24:09

they can serve a warning notice.

0:24:090:24:12

If the noise maker doesn't quieten down

0:24:120:24:14

and the lads witness nuisance noise again on the same night

0:24:140:24:18

they can hand out a £100 fine.

0:24:180:24:20

If that doesn't do the trick,

0:24:200:24:22

the noise maker could be taken to court and given a larger fine.

0:24:220:24:26

Joe and Steve have decided

0:24:280:24:29

that the noise here is bad enough for them to have a word.

0:24:290:24:34

-You just going to do a verbal, then?

-We'll just do a verbal, aye.

0:24:340:24:37

In order to get the attention of the noise makers,

0:24:370:24:41

the lads shine a torch at one of the flat's windows.

0:24:410:24:44

There's a guy sitting at the window, here.

0:24:440:24:47

I'm trying to get his attention, but...

0:24:470:24:49

We need a brighter light.

0:24:490:24:51

Can you come down to the door for me? From the Council.

0:24:510:24:54

-I don't know about that, there.

-Right.

0:24:540:24:57

Can you come down and talk to us or we'll be phoning the police?

0:24:570:25:01

Joe and Steve are being reasonable.

0:25:010:25:03

Is the guy who lives there still there?

0:25:030:25:05

Bleep.

0:25:050:25:07

Sorry?

0:25:070:25:08

Bleep.

0:25:080:25:10

I think he said, "Go away, Joe," or something like that.

0:25:100:25:14

-Will I just ring the cops and get them out?

-Yeah, do.

0:25:140:25:18

With a distinct lack of co-operation,

0:25:180:25:21

the lads decide the only way to get this music turned down

0:25:210:25:24

is to hand out a written warning.

0:25:240:25:27

And as they're being sworn at,

0:25:270:25:29

they're calling for police back-up to serve it.

0:25:290:25:32

As Joe calls the police,

0:25:320:25:34

someone starts throwing plastic cups and bottles out of the window.

0:25:340:25:38

How're you doing? I'm from Belfast City Council's noise service.

0:25:420:25:45

I'm trying to speak to the occupants here.

0:25:450:25:47

They won't come to the door to us,

0:25:470:25:49

instead they're just sitting at the top windows and shouting abuse down

0:25:490:25:53

and dropping plastic bottles or glasses down on us.

0:25:530:25:55

I just wondered if you can send some officers out

0:25:550:25:58

to give us some assistance to get them out.

0:25:580:26:00

What do you want?

0:26:000:26:03

Bleep. Baldie!

0:26:040:26:06

No backing down, no backing down!

0:26:060:26:08

They're students. That's our future of Belfast.

0:26:080:26:11

Basically, this group of students, here,

0:26:110:26:14

are refusing to come to the door,

0:26:140:26:15

they're shouting down abuse at us, so I've rang for police assistance.

0:26:150:26:19

Hopefully, when the police come that'll get them to the door,

0:26:190:26:22

then we can have a good conversation with them.

0:26:220:26:24

Give them a good telling off.

0:26:240:26:25

And if they are students, here, around Belfast,

0:26:250:26:28

hopefully we can get them reported to the university for their behaviour.

0:26:280:26:31

If these party-goers are students,

0:26:310:26:34

then they've got a first class degree in stupidity.

0:26:340:26:38

If they'd come to the door, this could have been dealt with quickly.

0:26:380:26:42

Now the police are involved.

0:26:420:26:44

The police have just arrived now,

0:26:440:26:45

so, hopefully we can go and get to speak to one of them right away,

0:26:450:26:48

and issue this warning notice.

0:26:480:26:50

With the police on the scene, it's a different story.

0:27:000:27:05

The door is opened and Joe gives them a well deserved lecture.

0:27:050:27:08

-Do you want to get arrested, now?

-Why?

0:27:080:27:10

For throwing things out the window. You were abusive.

0:27:100:27:13

I don't think I actually did.

0:27:130:27:15

Well, I witnessed you doing it, so did he.

0:27:150:27:17

I think that's proof enough.

0:27:170:27:19

You're getting reported to the university, both of you,

0:27:190:27:22

all of you are for your behaviour.

0:27:220:27:23

Joe and Steve serve a warning notice.

0:27:230:27:26

This is a warning notice. It lasts till seven o'clock tomorrow morning.

0:27:260:27:29

If the noise continues tonight, we'll come back with the police and fine you £100.

0:27:290:27:34

Can you check and make sure that's his proper name?

0:27:340:27:36

I'm not sure it's his proper name he's given.

0:27:360:27:39

He's refusing to give me any other details.

0:27:390:27:41

Everything was explained to the first guy who came to the window.

0:27:410:27:44

We pressed the buzzer and instead you wanted to shout down

0:27:440:27:47

-bleep and bleep and drop all your plastic bottles down.

-Do you think this is hilarious?

0:27:470:27:51

That's why the police are here now. Don't stand there and tell lies.

0:27:510:27:54

I was outside watching you acting Jack the Lad at the top window.

0:27:540:27:58

All right, so, if you close the windows, get all the noise off.

0:27:580:28:01

Anybody else complains tonight, we'll have to come back, OK?

0:28:010:28:04

-Thank you.

-Thanks very much.

-Thanks for your assistance, there.

0:28:040:28:09

Because of their behaviour from the window, they will definitely...

0:28:090:28:12

Hopefully they're all students.

0:28:120:28:14

The girl definitely said she was a student at the University of Ulster

0:28:140:28:17

so we can definitely trace her.

0:28:170:28:19

The Environmental Health Officer will trace her through the university,

0:28:190:28:23

she will be reported.

0:28:230:28:25

Hopefully... we've got his ID, hopefully he's a student, now, I don't know.

0:28:250:28:29

He was laughing and joking and smirking,

0:28:290:28:31

he wouldn't give his proper details so we're not entirely sure

0:28:310:28:34

if he was a student or not. But if he is,

0:28:340:28:36

we do have his name and date of birth and his proper address,

0:28:360:28:38

so he will be easily traced through the university if he is a student.

0:28:380:28:42

The Noise Team submitted a complaint to the University

0:28:430:28:47

who are now carrying out a full investigation into the incident

0:28:470:28:50

which could lead to disciplinary action being taken

0:28:500:28:53

against the students involved.

0:28:530:28:56

Every year, the City of York's Noise Squad

0:29:040:29:08

deal with hundreds of complaints about loud music.

0:29:080:29:10

Every night till the early hours, relentless, non-stop noise

0:29:100:29:15

that something could be done about. So, it's unreasonable.

0:29:150:29:20

And the big chunk of these are about music

0:29:200:29:23

coming from commercial premises.

0:29:230:29:25

MUSIC BLARES

0:29:250:29:28

I don't know what they're thinking of to have this sort of music

0:29:300:29:33

in this sort of area. This is a residential area, you know.

0:29:330:29:36

And to have the doors open and everything else, it's quite bizarre.

0:29:360:29:40

It's a matter of sleeping really, isn't it?

0:29:400:29:42

It affects your next day, and your lifestyle because

0:29:420:29:45

you can't get to sleep at half past 11 at night.

0:29:450:29:47

And if you're up for work the next day it is a bind,

0:29:470:29:51

because you can't get your normal seven or eight hours of sleep.

0:29:510:29:54

Trainee officer Siobhan Metcalfe is dealing with a complaint

0:29:560:30:01

coming from a pub over a weekend but for her this is no ordinary case.

0:30:010:30:05

Today will be the first time

0:30:070:30:09

I go out as an officer investigating a complaint.

0:30:090:30:12

Usually I'm assisting other officers

0:30:120:30:16

and going out with them and watching what they're doing,

0:30:160:30:19

but today I've got the opportunity to lead it first hand

0:30:190:30:23

and see what kind of problems I might encounter

0:30:230:30:25

and experience different ways to deal with them.

0:30:250:30:28

At the moment, I feel a little apprehensive.

0:30:280:30:31

I want to make sure I've got the right information available

0:30:310:30:35

and to give the manager of the pub the correct information.

0:30:350:30:39

And also, because it's my first case, obviously

0:30:400:30:43

I want it to go as well as possible and it be a successful outcome.

0:30:430:30:47

Siobhan has taken advice from other members of the Noise Team

0:30:480:30:52

but it's time for her to head out and deal with her first case alone.

0:30:520:30:57

At the minute, we're almost at the pub where we need to go

0:30:570:31:00

and visit the manager.

0:31:000:31:04

This is just to discuss how they've...

0:31:040:31:06

What they've done over the weekend, in terms of having live bands on,

0:31:060:31:10

and also just to see if there's anything we can advise them on

0:31:100:31:14

in future just to prevent it being a nuisance again.

0:31:140:31:18

As there have been complaints about the pub,

0:31:180:31:21

Siobhan is going to be serving them with a warning letter.

0:31:210:31:25

But she's also going to be acting proactively and giving them advice

0:31:250:31:28

to try and stop things going further. So it's extremely important

0:31:280:31:33

that the advice she gives is clear and correct.

0:31:330:31:36

-Hiya, are you Becca?

-Yes, I am.

0:31:370:31:39

Hi, it's Siobhan from the City of York Council.

0:31:390:31:41

-I spoke to you earlier about seeing if we can have a chat...

-Yeah!

0:31:410:31:44

-..about the complaints we've had, is that OK?

-Yep, that'd be great.

0:31:440:31:48

Siobhan explains what she needs to do.

0:31:480:31:52

I just want to chat about what you had on, on the Saturday,

0:31:520:31:55

what kind of things you put in place to measure any noise,

0:31:550:31:58

if you did at all, and where it was. I believe it was outside, so I just want to go outside in the area and...

0:31:580:32:03

-Yeah, not a problem.

-And that was it really.

0:32:030:32:05

And just see if we can give you any advice as well. OK?

0:32:050:32:08

So step one, find out what was happening.

0:32:080:32:12

Step two, find out if anything was done to monitor noise levels.

0:32:120:32:16

And step three, look at where the music was being played.

0:32:160:32:20

I mean, with it being my first festival what I do, personally,

0:32:200:32:24

to, kind of, give myself a hand

0:32:240:32:26

in terms of this kind of thing happening was,

0:32:260:32:28

I approached other pubs, not just in the vicinity around myself,

0:32:280:32:32

who gave me a few basic guidelines. I've got a friend,

0:32:320:32:36

well, two friends that deal with festivals,

0:32:360:32:38

one of them deals with crowd control in particular

0:32:380:32:41

which also deals with noise control as well.

0:32:410:32:44

So I did speak to those people to get pointers on what I could do.

0:32:440:32:49

So, the pub were holding a live music festival.

0:32:500:32:53

Siobhan's next job is to find out what steps,

0:32:530:32:56

if any, were taken to monitor noise levels.

0:32:560:32:59

What I did do on the day was...

0:32:590:33:02

I walked across the street

0:33:020:33:03

towards the back of where the bands were played,

0:33:030:33:06

around the front and then to the side,

0:33:060:33:08

I'm not going to lie, you could actually hear the noise

0:33:080:33:11

but I didn't find as though it was offensive in any way, shape or form.

0:33:110:33:15

The loudest band that we had on the day was between three o'clock

0:33:150:33:18

and five o'clock in the afternoon. We then had a DJ on

0:33:180:33:22

who played some mellow, kind of, reggae tunes afterwards

0:33:220:33:25

and then we had an acoustic band on from six till eight,

0:33:250:33:28

so the reason why I did it like that,

0:33:280:33:31

I thought the noisier could be smack bang in the middle of the day

0:33:310:33:35

and then, obviously, the acoustics should be a bit more mellow

0:33:350:33:39

in the evening, and we ended at eight.

0:33:390:33:41

Yes, that is a good plan in terms of, kind of,

0:33:410:33:44

mellowing the music down later in the evening.

0:33:440:33:47

The manager of the pub is clearly aware that the music festival

0:33:480:33:52

could have disturbed the local residents

0:33:520:33:54

and takes her responsibilities seriously.

0:33:540:33:57

But Siobhan has to find out exactly what was going on

0:33:570:34:01

and heads outside to see where the music was being played.

0:34:010:34:04

-The bands were there. We did have like a big marquee up there.

-All right, OK, yeah.

0:34:040:34:11

And the speakers that they had for the PA,

0:34:110:34:14

there was one just behind that brick wall and one just behind that brick wall

0:34:140:34:18

facing out that way. The guys that were DJ-ing,

0:34:180:34:21

their noise was at a complete minimum.

0:34:210:34:23

The only band that was quite loud

0:34:230:34:25

was the one we had between three and five.

0:34:250:34:28

One of the complaints we did receive was in that time period,

0:34:280:34:31

so at least you've maybe identified that if you have that band back,

0:34:310:34:34

maybe just lower the level a little bit

0:34:340:34:37

and then that would just eliminate the problem altogether, yeah?

0:34:370:34:41

The manager is being very reasonable

0:34:410:34:43

but having had some complaints Siobhan has to take action.

0:34:430:34:46

Because we've received some complaints,

0:34:460:34:48

we've had to send a standard letter out as well, OK?

0:34:480:34:51

So, in there is a standard letter saying we've received a complaint

0:34:510:34:54

and this is what it's from, from the bands that we just discussed,

0:34:540:34:58

and, kind of, things you should be considering and putting into place,

0:34:580:35:02

which we've kind of talked about,

0:35:020:35:05

and also what would happen if we witnessed it being a nuisance,

0:35:050:35:09

well, we call it a statutory nuisance, and then we kind of take...

0:35:090:35:12

-Take it from there.

-Yeah, take it from there, really.

0:35:120:35:16

Inside there as well is a leaflet that you can get online

0:35:160:35:18

from the Council but it's just added information.

0:35:180:35:21

Just, kind of, the things we chatted about, OK?

0:35:210:35:24

-Brilliant.

-So, I think that should be it, really.

0:35:240:35:26

-OK?

-Fingers crossed.

0:35:260:35:28

She may have been apprehensive earlier in the day,

0:35:280:35:31

but now it's done, Siobhan is happy with how things went.

0:35:310:35:34

Now that I've got my first complaint over, out of the way,

0:35:340:35:39

I feel quite... Not quite relieved,

0:35:390:35:41

but I also feel it's built a bit more confidence

0:35:410:35:43

in what I'm actually doing

0:35:430:35:45

and that what I do know I'm portraying across pretty well

0:35:450:35:49

and also that their understanding is increased

0:35:490:35:52

from what they need to be getting on with.

0:35:520:35:54

And it seems her message has got through.

0:35:540:35:58

If we are going to continue to be putting on these kind of festivals,

0:35:580:36:02

obviously, we want everyone to try to get involved as much as possible.

0:36:020:36:06

We do want, you know, local residents and local businesses

0:36:060:36:10

not to be affected by that,

0:36:100:36:12

or to feel as though they've been affected by it.

0:36:120:36:15

And just keep noise to a minimum.

0:36:150:36:17

Now that I do understand exactly what I can do to help in future,

0:36:170:36:21

it was definitely, definitely a good meeting in terms of that.

0:36:210:36:25

With the visit over, it's back to the office,

0:36:260:36:29

where there are plenty more cases

0:36:290:36:30

for Siobhan and her colleagues to deal with.

0:36:300:36:33

In Westminster, problems with noisy neighbours

0:36:400:36:43

are one of the Noise Squad's biggest issues.

0:36:430:36:46

Noise Officer Steve Richardson

0:36:460:36:49

has already dealt with a complaint about a noisy neighbour

0:36:490:36:52

who had allegedly threatened violence in the past.

0:36:520:36:55

Now, he's on his way to investigate a complaint

0:36:550:36:58

about loud music in a block of flats.

0:36:580:37:00

This is loud music.

0:37:010:37:06

We're just making sure we've got the correct address.

0:37:060:37:11

It's loud music the family have complained about,

0:37:110:37:17

loud music from another flat.

0:37:170:37:19

And we're going to go in and they've agreed we can visit,

0:37:190:37:22

go in and take a listen to the music from within that flat.

0:37:220:37:25

Before Steve confronts the noise maker, he's going to check in

0:37:250:37:29

with one of their neighbours to assess how bad the problem is.

0:37:290:37:33

Once inside, he can hear the music.

0:37:330:37:36

BASS THUMPS

0:37:360:37:38

How long's the music been playing for?

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Since eight o'clock, every weekend.

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Apparently when the parent's not home, the children, teenagers,

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they do parties and all that.

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But the weeks before, to be honest, what I used to do,

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I used to bang on the floor just so that they stop.

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But they just stop for about half an hour and then they start again.

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My children in the morning, when they wake up in the morning,

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they always say, "Dad, we couldn't sleep tonight

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"because of the music and the noise downstairs."

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And the trouble is, sometimes they end up

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with a fight, because they're teenagers.

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They start shouting, they go outside their flat as well.

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I spoke to the occupier there before.

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They're OK, I mean, they turned it down at that time.

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-That's right.

-OK.

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The nuisance noise is having a big impact on this neighbour's life.

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You know when I go to work I always feel stressed

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and I always feel angry at work.

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Is it possible that I could just take a quick listen in the bedroom?

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If the children are in there then don't disturb them.

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But if I could stand so that the...

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It's nearly two o'clock in the morning

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and Steve can hear the music in the children's bedroom.

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It's still clearly audible here. I'm happy with that, yeah.

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I remember they gave me the occupier's details last time.

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I'm absolutely certain I've got the occupier's details.

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-We'll go and speak to them now.

-All right, yeah.

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And hopefully, we'll get the music turned off for you now.

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But, at the very least, they will get a notice served on them.

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In Westminster, if Steve and his colleagues decide

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that someone is responsible for nuisance noise,

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they can serve them with a formal written notice.

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This means that a noise maker is legally obliged to quieten down.

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If the notice is ignored, they could face prosecution.

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Steve heads downstairs.

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It's time to have a word with the person who's making such a racket.

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OK.

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So, I'm happy it's a statutory nuisance there,

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so I'm going to go down and try and speak to some of the occupiers.

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The last time Steve was here,

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the music was turned off without any problems.

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MUSIC BLARES

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After a few minutes, the noise maker comes to the door.

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-Good morning. Hello.

-Hello.

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-I think we've met before, haven't we?

-Who are you?

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I'm from the Noise Team at Westminster.

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Our cameraman explains he's filming Steve.

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I want to announce myself to you. How about that? Hello.

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The noise maker might not care about her neighbours,

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but it seems she does care about being filmed behaving in an anti-social manner.

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Listen, why don't you switch off?

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Because I will switch you off myself.

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Steve decides to leave and as he does so

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the noise maker attacks the cameraman.

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SHOUTING

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Enough!

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Bleep, bleep.

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We are leaving.

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Despite Steve's best efforts to calm the situation,

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things soon go from bad to worse as our cameraman tries to leave.

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Can we have the police, please? I'm being assaulted.

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The cameraman was OK and undeterred and when the police arrived

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she was served with a written notice which seemed to do the trick.

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There were no further complaints and for this night at least,

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peace and quiet was restored to the neighbourhood.

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It's been a busy shift for the Noise Squad.

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Can you open the door, please?

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They've dealt with violent noise-makers...

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Trouble is, sometimes they end up with a fight,

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because they're teenagers,

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they start shouting, they go outside their flat as well.

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..a problematic party...

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You're getting reported to the university, all of you, for your behaviour.

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..and a trainee officer took on her first case.

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Just want to chat about what you had on, on the Saturday,

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what kind of things you put in place to measure any noise,

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if you did at all, and where it was.

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There's no let-up in the battle against

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anti-social nuisance noise, though,

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and plenty more cases still to be dealt with by the Noise Squad.

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