Episode 9 Noise Squad

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

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

At times, you almost feel like you are going mad.

It's a living nightmare.

I don't want to be there any more.

Persistent parties.

Aggravating alarms.

And banging builders.

They're keeping us awake, disturbing our peace and quiet

and driving us to despair.

You can avert your eyes from things

but you can't shut your ears off.

-'But the fightback is on...'

-You need to speak to us, we're getting complaints about the noise.

Across the country,

dedicated enforcement teams are getting to grips with nuisance noise 24/7.

Noise itself can destroy people's lives.

The torch is shining right on his face and he won't look out.

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

There's a little bit of a conflict in their story,

so, hopefully I can get to the bottom of it.

Its time to meet the no-nonsense noise squad.

There's a real racket on today's noise squad as the team clamp down

on not one, not two, but three building sites causing a commotion.

Tomorrow is a bank holiday. No noisy work.

Officers are called to a party whose music is blaring out

in the early hours.

I need to be serious,

if it's not complied with, you'll get a £100 fine tonight.

-£100?

-Yeah.

And there's an investigation into whether these four-legged friends

are barking and causing a nuisance to their neighbours.

I'll speak with the person who's made the complaint

and see if we can come to some understanding of why the complaint's been made.

Westminster in central London is home to a quarter of a million people

and the biggest and busiest noise squad in the UK.

Last year, the council's noise team dealt with over 18,000 complaints

and with building work constantly taking place

throughout the borough, a good chunk of those were about noisy builders.

I'll give you a warning. If I come back we may nick you.

I'm searching for health and safety reasons

to give you permission to do it, but I can't find one.

Chris Sibanda has worked as a noise enforcement officer for ten years

and has been with the Westminster team for the past four.

Noise itself can destroy people's lives.

He has a diploma in acoustics and noise,

the perfect qualifications to be a noise officer.

I understand you are being disturbed by some loud amplified music.

I decided to hang around for another ten minutes.

It's Saturday, and Chris is en route to deal with a complaint

about builders carrying out noisy work with heavy machinery.

It's after one o'clock and on a Saturday that's illegal.

These builders have already had a notice served on them.

If Chris witnesses them breaching this

they could be taken to court and fined.

A notice was served here sometime in March

and we have also witnessed, I think,

about two breaches on that side.

As Chris walks towards the building site

the noise they're making can clearly be heard.

Noisy building work with heavy machines

can only be carried out between 8am and 6pm Monday to Friday

and between 8am and 1pm on a Saturday.

Anything outside these hours or on a bank holiday is illegal.

The noise stops but Chris has seen where it's coming from. He moves in.

Hello, sir, I'm from the noise team, my name is Chris.

Can I speak to the site foreman?

Once the foreman arrives, Chris explains the problem.

Right, I am from the noise team. My name is Chris.

Noisy works, drilling, angle grinder, what's going on?

There is a notice which was served.

Yeah. We're stopping the work now.

OK. What about the angle grinder in the corner?

Your guys were using an angle grinder, yeah, inside the site.

There were two guys using the angle grinder, cutting some bricks.

The foreman may not have heard the angle grinder

but Chris did and so did the local residents.

The foreman says that they had to work because they had wet cement,

but for Chris, that's no excuse.

Yeah, but you have worked outside the permitted working hours

many times, yeah, many times.

What you should have been doing is to request

that you work outside the permitted hours.

If you could put your tools down, now.

They can do other things, painting, cleaning, that's fine,

but all the powertools, and also the, the...

He's coming down.

Yes. He should come down now.

As the builders are in breach of a notice things won't stop here.

I will be writing to your company about the noisy works today,

and we will take it up from there.

-No problem.

-Thanks.

The foreman has promised to stop any noisy work

and things should now quieten down.

The site foreman has indicated

they are going to be off site at 2.30pm.

So, I'll be writing to the company about the breach of the notice

and then instigate legal proceedings.

Different councils deal with nuisance noise

in slightly different ways.

Here in Westminster, if builders are carrying out noisy work outside the permitted hours,

they can be served with a notice meaning they have to quieten down.

If they don't, they can be taken to court and fined up to £5,000.

To make sure there will be no more noisy works today

Chris does a lap of the site.

They've stopped now. They are just cleaning.

They've stopped.

They might have quietened down today, but since Chris' visit,

the builders continued to make noise outside permitted hours

and the noise squad are now preparing a case for prosecution.

It's a hot day in London, and when the sun's out,

it's not only the temperature that rises.

The number of complaints that the noise squad get goes up, too.

Warm weather plays a big part in the number of calls

which we receive because during the warm weather

people have got their windows open for ventilation.

You wouldn't expect people to be playing loud music at this time of the day.

Chris' next call is to deal with someone who's allegedly playing loud music

that's disturbing at least one of their neighbours.

I think I've been to this address, to the perpetrator, before.

She was a little bit rude. She was not co-operating at all.

If Chris witnesses loud music being played,

he could serve the offender with a notice, which means she would have a legal obligation to quieten down,

but that's not Chris' only concern.

If it is the same source of noise,

I'll need to take some precautions

to avoid being drawn into an argument.

First stop for Chris is to visit the complainant's home

to check the level of noise.

Hallo, Chris again.

The person who called to complain is a little camera-shy

but it seems Chris may have arrived too late.

There's nothing to hear here.

Looks like they've stopped.

Chris, though, is a patient man.

Let me wait for another five minutes.

OK.

His persistence pays off.

THUMPING BASS

It's going up now.

He heads off.

It's time for this nuisance noisemaker to face the music.

It's Chris from Westminster Council.

-Hi?

-Hi, let me show you my ID.

I spoke to you, yes, I spoke to you two weeks ago.

But the music, the way you are playing your music is so loud.

They have complained again. I have been inside their premises, I could hear the bass.

The bass is the problem.

The occupant of the flat claims she's not the only one making noise.

This is a joke, you know what, seriously I'm going to have to start calling you now,

because every night I hear people making noise.

I'm turning it off now, I'm literally turning it off

-and then I'm complaining every

-BLEEP

-day. Know it.

-OK.

-Know it.

-Right. What I'm going to do...

-It's disgusting, literally.

If you are being disturbed...

At the end of the day I'm a young person, a young person.

Yes, I have my music on through the day,

it'll be off probably by four o'clock. That's the joke.

She's agreed to turn the music off but having witnessed a nuisance, Chris is serving a notice.

I'm going to leave you with this.

It's a notice, this is an abatement notice...

It's all right. I'm going to the housing and everything.

OK, thank you.

Well, that went well. The good news though is that the music's off

and the notice has been served.

He might have quietened down this music and some noisy builders

but Chris' busy Saturday shift is far from over.

We'll be with him as he's called to deal with another complaint about loud music.

Let me wait for another five minutes and see if it is going to go up.

Like most big towns and cities across the UK,

one of the noise squad's biggest complaints in Belfast

is about loud music being played by rowdy revellers.

Noisy parties account for over half of all the complaints about domestic noise here.

We've had two other complaints. You're going to have to just knock it on the head.

-Can you get me someone who lives here?

-I do.

-Turn the music down, then come back and talk to me.

For people fed up of listening to a booming bass, help is at hand.

Tonight, Tim is on shift with Joe and they've been called out

to deal with a complaint about loud music in a block of flats.

-Any ideas, Jim?

-I think it's that one. Tim, this one here.

These flats are known to the noise team

and the lads know that they need to approach them with caution.

There isn't that many high rise flats in Belfast

but once you get on, in there, the block of flats,

somehow it's quite difficult to get away - if it's somebody's front door

and it all goes pearshaped, you can run away but in a big block of flats, it's difficult to get away.

So we're going to go in and assess the noise levels.

Because of problems we've had in these flats before,

if we go to speak to anybody, we're taking the local police with us

just as a support measure.

So, we'll go in and assess it first,

see if it's loud enough for us to go and speak to the noisemaker,

and if it's loud enough then we'll take the police with us.

Let's go.

Tim and Joe head off to see if there is a nuisance noise problem.

Somebody's enjoying the party.

The lads return to the car. It's time to get police backup.

Can I have call management North and West, please?

It is very loud, so we're going to try and serve a notice, try to get it calmed down.

A short while later, the police arrive and Tim goes to brief them.

When it comes to noise, it's the noise squad's job to enforce the law.

The police are here to make sure things don't turn violent.

How long will you be here? I'm not happy with my driver just sitting out in the vehicle.

-Well, if you want to wait for backup...?

-That's fine.

The police aren't keen to leave a driver sitting alone whilst they head inside,

so more units are called in.

Here in Belfast, if the team witness a problem they can serve a warning notice.

This gives the noisemaker a legal obligation to pipe down.

If they don't and the officers witness more noise that evening

they can hand out a £100 fine.

With everything now in place, Tim and Joe head inside with police backup.

It's 2am as they arrive at the flat and the music can clearly be heard.

KNOCKING

Joe knocks on the door once...

KNOCKING

Twice...

KNOCKING

Three times...

They're not going to hear us.

We'll go down and get the concierge to buzz them.

-Could you do that?

-Yeah.

With ten years experience on the job Tim's seen it all,

he heads downstairs to see if the concierge can buzz

the occupant of this flat to get their attention.

Having had a word, Tim pops back up

where Joe's knuckles sound like they might be getting a bit sore.

KNOCKING

The plan has worked - the lads can hear the intercom buzzing

and the noisemaker approaches the door.

It's a tense time for everyone,

No-one knows who or what they'll be faced with when the door opens.

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

Can I speak to somebody who lives here?

-I'll go and get the fella now.

-All right.

-Do you live here?

-Whoa whoa whoa, this man needs to speak to you a wee second.

-Do you live here?

Joe questions them about the noise

and tells them the music is too loud.

I'm getting complaints about the level of noise coming out of your property.

The music is far too loud,

you need to turn it off or turn it right down.

You're disturbing all the flats around you.

If you keep it up at that level and I come back,

you will be fined a £100 on the spot.

Turn your music right down, or off.

That's a legal document to say... No, don't...

That's a legal document to tell you I've been here

and witnessed the music.

I think it's fair to say that the occupant of the flat

has had more than a shandy or two.

As this music is far too loud, Joe's served this guy with a warning notice.

The problem we have

is with rational people the threat of a £100 spot fine works well.

But if you're dealing with someone who's so intoxicated they can hardly stand,

it doesn't really have the desired effect.

There's more than a fair chance that this noisemaker

won't remember the lads coming round.

But there were no further complaints,

and no further action was necessary.

But that's not the end of Tim and Joe's shift.

Later this evening they'll be flashing to get the attention

-'of one late night noise maker.'

-The torch is shining right on his face and he won't look out.

We'll find out if they can bring peace and quiet

to another neighbourhood.

In Westminster, noise enforcement officer Chris Sibanda

is having a busy Saturday afternoon.

He's already dealt with noisy builders

and someone playing loud music

and now he's dealing with another loud music complaint.

Having arrived in the neighbourhood though,

he's received a call from the complainant.

What is the situation?

So, they've turned it off now. They're having a break.

Do you want to call us back if they start?

The music's off for now but Chris is going to hang around to see if it stays that way.

The complainant has said it had been going on throughout the day

she thinks that they are on a short break

and they're going to start again,

so, I've just decided to wait for another ten minutes.

It doesn't take long for another call to come in from the complainant.

OK, fine.

Right,

we need to go and see this lady, I think she's at the corner.

With the music reportedly back on Chris sets off to find the lady's flat

but in this warren of streets, that's easier said than done.

It's a huge estate, this one.

And modern technology...

AUTOMATED VOICE: "At the end of the road, turn left,

"then at the end of the road, turn right."

It's not this way.

..Isn't really helping.

"Turn left. Then, turn left.

"Turn around when possible. Then turn left.

"Turn right. Then turn left.

"You have reached your destination".

Chris is met by the complainant

and it seems the music has been turned off again.

It does change while you...

OK. It goes up and down?

In order to take action, he has to witness a nuisance taking place.

In future, you need to call us as soon as the noise starts

because we need to be inside your premesis,

we need to assess it and find out how you are being affected with it.

Then if it is what we call a nuisance in law,

we then approach the people who are playing the music, speak to them, and serve a legal document

which is an abatement notice.

Whilst Chris is talking, the music starts.

-'But it's not that loud.'

-Let me wait for another five minutes and see whether it is going to go up.

Do you want me to come and have a listen over there?

He goes to check the level in the bedroom.

Whole day, can you believe, I sit here and listen to that.

It has stopped.

OK.

The noise is not a legal statutory nuisance

but it's clearly distressing this lady,

so Chris decides to have a word with the person who's playing the music.

Let me have a word with them and give them some advice.

If they continue to disturb you, you need to call us back, yes?

Yes, that's true.

We run a 24-hour service, so don't suffer the noise.

Chris knocks on the door,

it doesn't take long for someone to come and have a word.

-Hello, sir.

-I'm about to have a shower...

OK, sorry. Right - I am from Westminster Council noise department.

-It's about the music. If you can drop down the bass.

-As of when?

Ah, the thing is it's been going on throughout the day.

The noisemaker explains he's a student and claims not to have been in.

Chris advises him to drop the bass on his music when he does play it,

just to be on the safe side.

Yes, drop the bass down.

We are not saying don't play your music,

but you need to control the volume and also to control the...

OK. Thank you.

Music levels in flats can often be a problem

and it's the bass that travels furthest.

He doesn't understand how the noise travels,

so let's hope he's going to keep his promise,

that he is not going to be playing any loud music

disturbing the residents around.

The job of the noise squad is to police noise levels

and sometimes a quiet word does the trick and sorts the problem.

To date, there have been no further complaints about this flat

and no further action has been necessary.

Chris' weekend's work isn't over yet.

He's going to deal with more allegedly noisy builders

and we'll find out shortly if a quiet word

or more serious action is required to quieten things down.

Hello! Hello!

I can hear some drilling.

In Belfast, these late-night revellers are in a good mood, but their neighbours aren't.

We've had a complaint from one of your neighbours about the music.

-A complaint about the music?

-Yeah, yeah.

And York noise officer Craig Delarenzo

tries to get to the bottom of a case about allegedly barking dogs.

What I'm going to do is I'm going to speak with the complainant

and ask them if I can pass on their details to you.

We might be a nation of dog lovers,

but people who have to live next door to something like this...

CONTINUOUS BARKING

..understandably don't feel a whole lot of love towards our four-legged friends.

It just goes on the whole day.

It just barks, continually.

Walking up and down the stairs, shutting the door, it just barks, barks, barks, it doesn't stop.

Last year, barking dogs were the third biggest complaint

that the City of York's noise squad had to deal with

and when fed-up residents call in to complain

they're often at the end of their tether.

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

Noise enforcement officer Craig Delorenzo

has worked for the council's noise team for six years

and today he's on his way to deal with a complaint about barking dogs.

We're going to see a person who is allegedly causing a noise nuisance by allowing his dogs to bark.

He's called me up after receiving a letter.

He wants to discuss the complaint

and see if there's anything that he can do

to resolve the problem.

With his colleague Mike, Craig heads to the dog owner's house

to hear his side of the story.

Hello, Mr Teasdale? Craig from the council.

And both dogs are keen to see who their visitor is.

Hello. Oh, you've got two. Hello.

Having been sent a letter from the noise squad

about a particularly noisy day

where his dogs were allegedly making a racket,

this gentleman is keen to find out more.

Now, what's the problem?

Well, we've had this complaint about your dogs barking.

I don't think that's justified.

The incident you're talking about, on the 2nd, I was in hospital.

-So I can't say they were noisy..

-Or not.

The complaint about his four-legged friends has come as a big shock.

I've lived here 33 years, I've had dogs for 20-odd years,

and I've never had any problems with them before.

-So I'm just wondering...

-What's changed?

-What's changed, yeah.

-We've received a complaint about it.

-You can't tell me who?

-I can't say who, I'm afraid, no.

Like I say, on your paper it says "Discuss with your neighbours".

Unless you tell me who it is, I can't discuss it with my neighbours, can I?

I know, it's a difficult situation.

It's a catch 22.

But, what I can do, is I can act as an intermediate.

This dog owner is frustrated that the person who's complained

hasn't approached him directly.

Craig explains what's considered to be a nuisance and what's OK.

I've dealt with dog barking complaints

where the dog is left on its own in a house all day and they're bored,

so they start barking.

That's the sort of thing that is a statutory noise nuisance, a nuisance in law.

A dog barking at the postman,

barking at environmental protection officers as they come to the door

is not a statutory nuisance, it's just what dogs do.

When it comes to howling hounds, owners are responsible

for making sure that their dog doesn't cause a noise nuisance.

Craig heads outside to where the dogs are sometimes kept.

So, the dogs...

This is the area they go in.

So, the dogs just stay in this area here,

and they more or less live inside the extension there, do they?

-Well, no, full run.

-They've got full run of your house?

-Yes.

-Sit!

DOG WHINES

Speak! Speak!

DOG WHINES Speak! Speak! Hey!

Normally, I can get him to speak and then shut up. Sit! Shhh,

quiet.

Right, very well trained.

That's why I can't see the problem.

These dogs seem friendly and well behaved.

What I'm going to do is I'm going to speak with the complainant

and ask them if I can pass on their details to you, so that you can...

-I would much rather intermediate with you, do it together.

-Would you? That's fine.

I'd prefer that as well because then I've got some control over it.

This chap's keen to resolve the situation with Craig's help.

To him, his dogs are more than just pets.

These were my late wife's dogs and I've had them about eight years, nine years.

She passed away four years ago and left me with these two brutes.

If I thought they'd be a problem I'd have shouted at them and told them to be quiet.

You're responsible for your animals, that's why we've got a wall round.

It's all fenced off.

I'm not getting rid of them.

Craig's satisfied that today there's no problem with the dogs.

Thanks for speaking to us today,

and I'll speak with the person who's made the complaint and see

if we can come to some understanding of why the complaint has been made.

A week later, Craig heads out to visit the complainant.

I want to find out if the problems have stopped

or if they're carrying on.

There's a little bit of a conflict in their story,

so hopefully I can get to the bottom of it.

The complainant doesn't want to be filmed but having had a chat with them, Craig's got an update.

We went to the complainant's property.

He said that since we sent the letter there's been no further problems,

but before he contacted us

it was a regular problem with the dogs barking continuously, all day.

So, hopefully, that's going to be the end of the matter.

Now it's back to see the owner of the dogs

to let him know what's going on.

He said since my letter he's not had any problems with them at all.

So, so, really, as far as I'm concerned, that's great and problem solved.

Well, I disagree with him, because I don't like them barking.

But I will keep my eye on it.

We'll leave it at that for today.

If there are any problems then I'll get back to you

but I'm sure that that's the end of the matter, really.

The dog owner has worked with Craig to try and resolve any issues

and Craig is happy to let sleeping dogs lie.

Job done, case closed.

In Belfast, Tim and Joe are working the night shift.

They've already quietened down one noisy neighbour

and now they've been called to deal with another.

But they have to use a torch to try and get the attention

of the people in this noisy property.

We pressed the door buzzer a few times and got no answer,

so I'm trying to shine a torch in the window

where the noise seems to be coming from.

The side of his head is right at the window.

The torch is shining right on his face and he won't look out.

Yep, he's seen me.

It's the council's noise service,

can you send me down someone who lives there, please?

The occupant of this flat is playing hard to get.

Ah there, they're not coming down. He's closing the curtains.

Refusing to come to the door isn't going to save them, though.

Joe posts a warning notice through the letterbox.

If they have to come back tonight

they could be handing out a £100 fine.

In Belfast, the council's noise squad

received just under 7,000 complaints last year,

the majority of which were to deal with complaints about loud music

keeping people awake into the early hours.

-Can you get me somebody who lives there?

-I do.

-Turn the music down, then come back and talk to me.

The following night, Jim and Steve,

who between them have ten years experience on the job,

are heading out to deal with an ear-piercing party.

Once the lads leave the car,

it's loud and clear where this noise is coming from.

Steve prepares a warning notice and they go to confront the party holder at the door.

We're here just about the level of noise coming from your property.

As you can tell, it's nearly quarter to four in the morning.

Your neighbours are not getting any sleep.

But if we have to come back, if you continue playing your music

and we have to come back, you could get a £100 fine tonight.

No problem at all, man, I'm sorry about that.

Thanks. Good night.

This guy is polite and apologetic and promises to keep it down.

It's a quick and easy result for Jim and Steve.

If you have a problem with persistent parties or any other type of nuisance noise

try and speak calmly to your neighbours first.

If that doesn't work, your local council can help,

so don't suffer in silence, pick up the phone and get in touch.

Dealing with noisy parties is a nightly occurrence for the lads,

and the next evening they're called to a house

who seem to be hosting their own fiesta.

Excuse me!

Excuse me, I work for Belfast City Council.

I need to speak to someone who lives here.

The doors and windows are open and the whole street can hear the party.

-Do you live here, yes?

-Yes.

Look, we work for Belfast City Council.

-Oh, right.

-Night time noise.

We've had a complaint from one of your neighbours about the music.

Complaint about the music?

-Yeah.

-But it's very good music.

-It's good music but it's too loud when the windows are open.

-What?

If my neighbours were liking good music I will applaud.

How is applause in English? Applause?

Applause, yes.

This chap is in a good mood but hands up who'd want to listen

to R Kelly blasting out in the early hours?

Nope, me neither.

Jim serves him with a warning notice

and explains the consequences for not quietening down.

I need to be serious, though.

If it's not complied with you'll get a £100 fine tonight.

-A hundred pounds?

-Yes.

I only have only three pounds.

You're not getting fined at the minute.

All you have to do is close the window and turn the volume down.

Turn the volume off... down.

Don't turn it off, turn it down.

Down.

These revellers are co-operative and friendly.

They even give the lads an invite to the party.

Do you want to stay in the party?

I'd love to stay, but we don't finish work until four.

You have to go to another house?

Aye, we have several more houses to visit.

All right, thank you very much for coming. I am so sorry.

Ah, no problem. Just turn the volume down, that'll be fine.

Multicultural Belfast.

Party quiet, job done.

But the calls are coming in thick and fast tonight,

and Jim and Steve's next call is to yet another noisy shindig.

The complaint is that there's a large group of people gathering at the front of the property,

shouting and causing a disturbance.

If these revellers had kept the party inside,

with the windows and doors shut,

then Jim and Steve might not have been called out.

Some noise there, so we'll go and have a chat with them,

ask them if they can keep the party indoors and close the doors and windows to contain the noise.

-How're you doing, do you live here?

-Yes.

-I'm from Belfast City Council night-time noise team.

Will you turn that camera off.

This lady isn't happy about our camera being present, so we retreat,

but Steve isn't going to be distracted from dealing with the real issue here.

Right. You can try and distract from the noise you're making,

but it's not going to work.

We're serving this legal notice on your property.

It's been a busy weekend for the noise squad but a successful one. There were no further complaints

about any of the parties the lads attended and no further action was necessary.

In Westminster, Chris Sibanda is having a busy weekend.

Yesterday he dealt with noisy builders and complaints about loud music.

Today he's got three complaints about noisy building sites, and it's a Sunday.

Unless they have prior permission, that's against the law.

I've been working for the past ten years,

dealing with noise

with different boroughs in London.

But what I've gone through here in Westminster,

especially with the builders,

there is some evidence that it is getting worse

whereby contractors are just breaking the law.

Chris' first job is to investigate a complaint

from a resident in the neighbouring borough of Camden.

As the alleged noise is coming from a building site in Westminster, Chris is going to check it out.

And yes, I am always patient when I'm dealing with the builders.

What number is that one?

There's no answer but Chris perseveres.

There's some people inside.

There's some people inside this side.

I need to speak to them.

Hello! Hello!

Hello!

Hello!

Hello.

I am from Westminster...

Hello, there.

Right, I am from Westminster Council. Is your site foreman in?

I need to see him.

He'll be out in a minute.

Chris has a word to find out what's going on.

The residents are complaining about the noisy works from this site.

What is taking place here?

To be honest, we'll be finished, not long.

But you're not supposed to be doing any noisy works on a Sunday.

-I'll take all the details.

-We've finished now.

Right. I'll take all the details but you need to be very careful.

If you are going to come here tomorrow,

we run a 24-hour service and we will serve a notice on the contractor.

As he didn't witness any noisy work taking place,

Chris can't take any action but he did give the workmen a warning.

I cannot serve a notice because they were not carrying out any noisy works.

They were doing some plastering and also cleaning the site.

They were about to leave the site.

And I've indicated to them that tomorrow is a bank holiday.

They are not supposed to be carrying out any noisy works.

So they've promised me that there will be no noisy works tomorrow.

If you have a problem with banging builders

or any other type of nuisance noise

you don't have to put up with it.

Make a note of when the noise is happening

and what type of noise it is

and give your local council a call.

Don't phone the police, because when it comes to nuisance noise,

your council have more powers than the cops to sort it out.

Chris' next job is just around the corner.

It's all quiet at this building site,

but Chris makes notes in case he's called back.

Back into the car and it's onto the third building site of the day

and when he arrives he can hear work taking place.

On the third site, I can hear some drilling.

The noise can be heard in the street.

Time for Chris to take action.

He gets the workmen's attention.

Through...

through there?

The door seems locked but Chris isn't going to give up.

Can you come out? Can you come? Come out. Yeah, come outside.

Yes, you come outside.

One of the builders comes round to speak to him.

Hallo, there. Hell, guv'nor. No, I'm fine, sir, how are you?

Right. I work for Westminster Council noise team.

Oh, I see.

Let me show you my ID.

-I'm here about the drilling.

-The drilling?

Yes, it's very, very noisy.

The grinder?

You're using the angle grinder?

-Yes.

-OK, what were you using the angle grinder for?

-Just trying to slice some steel.

-OK.

Are you aware of the legislation which we use on building sites?

Yes.

The builder says he's aware of some of the laws about building sites

but not the ones relating to noise.

You know that noisy works are supposed to be carried out

between 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday,

and 8am to 1pm on Saturday.

No noisy works today, on Sunday.

That's fine, that's not a problem. We didn't know this, actually.

The governor who owns this place,

he said, "Yeah that's fine, you can work, but not till late."

-Right, OK.

-That's why we started working.

Do you want to come round or do you want to go round,

-he's not far, he's only round the corner.

-Yeah...

You can get the key from him.

-You don't have the key?

-I don't have the key to the front door.

-OK.

So the front door is the... this is the rear?

-The back door.

-This is the back door.

This is an easy one for Chris.

The rules are very clear, he heard the noise first-hand.

It's a Sunday, so a notice will be served.

Right. The situation is you need to stop now.

Tomorrow is a bank holiday. No noisy work.

OK?

You need to come back on Tuesday.

OK, thank you, thank you.

Bye-bye.

The complaint about these builders came from a resident in Camden

but as the noise is coming from Chris' patch

it's his responsibility to stop it.

Where I am standing is Westminster.

Over there, to that street, that will be Camden.

The caller was calling from Camden

complaining about noise which is coming from our borough,

and hence, I have managed to identify one of the sites.

The site foreman is not on site at the present moment.

I will make a follow-up on Tuesday

and then send the notice to the main contractor.

Chris double-checks that the builders have stopped,

but he knows that the battle against nuisance noise from building sites is far from over.

I am just trying to stop them when they are breaking the law,

when they are working outside the permitted hours, and reminding them.

Also to try to educate them about the legislation which we use.

It's all quiet here now and with a notice served,

if these builders make any more noise outside the permitted hours,

they could be taken to court and fined.

So, hopefully the residents of this neighbourhood

can look forward to a bit of peace and quiet.

-KNOCKING

-It's been a busy shift for the noise squad.

I'm getting complaints from your neighbours about the noise coming out of your property.

They've dealt with everything, from noisy builders...

You have worked outside the permitted working hours many times.

..to late-night parties...

I need to be serious here.

If it's not complied with, you'll get a £100 fine tonight.

-A hundred pounds?

-Yeah.

-I have only three pounds.

..and complaints about four-legged friends.

As far as I'm concerned, that's great and problem solved.

There's no let-up in the battle against anti-social nuisance noise.

And plenty more cases, still to be dealt with by the noise squad.

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