View Full Version : Question for the Forum Coppers
MisterTommyH
03-02-14, 01:03 PM
Is there anything that can be done about neighbours (in a apartment block) who might be using questionable substances (odour is often very pungent when we get back at night and sometimes comes well into our place).
I am not generally the kind of person who would try and impose my views on drugs on other people, but its starting to affect us as we are worried about clothing smelling of said substance - and we both work in places that it wouldn't go down well.
TheRuffellator
03-02-14, 01:29 PM
Put a call into crime stoppers and explain what's happening maybe, hopefully at some point they'll send a unit round to have a look. If you want to go down that route... or knock on his door and have a word first?
Running to the police might be a bit overkill, especially if you haven't spoken to them first. Speak to them first, if it persists perhaps try your housing/apartment association. A bit like going straight to the headmaster at school wouldn't you say?
yorkie_chris
03-02-14, 01:40 PM
On the other hand if you have had a word then they get lifted for something (whether it's you who's grassed them or not) guess who will be their new best mate...
More to it that "having a word first". Drug taking/dealing cnuts don't tend to apply gentlemans conduct and queensbury rules.
andrewsmith
03-02-14, 02:01 PM
On the other hand if you have had a word then they get lifted for something (whether it's you who's grassed them or not) guess who will be their new best mate...
More to it that "having a word first". Drug taking/dealing cnuts don't tend to apply gentlemans conduct and queensbury rules.
This
Having a word up here normally involves a couple of very large blokes and a baseball bat.
I would speak to the police or Crimestoppers. If your area has the 101 service ring on that
ChrisCurvyS
03-02-14, 02:09 PM
If they're just students or middle-class recreational pot smokers, having a word isn't going to do any harm but as Chris says if they're remotely dodgy, it's a recipe for trouble.
Plus realistically it's highly unlikely they're going to stop smoking it in the flat - best you'll get is them maybe agreeing to open a window.
MisterTommyH
03-02-14, 02:10 PM
And this is why I'm asking rather than jumping into doing something. It's my GFs place and I'm not technically resident 100% of the time.
It's not housing association, all the flats are privately owned by individuals and ours is rented off someone who lives abroad. The agents are useless for even managing to get someone round to look at the boiler etc (seem unable to understand that working people might not be home in the middle of the day on the off chance they send someone round). And I understand it has been mentioned to the agent before anyway.
Having said that, the people who live where it comes from are a fair bit younger than us, and driving very good (not extravagant, but very good) cars for what they do.
I'm more of the 'let them get on with ruining their lives' attitude and know I could explain away any smell by telling the truth, but it's starting to get to the O/H.
I don't think calling the coppers is an option, but just interested to get their take on how it might be approached and see if anyone has any bright ideas.
Specialone
03-02-14, 02:15 PM
I doubt that smell is just from their smoking, I'd hazard a guess they have a grow on in one of their rooms.
I wouldn't want to put up with it either tbh.
I suppose you'll have to gauge if they are likely to be dealers or not. Do you know what the people that live next door to you look like? Are you sure it's not a bunch of uni students or some old man who uses it for medicinal purposes? Perhaps just a normal guy. As specialone said though, depends how strong the smell is. If it's really that pungent, maybe they are growing it.
If you suspect they are dealers it could be tricky. Do you want to get them busted or do you want your clothes to stop smelling? If you don't want to involve the police, but are worried they may not like you knocking on the door and complaining, perhaps a few anonymous notes through the post?
Something like, "your sh*t is stinking half this block out. Deal with it". If they're dealing or not, should be good enough scare tactics. If not, you know who to call.
Sid Squid
03-02-14, 02:35 PM
Approach your neighbours with the 'information' that you can strongly smell their 'herbs' - not that you mind of course, but you want to make sure that they are aware - they wouldn't want the wrong sort of person 'detecting' it now would they?
You're doing them a favour aren't you?
Do they have people coming to the door at all times?
timwilky
03-02-14, 03:40 PM
My daughter has exactly the same problem. Guests have commented about the odour in her apartment. Even when windows are closed it somehow permeates the whole building. I would bet the culprit hasn't a clue that the whole block knows what he is doing in the privacy of his own home.
Biker Biggles
03-02-14, 03:48 PM
Invite yourself in and get wrecked.You wont care about a few odours after that.
Littlepeahead
03-02-14, 03:57 PM
If the smell is that strong and frequent and getting stronger then I'd say they are growing it. Are any of the windows blocked off with heavy blinds? If so most likely a hydroponics kit and the plants are starting to bud. The smell from that will attach itself to everything, including fabrics, that's far less likely if they are just smoking the occasional joint.
Quite possibly they are just growing it for their own consumption, a couple of plants can really smell but they probably grow their own as that way they know what they are getting, skunk most likely, hence the smell, with no ground glass sprinkled on to the sticky sap to make the finished product weigh more to up the dealer's income while destroying the users lungs.
If that is the case, and they aren't thugs then maybe just a friendly chat to say that you have no objection to a neighbour having a spliff or two at home but the smell is now so strong that visitors to your place have commented on it and it can even be smelled outside. That may be enough to spook them into doing something about it.
If they are growing it then come harvest time the smell may lessen, especially if they store it in properly airtight containers.
On the upside, it's far better than the smell of cat pee. I managed to live in a shared house where the guy from Trinidad upstairs was growing skunk and the woman next door had an incontinent cat so I got both!
Tell them you had a copper knocking at your door asking where the smell was coming from, just a heads up you understand.
101 it and let the Police deal with it. By the sounds of it, it isn't small quantities they are smoking if it is affecting your O/H apartment and strong enough to stain your clothes with the smell.
21QUEST
03-02-14, 07:44 PM
I'm not entirely sure why the question was for the 'Forum coppers' .
That aside, since it's as bad as you have described, I'd say Sid Squid has it right. Perhaps embee's...though a bit too complicated for me personally.
if you aren't comfortable doing the above, you could of course just go with Biker Biggles's suggestion :p
I believe alchohol kills more folks each year than weed does :D
edit: Surely, even if he went with the 'grassing option', it doesn't mean the neighbours wouldn't have a pretty good idea who grassed him/she/them?
Do you actually speak to your neighbours?/have actually spoken to them at all in passing...as in even saying morning/hello/hi etc
TheRuffellator
03-02-14, 11:00 PM
I think the idea of warning them you can smell it but you don't mind, you just want them to be careful (well that's what you tell them) is a good idea but then if you do have to take it further your neighbours will have a pretty good idea of who it is who informed the authorities. Although I still standby my crime stoppers/101 comment, you can give information anonymously.
If you're worried about reprocussions, talk to someone from your local nick and ask about the process.
punyXpress
03-02-14, 11:24 PM
. . or ring the Gas Board?
21QUEST
04-02-14, 12:13 AM
I think the idea of warning them you can smell it but you don't mind, you just want them to be careful (well that's what you tell them) is a good idea but then if you do have to take it further your neighbours will have a pretty good idea of who it is who informed the authorities. Although I still standby my crime stoppers/101 comment, you can give information anonymously.
If you're worried about reprocussions, talk to someone from your local nick and ask about the process.
Could I possibly ask what for you would be the main reason for ringing crime stoppers/101....the scent of the marijuana or just the fact that they smoke?
TheRuffellator
04-02-14, 06:59 AM
The scent for sure, tell them there is often a strong smell of cannabis in the close area and you believe you know where it's coming from.
I doubt you would get anywhere by just ringing up and saying your neighbour smokes it.
yorkie_chris
04-02-14, 08:51 AM
What is the point of crimestoppers? Isn't investigating crime the polices job?
Littlepeahead
04-02-14, 09:21 AM
In America they are gradually legalising it which can only be a good thing.
dirtyred619
04-02-14, 09:51 AM
I had this last year but the said people were also basically battering their dog as well whilst out in the back yard smoking weed. We rang the RSPCA who came with a police escort but nothing happened. A couple of weeks later they got raided. They are gone now.
Steve_God
04-02-14, 10:41 AM
What is the point of crimestoppers? Isn't investigating crime the polices job?
They help gather intel to feed info into the police (although, not sure what the difference between Crimestoppers and calling 101 is these days...)
Approach your neighbours with the 'information' that you can strongly smell their 'herbs' - not that you mind of course, but you want to make sure that they are aware - they wouldn't want the wrong sort of person 'detecting' it now would they?
You're doing them a favour aren't you?
I'd go by this approach personally.
TheRuffellator
04-02-14, 01:08 PM
What is the point of crimestoppers? Isn't investigating crime the polices job?
As Steve_god mentioned crime stoppers is collecting intelligence and working in partnership with the police and other agencies to tackle crime. The police do the actual investigating and arresting etc.
Acces the people. If they seem freindly ie say hi when you see them outside, have a word and mention it. If they dont seem great, then i would 101 it.
punyXpress
06-02-14, 12:09 PM
As Steve_god mentioned crime stoppers is collecting intelligence and working in partnership with the police and other agencies to tackle crime. The police do the actual investigating and arresting etc.
Got it in one! - or should that be two?
Everything that's wrong with public so-called services in this country.
Why run something at a reasonable cost when you can link with partners and agencies and make sure the cost is exponentially higher and spread the financial joy amongst all your mates?
DanAbnormal
06-02-14, 12:18 PM
I would goto the Police personally but that's based on my experiences. We had a guy in our street some years back who was seemingly a bit of a pot head. His actions were affecting us so I had a word with him. A few days later my bikes tyres were slashed and the ms car wing mirrors had been smashed off. This happened about 3 times. Coincidence? I don't think so. In the end it got pretty unpleasant but then he got raided (wonder why) and turned out he was quite a large distributor for drugs in the area. Just be careful, these people can be ruthless.
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