Guidance for gathering evidence
It is important that an accurate record of the nuisance is kept for two reasons:
- The officer dealing with your case will be able to see how often the nuisance is occurring and how you are affected. This will help us with our investigation, and for statement taking
- if we later decide to take legal action against the perpetrator, the quality of your evidence may be vital as to whether we succeed or not.
Guidance notes on keeping a record of incidents
It is important that you record only those things, which you have seen or heard rather than opinions. Each person needs to keep a record on a separate sheet. Record incidents soon after they occur while they remain fresh in your mind.
Enter the day and date that the nuisance occurs together with the time it started and stopped. Please use a.m. or p.m. after the times or use the 24-hour clock. Also remember to record the year e.g. 24-06-2007, 10.00 pm till 11.30 pm.
If for example you experience noise nuisance, record:
- The types of noise such as loud music, drilling, hammering, barking dog etc
- the loudness of the noise such as: I could hear it above my television, my windows were rattling etc
- how it disturbed you such as: It woke me up, I couldn't concentrate upon reading my book, I was unable to go to sleep etc.
If you receive verbal abuse or threats, please write the exact words that were said. Keep any written evidence of threats/letters you receive or any other items that have been sent to you by the perpetrator.
Record the identity of the person causing the nuisance if you know it, for example David Smith, the eldest son, a visitor called Mike Jones etc.
If you call the police, record the date and time, and the name and/or the number of any officers who attended your call and which station they came from.