Repeat complainers about bins or noisy kids could face police contact ban

A police force says disputes between neighbours are causing a "large demand" on its resources.

North Wales Police said it needed to focus on crime, not "neighbours who don't put their bins away or kids playing in the garden making too much noise during the day".

In a social media post, the force said it had responded to four anti-social behaviour callouts in the north Flintshire area within 24 hours, adding that many anti-social behaviour reports related to neighbours.

It said such disputes were a "massive drain" for those involved, but that those continuing to reach out to the force after being told a matter is not criminal could be prevented from contacting them in the future.

"A lot of our anti social behaviour incidents on the district relate to neighbours rather than behaviour out in the community," North Wales Police North Flintshire said on Facebook on Sunday.

"Neighbour disputes can cause a massive drain on everyone involved, it's awful if you're involved in one and they very quickly cause a large demand on police resources.

"We have a pretty no nonsense approach in Flintshire North - if the matter isn't criminal we'll direct you to the local authority or your own landlord/lady.

"If it's not criminal and you continue to cause a demand on North Wales Police when you have been advised the matter is not criminal - we seek orders to stop you contacting us.

"It sounds harsh, but we have a LOT of crime to deal with, and our resources need to be focused on this - not neighbours who don't put their bins away or kids playing in the garden making too much noise during the day."

The UK government offers the following advice for resolving neighbour disputes:

• First try to solve the problem informally by talking to them
• If your neighbour is a tenant, you could contact their landlord
• You could use a mediation service if raising the issue informally does not work
• If the dispute involves a statutory nuisance (something like loud music or barking dogs), you can make a complaint to your local council
• Contact the police if your neighbour is breaking the law by being violent or harassing you
• As a last resort you can take legal action through the courts