This petition was submitted during the 2019-2024 parliament
Rejected petition Change the way the law/police deal with threatening & abusive neighbours
Allow police to take reasonable action to end abusive neighbour behaviours, the matter is seen as a civil dispute even though it can go on for years with people feeling trapped in their own home, even when evidence of the behaviour is provided little is done to protect the victim and their property
More details
To bring in reasonable law to protect victims and have any abusive actions (both verbal and physical) by neighbours deemed a criminal offence, as in some cases it can lead to assault, property damage and loss of earnings, with many victims being able to provide years of this abuse as evidence the police often have little choice when it comes to taking action, there is no clear defence or support in place for the victims, the government needs to set out some clear actions and penalties
This petition was rejected
Why was this petition rejected?
It’s not clear what the petition is asking the UK Government or Parliament to do.
Violent, abusive or threatening behaviour, harassment, breaching the peace, are already criminal matters about which the police can take action. The Metropolitan Police has published some guidance on disputes with neighbours, which sets out the types of disputes are likely to be a matter for the police: https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/disputes-with-neighbours/
If you want the Government to make other activities which might lead to neighbour disputes criminal, you could start a new petition requesting this, but would need to be clear what activities that are not already offences you would like to be made offences.
We only reject petitions that don’t meet the petition standards.