TACKLING NOISY NEIGHBOURS

Noisy neighbours have been told to turn down the volume by council and police officers, as part of a new initiative.

The noise nuisance car is a police vehicle that’s been used by the council’s Community Safety Officers and Police Community Support Officers in a joint initiative. They respond to complaints about problems with noise, such as loud music, DIY noise, house and car alarms, that come into the council’s out of hours service and the police control room.

The scheme was tried out for two weeks during the summer and dealt with 73 noise related calls during that time. Alarms were re-set, advice was offered and verbal warnings were issued. In only one case did the team have to issue a Noise Abatement Notice.

It went out again over the Halloween and Bonfire Night period, joining forces with Kent County Council’s Trading Standards team and Kent Fire and Rescue Service. Together, they carried out inspections of shops that were selling fireworks. Along with this work, the car responded to 17 noise complaints at homes across Thanet and dealt with an additional 51 calls about anti-social behaviour.

Cllr. Chris Wells, Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Even though the noise car has only been out for a period of a few weeks, it’s already had a great response from the community. People have been very pleased to see a combined and immediate response to their noise concerns. It’s always easier to tackle problems during the time when the noise is being made and some of those making the noise have been genuinely sorry for the problem they’ve created.”

The noise car patrols from 4pm to midnight from Mondays to Thursdays, and between 6pm and 2am from Fridays to Sundays, during busy times of the year.