Foo - Non-cycle related problem UK advice needed...

Hi,

If you've got this far, thanks for having a look.

I live in the UK and I just wondered if anyone had any advice for a problem I've been having.

Recently I've noticed one of my (adult male) neighbours is frequently using a camcorder from his house windows (you can see the reflection from the lens) and also in his garden.

Yesterday I caught him in my garden, today I caught him filming my (female) partner and I have reason to suspect he has been filming my young daughters - it's 1/2 term (school holidays).

I have other concerns about his behaviour and attitude, but this is the one I most need advice with.

Specifically, where do I stand legally and what can I do about this while remaining (just) inside the law ?

I wouldn't normally post here, but I hope you can understand my concern, I feel I need to react fairly quickly to this.

Many thanks for reading this far.

Advice gratefully appreciated.

I am certainly not a lawyer, so I won't try and guess your local legislation. You should look up how to report Peeping Toms and have them disciplined...I know that in the US, we report that behavior to the police, and (hopefully) they investigate and act accordingly.

In the meantime, I would try as best as you can to increase the privacy of your daughters and partner (which I'm sure you have been doing already).

Good luck, and keep us posted!

I would second the involvement of your local authorities.

They may be able to tell you better what your options are, or what to be aware of. That's creepy stuff. My best to you and your family.

Get your camera and video tape him video taping YOU.

Then he'll get his wife to video tape you videotaping him.

...and it'll be like a recorded orgy.

Sometimes an unkind word goes a long way.

Does he have an email address? Maybe we could send a posse over from Foo. If so, I get first words.

jim

I would second the involvement of your local authorities.

They may be able to tell you better what your options are, or what to be aware of. That's creepy stuff. My best to you and your family.

+1

If he is filming your family, he is probably filming other people too. Even if his actions aren't strictly illegal, I'm sure the authorities would be interested to know what he is doing.

Ask your local coppers. There will be some pretty strong laws about filming minors (child protection, anti-child p0rn laws - you'd be amazed at how strong some of these laws are).

Once you have some idea what the laws are, go next door and ask politely if he could stop doing it as it is upsetting you (but be calm, he might be filming a rare breed of bird - you just never know!). If he refuses/denies/etc then point out the information you got from the police.

If you see him doing it again, call the police. He's had his warning.

Document all his actions, date, time, location, what he's filming, so that you have the records in case it's needed. Keep an eye on your family and have them protect themselves, but also document what's going on. If you have a video camera available use it to document him when he's filming, that way it isn't just his word against yours.

Definitely contact your local police agency and find out what they, and you, can do. You may also want to contact an attorney to see if there's something else you can do to protect your family.

While it is not suggested as a good thing to do, if you feel comfortable confronting him, when you see him filming go ask him what he's doing and why. Don't get physical, but inform him you don't appreciate it, that you've contacted the police, and that you are documenting all his actions in case further legal action is required. That may scare him off, but it's better if the police knock on his door and inform him of this.

Not paranoia if you're right! Too many nuts out there!

Involve the authorities and document. People like this can escalate. Do it sooner, rather than later.

You could always get a copy of the local laws and mail it to him anonymously. This would work well if you included a few pictures of him while he's doing it.

I would've already been over there with a baseball bat.

Where's Oddjob when you need him?

I would've already been over there with a baseball bat.

I was about to fix that and say "with a shotgun", but I forgot the UK was a no-gun nation.

involve the authorities and document. People like this can escalate. Do it sooner, rather than later.

+1000

Confront

Stop filming us

Healthcare being free does not mean that it is not painful

Update: Very briefly the situation has not improved and the police have been involved. They are 100% uninterested and apparently if I take a photo of him my behaviour is then exactly the same as his.

Initially I was told he has broken UK law, but am now being told he hasn't.

However, the Council of Europe's 'European Convention on Human Rights' clearly states:

Article 8 – Right to respect for private and family life

1. Everyone has the right to respect for his private and family life, his home and his correspondence.

I don't suppose anyone in the UK legal profession cycles and uses this forum ? I wouldn't mind knowing if this ruling should apply ?

Is there anything else I can legally do ?

TIA.

I would install a bright Flood light and aim it at the window he uses the most.