Dorset Police have sent out (via their alert service) a notice about being good neighbours during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In the alert, they say:
We should all be able to feel safe and to enjoy living in our own home and many of us are now spending extended periods indoors, or for those fortunate to have them, within the perimeter of our gardens, so we are asking that neighbours are considerate of those around them.
Whilst we do not want to curb the enjoyment of simple pleasures like listening to music or practising hobbies, we do ask that you make sure that you are not accidentally disturbing your neighbours, as something that may seem harmless or trivial to you might be unpleasant or distressing to others.
There are lots of things we can do to make sure that everyone of us can be safe and happy:
- If you have a dog, please don’t allow it to bark or whine for long periods of time.
- If you are listening to music, can you do so using earphones?
- Please consider the type of music you are playing, it does not necessarily have to be loud – a low-level but persistent noise, such as a music bass or constant beat can be particularly distressing as sounds can distort over distance.
- When playing music or practising a hobby that produces a noise try to restrict the times so that you are not doing so for over thirty minutes at a time and definitely not between the hours of eleven pm and 7 am.
If you are following the above guidelines and a neighbour still complains to you about noise, try to keep things calm. Listen to what they have to say and try to come to a compromise.
If you feel that your quality of life is badly affected by other people in your community please contact Victim Support.