False or malicious reports 676/2024

FOI Reference: 676/2024

Request:

1. When you receive a call from a neighbour about a noise complaint( During daytime hours) would you usually attend the property of the neighbour making the noise? If yes, Why do you do this if police are not required by law to get involved with civil matters?
2. When you receive a call from a neighbour about anything particular such as noise, abuse or concerns over a person's welfare, or any other alleged reports made by a neighbour, do you check and verify the information given or do you attend and act based on the information you have been given, even if it may be incorrect or malicious?
3. When the report is found to be malicious and the person concerned is a victim of the neighbour's malicious reports, what actions do the police take to protect the alleged from further malicious reports and what police actions do you take against the malicious caller, since you then have their identification and they have made the report? Do you thoroughly investigate or do you simply record it as an actual factual version of events that happened?
4. In any of these circumstances, do you accept that where the alleged persons whom you are visiting or attempting to visit, are concerned that they are being harassed by malicious reports about them, what do you as a police force on the whole, do to stop this maliciousness against them from continuing any further and/or do you accept reports made to 101 as a version of facts without having any secondary evidence?
5. In police matters which are non-criminal and non threatening life emergencies, where do you derive your lawfulness from when you try to break and entering in order to speak to someone or ascertain their "wellness"? Can you quote a legislation which says you have the right of entry or the right to speak to persons at their own property, against their will to speak to you, and when any 101 calls are received about them, which are however non-threatening and non emergency situations?

 

I can confirm Dyfed-Powys Police does hold the information requested, as outlined below:-                                              

Response to Q1

Attendance would depend on the information we have received from the neighbour.  Each incident would be individually dynamically risk assessed and appropriately dealt with.

Response to Q2

Attendance would depend on the information we have received from the neighbour.  Each incident would be individually dynamically risk assessed and appropriately dealt with.

Intel checked would be carried out as well as previous calls to an address.

Response to Q3

Each individual report would be individually risk assessed, investigated and dealt with on a case by case basis.

Response to Q4

Checks would be carried out of previous calls, which ‘may’ highlight a pattern of behaviour.

Police systems may hold comments on addresses providing information on regular callers / hoax callers / malicious callers.

Reports would be taken and individually risk assessed, graded and categorised on Police system to be dealt with by officers on division.

Response to Q5

Section 17 Pace, gives police the power to enter a property, but only, to save life & limb and prevent serious damage to property.

No power of entry exists to conduct ‘welfare checks’*.

*See attachment below for further details on the current welfare check policy (from 2018)

(Please note that this policy is in the process of being re-written.  The Right care, Right Person policy will supersede this and will be available via the Publication Scheme in the coming months).

 

(This is a response under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and disclosed on 29/07/2024)