neighbour is aware we are an autistic family (myself and 2 children) yet shining high beam lights into bedrooms for the last year since he failed in a boundary dispute. yet no professionals see this as a 'hate' crime or act on it.

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  • To akidonicki (If I spelt that right),
    A couple points:

    I myself actually have the EXACT same problem. Very very often. I also can't do anything about it. (Coincidentally, As I write this, it is happening. Again.) There are things which you may try to do about it, which I cannot in my own situation. For instance, I can't move away from where I live due to lack of money.

    Build a solid gate/fence, to block it out, or pay someone else to do this; for there are *few* restrictions upon how high anyone is allowed to build a gate or a fence.

    Keep a diary about it, as precise as you can - what, when, where, who, how long, effects, and such. This is for the LAW, to present a case if you can. In law, this is called "Light Pollution", and the business is similar to "Noise Pollution", and is treated with as much respect by the law... which I cannot comment upon... (Some other things which you state may count as "Stalking"'.)

    I have taken many photographs much like yours, and so I know what you mean there. Stand in place, and take one photo with the "flash" ON, and then another with the flash off... and if you can, try to take some in daylight when the light is still on, or get any close-ups showing the exact light fixture (to show that it is pointed at your property)... something like that... which relates to this last suggestion...

    Buy yourself a bright light and do the same to them...?? (Make certain that it shines upon no-one else at all.) Find out how *they* themselves next deal with it - in LAW - ...and then state your own case. Whatever you do, please tell us what happens - but also please do not do anything in haste (bad), if you know what I mean.

  • To akidoniki again...Just re-reading other things which you write... this is definitely "Harrasment" in law, and I would like to read any advice that NAS might give you. Keep very precise records, and ask your children to do the same if they can.

  • thank you disallowed cynosure for the advice. I have to now attend the police station under caution about this neighbours constant and fake 'allegations'.  he claimed I was harassing him with a wind chime. impossible as it was tied. This started as a boundary dispute after he drilled a new fence into our fence posts, without permission.being as his new fence was 2m high and ours only 1m. Our post could not support his new fence and our own.  He then claimed our fence was his, we ascertained that it was in our boundary and had been built before he moved in next door. We only just moved into the house so we cant afford to move on just yet. since then I have been filmed, watched by this bully. He even complained to the police about a book in our bedroom (why is he spying into our bedroom?) and said it was "offensive". Pretty much evidencing his own stalking of me!! The police then rang to ask us to move book from his view. shocking.  (the book 'straight jacket').

    The national autistic society cant help apparently, they dont do 'legal advice'. I thought they would offer support due to the nature of the harassment. The neighbour is aware that we are an autistic family and have used those sensory disabilities to harass us even further. 

    We even had a camera in our property, and neighbour complained to police about it. It was a dummy camera to deter thieves. due to the neighbour throwing concrete over to our side, (I have had ornaments broken in the garden) I would like to now put up real CCTV as for the last 2 nights, not only has he been shining his garden lights until 2am, he has also had loud parties and having his guests leave the side entrance (adjacent to our bedrooms) rather than the front door straight onto the street, of course to cause us noise nuisance and disturb us further. It has been a very nasty harassment campaign from him and because of his 'sexuality' the police are targeting us instead (i believe to be political correct). The police have certainly failed to safeguard my family. When I rang a year ago to tell them that there were strangers in my garden, damaging my fence on purpose, they would not come out. The neighbour had his workmen (after he lost the fence dispute) put up a new fence but made them push our posts out and damaged our fence, they were also on our property without permission to harass us, when there was no need for them to be in my garden. I know putting CCTV will mean the police will be at our house again at his behest.  we are becoming  prisoners in our own home.

  • you have to file counter-claims so you have something to use against him. That's experience of the law speaking, not autistic nonsense about 'justice' - justice doesn't exist, the law exists to deflect people's anger from causing armed vendettas

    law requires it to be prosecutable, which usually means legally accepted as evidence. CCTV would be a good investment, obviously you'll have to edit it down i guess or you'll have hours of nothing and blocked hard-drives

    ideally you'd spread rumours yourselves among the neighbours about him, but it doesn't sound like you have the social circle to do it

    the law is the law. You need someone who knows the law. If you want to lose your case, use a divorce lawyer, a property lawyer, anyone who doesn't know this specific area of the law - the nas would be even worse, you'd definitely lose any claim using them to support you. Find a ferocious lawyer who likes money who specialises in neighbour disputes and fire off some counter-claims or prosecutions or whatever they are

    and don't get any soft notions that a lawyer who agrees to take your case will still be there next week or not go on holiday when the case is due, lawyers are there when they're in front of you and no promises should be believed

  • thank you robert for link, much appreciated.

  • Try getting in touch with these people.

    https://www.dimensions-uk.org/position-statement/hate-crime-learning-disability-autism/

    They have some useful links for reporting autism hate crimes.

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