Police have issued advice on what residents can do if workmen are making noise outside their homes early in the morning, after a query was submitted to an official 'ask the police' website administered by forces around the UK.
The question asked: "Workmen are digging up the road outside my house at an early hour. What can I do about the noise?"
Reporting Noise to Environmental Services
In response, police explained that there are generally no legal restrictions on when work can take place in residential areas. However, they suggested that residents can report the noise to Environmental Services at their local authority.
Police wrote: "As with any complaint of noise, you can report this to Environmental Services at your local authority. It may be possible to serve inconsiderate contractors with a noise abatement notice."
They added that getting a noise abatement notice depends on specific circumstances, as there may be reasons why work is taking place at a particular time.
Contacting the Contractor Directly
Officers continued: "There are generally no legal restrictions on the times work may be carried out and sometimes it is necessary to work during unsociable hours for emergency repairs or to avoid traffic disruption."
They advised: "If you can identify who is doing the work, for example, gas, electricity or water board, you may wish to contact them directly in the first instance."
Other Noise Complaints and Police Intervention
Police also offered advice on other noise issues, such as a burglar alarm repeatedly going off on a street, which residents can report to their local council as a noise complaint.
They said that in most cases they will not respond to minor noise complaints, but they will intervene in more serious incidents, such as loud noises from illegal raves. Each force has its own policies on how to deal with these, and anyone affected by a rave in their neighbourhood is urged to contact their local force, which will then take 'appropriate action'.
