Community Resolution Order

[bednobs]

Hi, my neighbours came round because they claim my dog got into their garden, jumped up and bit her arm. My dog has undoubtedly been in their garden before, over the summer (at least twice) they informed us and we improved their fence so our dog could no longer get through.
They claim this incident was last week.
I asked them (by text) to tell me where he got through as we can honestly see no gap big enough for even a yorkie to get through, let alone a border collie. I also asked for a bit more info about the incident as i need to make some hard decisions (if for example out dog shoved his way through and attacked her, it's rather different to him putting his face through, her shoving him back and then his tooth grazing her)
They have not come back to me on either count.
This morning a police officer turned up and tried to "persuade" me to sign a community resolution order whereby i agree to improve (their!) fence and pay them an as yet undisclosed in amount recompense. He was a bit wishy washy about what would happen if i refused to sign, but said i could be guilty of an offence under the dangerous dogs act.
I do not believe that IF something happened it happened as reported (i can't say for certain it didn't happen - he was in the garden and i can't see the whole of it from where i am working) and i don't want to sign. I am willing to be proved wrong
I find it extremely hard to believe. We are already not on good terms with these neighbours and i think they are just being trouble makers. However, my job requires me to have DV clearance and i don't want to jeapordise that.
someone give me some advice please!

[bednobs]

I text her a very polite text the next day asking for some more details and for her to tell me which bit of fence he got through or at least which direction he came from. But no response

[bednobs]

I can't sign the orderc anyway as the 2 proposed outcomes are impossible. I can't make the fence better if I don't know which bit it is he supposedly came thru and I can't tell if she has 20 quid worth of injuries or 2000 so how would I know if what they come up with is a reasonable amount?

[wolf63]

A dog who is determined to get through a fence usually succeeds. It might be worth getting a dog proof fence installed. Then you will be certain he can't get out.

Proof of medical treatment or sight of the wound - at the very least they should supply this.

[Peter Pedant]

thank you for very good legal advice NJ
which in the traditions of the Law thread
NO ONE has the least intention of reading or following
c'est la vie bebe!

i was gonna say bit the bullet and sign your dog did it
BUT how often the police come around and ask you to do things NOT in your interest! is the lesson from this one

[Peter Pedant]

medical bills - NHS so nil

[woofgang]

bedknobs the fact that it was a real policeman doesn't rule out his being a mate of theirs :(

[AuntPollyGrey]

Bednobs - I think the neighbours may have evidence but just don't want to show you their cards. I say this because we had to prove evidence of damage to the Police before they would even consider a CRO -otherwise it's just one word against another. We had to show the photo OH took on his phone of the dog in the process of attacking one of the sheep, photos of the dead sheep and have a full veterinary report on the second sheep plus a receipt from the vet of all work done. Either they have this evidence and are holding back, or they haven't, and are hoping you will just sign the CRO -this would suggest compliance by the PO which is hard to believe but not impossible. I would suggest you say you MAY sign the CRO but you need to see the evidence of injury plus a written statement of what happened and how much 'compensation' the neighbour wants. If you don't sign the CRO and they have all this evidence if it goes to court, you will be convicted and this will show up on your record.

[bednobs]

Thanks again everyone. It is reasonable for us to get our own fence installed an will be doing so asap. If my dog has hurt her I am also willing to compensate her for her injury but still o know more about it I cant

[Tilly2]

Is it possible to go round and talk to them?

[bednobs]

not without a fight ensuing :)

[bednobs]

actually, that's not true. I probably could, my husband not so much. I don't want to though
don't get me wrong, I have complete sympathy with them. I know how it felt to me when their dog kept coming into my garden, not that it ever bit me, although it did have its teeth round my husbands balls once. It's a pain, and completely our fault that I wasn't monitoring the dog well enough. I am just not minded to sign

[Tilly2]

I'd go round and ask just how much money you might have to pay. At least you'll know then, unless they refuse to answer you.

I'm not too sure about why they need recompense.

[AuntPollyGrey]

I can't see why they would need recompense either unless the 'bite' prevented them from working. Bednobs I think you are taking a very sensible approach on this matter by getting the fence dog proofed and would suggest you sick by your guns and demand évidence of injury before you decide to sign the CRO

[bednobs]

Thanks to everyone for advice. Here is an update:
The policeman went back to them to ask for pictures of both the injury and where he got through and came back yesterday. The picture shows 2 puncture bites, which do look like a dog bite. Not dated.
Interestingly they gave the policeman a picture of the back fence, despite the fact they told us (before they called the police) that he had dug under the side fence. The dog can absolutely not get to the back fence as after the last time he was in their garden, my husband put a new fence crossways across the garden which he cannot get over or under or around. The policeman was once more putting a lot of pressure on me to sign his paperwork.
I have showed him the new fence, the quotes we have for a fence on our side and informed him that our pet insurance would cover compensation if she wanted to make a civil claim against us.
From the evidence they gave him they cannot prove my dog was in their garden, nor that it was him that bit her.
The policeman was very annoyed that I wouldn't sign and admitted that the whole thing was a waste of his time. However, he is going back to them to tell them we refute the allegations, and will come back next week to let us know how things are going to proceed

[bednobs]

it does however make things slightly easier for me … I have always tried to be the peacemaker and it's been difficult. Now I can balls out hate them because they sent the police round on the anniversary of my daughter's death and on the same day the (Other) police called us to tell us we still can't have a funeral.

[wolf63]

A year to wait for the Police to make a decision! that is a cruel length of time to leave your family in limbo.♥♥♥

Your neighbours seem totally unreasonable. I would be pizzed if somebody's dog bit me but unless it was done aggressively I would never consider going crying to the Police.

Is there no (legal) way that you can get back at her? Encourage your cat to go to the loo on her lawn? Maybe the innocent little moggie could scratch some obscenities on their car?

[bednobs]

i dont want to, im a normal person, and not particularly vindictive (in general!) I dont want things to escalate, just go back to the normal state of not having anything to do with them.

I am anxious about wht their next move might be - they already called the dog warden, the police and are canvassing the neighbours (im sure encouraging them to complain about us). What's next - social services??
We put a new hedge in yesterday on OUR side of the front fence and she was there videoing usand as son as she thought we'd finished was out there nosing and photographing

[wolf63]

I'll admit that much of human behaviour confuses me, but what does she honestly think she can gain from harassing you and your family? Any financial gain will be minimal.

Like you, I just want to get on with people, it's much simpler than picking fights or holding a grievance.

I hope that you get this resolved as quickly as possible.
☺

[bednobs]

i have a horrible feeling we are just not the neighbours she wants, and her ultimate goal would be to get us to move

[woofgang]

bedknobs I think some people just like to have someone to bully. The folk who tried it on with me were generally liked by my other neighbours who I also get on with. I seem to have been the one picked out to bully as right from when they moved in they never smiled or even said good morning. I have no idea what happened between them and my other neighbours and have no intention of asking or discussing it but gradually they fell out with them too.