'Noise Squad' follows noise nuisance control officers in three authorities in Westminster, Belfast and York as they deal with the many varied complaints they receive in our increasingly noisy, modern lives.

Episodes set in York include tense confrontations with people partying a little too hard and persistent noise offenders as well as some lighter moments with unwelcome early morning calls from cockerels, and a man whose cat scarer is annoying more than the local cats.

The programme is scheduled every week day, for three weeks, from Monday 5 December on BBC1 at 11am.

Ian Gray, who was followed by the TV cameras for six weeks earlier this summer, comments on the experience.

So what was it like to be filmed?

Interesting! I was a little apprehensive at first but I thought it was a great idea as it's nice to think the public may get more of an idea about what we do and how we work - I think often they see council workers as just boring pen-pushers but this will help people see what they are paying their council tax for!

 
Anything that highlights our work and allows people to understand the process and issues is a good thing. Since the noise patrol service started, complaints have increased such that we get around 2,500 noise nuisance complaints a year and it's increasing all the time. We're definitely living in noisier times - we've got more densely populated urban centres and more people using a variety of equipment capable of disturbing their neighbours! We serve around 80 or 90 Noise Abatement Notices each year resulting in around 20 prosecutions or formal cautions being issued.

Obviously when we're attending some call outs we don't want to announce our presence so we can get into buildings without being seen and monitor the disturbance discreetly. That can be difficult with a cameraman or woman in tow, but we just got them to hold back on filming until we were in position and not to shine their lights and torches around too soon!

Were you scripted at all?

No, everything you see was as it happened and we were just ourselves. Although initially they sometimes prompted us with questions about where we were going, the background to the cases and how we felt about the situations. They occasionally did the same with the complainants and offenders. 

Were there any unusual complaints to deal with during filming?

Although many of our complaints can be quite predictable, there are often surprises as to where a noise is coming from or what is causing it. On one of the complaints, we received a call regarding a high pitched noise that was disturbing local residents. The investigation led us to a nearby property owned by an elderly gentleman who had a faulty cat scaring device in his rear garden. However, even when stood next to it he was unable to hear the noise! Sometimes, as people get older their ears response to certain sound frequencies starts to diminish!

What do you think makes for a good noise patrol officer?

We're all quite different characters in our team but I guess the key things are being understanding, and persuasive but also to be able to be authoritative and always staying calm no matter what the situation is. I don't scare too easily but sometimes you can find yourself in some threatening situations.

Seizures can often be quite testing. If someone has breached a Noise Abatement Notice then we can get a warrant to enter the perpetrators property to seize the offending noise-making equipment etc. The other day we were going to do a seizure of equipment and the person in question was well known to the police for violent behaviour and various other misdemeanours. We normally go in threes to do seizures as there are different roles that need carrying out and police attend with us too, as well as a council joiner in case we have to force entry. The offender was out that day but his mum was there and let us in meaning the operation could progress more smoothly than it would have done otherwise!

We do get support from each other and have training every couple of years in Conflict Management to make sure we're dealing with situations in the best possible way.

How long have you been in this line of work and how did you get into it?

I've been in environmental protection work for nineteen years - the last five in York. Not all of our work is in dealing with noise nuisance complaints. We also spend a lot of time dealing with other types of pollution complaints, and also inspecting factories under air pollution control legislation, issuing them with permits and ensuring that they comply with them.

I've got a degree in Chemistry and Environmental Pollution and later obtained a Diploma in Acoustics and Noise Control.

Also starring in Noise Squad are Ian's colleagues Fiona Davies, Michael Golightly, Helen Howlett, Craig Delorenzo, Elizabeth MacDonald, Anthony Dean, Debbie Bell, Siobhan Metcalfe and Mike Southcombe.

About the service

You can complain about noise on Friday and Saturday nights, between 9pm and 3am, by telephoning or texting the Noise Patrol service on 01904 551555. The service can also investigate complaints outside of these hours by prior appointment.

To make a complaint, enquiry or to seek advice during normal office hours contact:
Telephone: (01904) 551555
Email: environmental.protection@york.gov.uk
Write to: EPU, c/o 9 St Leonard's Place, York YO1 7ET
Call at: 9 St Leonard's Place, York YO1 7ET