A Noise Nuisance Recorder, such as the Trojan, is a noise measurement instruments that can record both noise levels and audio files which are used to measure, record and assess noise nuisance complaints.
It is discreetly installed by the officer in a complainant’s property without the knowledge of the alleged perpetrator of the noise. It is set running and locked so that the equipment cannot be interfered with. Whilst there, the equipment continually keeps a log of the noise levels present.
A unit such as the Trojan can record and store many different types of noise data. The most common are the LAeq and the LAFmax levels which can be plotted onto a graph when the measurements have been downloaded to a PC.
The complainant is asked to keep a diary of all the alleged instances of noise nuisance. They are also provided with a remote control to press when the alleged noise occurs.
At this point, the noise nuisance recorder will start to record audio to document the alleged nuisance and to prove what noise was causing the displayed dB(A) level at that particular time. When the alleged nuisance is stopped the complainant presses the remote control again to cease the audio recording and maintain their privacy.
Good quality noise nuisance recorders such as the Trojan record high quality, uncompressed audio which when played back allows easy identification of noise sources and even whether it is the alleged perpetrator or indeed the complainant that is the real problem!
Once collected by an Officer the noise nuisance recorder is plugged into a PC where the data and audio recorded is downloaded.
Then using the software provided (such as NoiseTools) the officer can review the audio recordings, determine if they are a noise nuisance or not, mark them appropriately as such and then produce a report and recommendations for action.
Some common outcomes are:
- There is no noise issue, some other issue must be the source of the dispute.
- There is a noise problem being caused by the perpetrator which needs to be dealt with.
- There is a noise problem but the main protagonist seems to be the complainant with the alleged perpetrator just reacting to this.
- There is noise present but it is not un-reasonable behaviour but due to over sensitivity to noise or poor sound insulation between the properties.
The officer would normally try everything to ease the problem including mediation where necessary before they resorted to the final steps of either re-homing individuals or taking court action.
Without the evidence gathered by a noise nuisance recorder, the officer would never be able to quantify how loud the noises were, what caused the noises and who was making them.
In essence any decision made without the equipment being installed could be more guess work or gut feeling than based on facts.
