Is this an acceptable reason to call the police?

There are 6 of you and you are all scared to open the door?

This is most likely to be a drunk person who is trying to visit a friends house and he is mistaken.

At this stage there is no crime.

This is not a police matter and the people here who state you should call 999 are irresponsible.

This could become a police matter but there will be certain expectations. They will have expected you to challenge this person and tell them to stop. If this person returns then he could be spoken to about his anti social behaviour. The police will also expect you to have a spy hole fitted, speak to the landlord.

People are just as responsible for policing themselves yet choose the soft option by calling the police. You have a responsibility to police yourselves just as much as we do.

Sorry to sound blunt but that's just how it is.

EDIT @ Gunther...Unfortunately things have changed a lot since you retired, there are 25% less Cops covering a 20% larger populous in my Force. Jobs like this are put on the "to do" list. They are generally never resourced. I am speaking from reality. Unfortunately being pro-active is a thing of the past in situations like this. In fact the only people I know that would likely be able to attend something like this would be the sleepy outer divisions.Im not saying I dissagree with you but the role of Constable has changed so much in the last few years. Yes, of course I would love to be more proactive but we simply dont have the time or the resourses any more. Im a realist, not a fantasist.

People these days know their rights yet have little knowledge of their responsibilities.

Don't shoot the messenger!

EDIT number 2 @ Gunther...its easy for you to say that, yet when you joined the job the total number of crimes reported in England and wales number approx 1.5 million, in 2000/2001 that number exceeded 8 million. Thats five times more crime with only twice the amount of officers. All you have shown is what an easy time you had of it! These figures are from the Oxford university press and you can expect that figure to have increased by anouther couple of million. Don't attempt to riddicule me with your petty comparisons, you have no idea what its like these days. Ever heard of NCRS? Nope, thats because you never had to work by its standards. In your day Police didnt even record criminal damage under a certain amount. In fact it was a rare occasion when a police officer in the 70s and 80s had to get his/her pocket notebook out.

No, you can not! But what you are able to do is to ask with courtesy for us to not name on that day. What you have got to take into account is that you're not the only one and there are those that have prayed for the reality and witnesses come knocking. It is rather difficult for us to move preaching on the grounds that we all know what the final publics' opinion is of us, but we additionally know what is required, so we do it out of love for our Creator and pleasure when anybody listens. I might now not be a witness now, if that they had not knocked at my door! I have simply obvious (silly me) that you do not absolutely mention witnesses, however anyway, I feel that is who you imply?! You can most undoubtedly now not do not forget it stressful if it was once whatever you wanted, would you? Which you could also ask us to put you down as a don't call! Have you ever ever really taken the time to take heed to what we ought to tell you? Without doubt you aren't pleased with the way in which the world is at the second and beauty what it is coming to? How do you suppose about dying? Do you worry old age? If sure, to all these, then you definitely rather need to take some time to listen! I must thanks, although, for at least calling us christians, should you mean us!

Opening the door at 5am to someone unknown is never likely to be good news . Certainly not an emergency call imagine how it would sound .. I have a desperate situation theres someone knocking on my door ! However multiple calla at 5 am is a nuisance and if where ever you live has a non emergency number I'd give that arty and ask if they were able to patrol about that time in your area . Guess you could try looking out an upstairs window see who's causing the problem !

I don't know what planet Carswoody is on but I would rather get called to a situation like this and resolve it there and then than have to come back later to deal with an aggravated burglary.

^Carswoody. When I joined the Met there were 19,000 of us and we would have quite happily dealt with this in the circumstances. When I left there were 32,000 of us. It's called crime prevention - 'the primary object of an efficient police' if that rings a bell.

^Carswoody - FYI I retired in 2007, not that long ago so I know what NCRS is. In 1977 when I joined we were so understrength we received a bonus for it. And I spent all my career in the operational field, not in an office before you try to lob that into the mix.

The job always was, is and will be f**cked.

If it has happened more than twice, yes. It isn't just a random person looking for someone, it's harrassment. The police will possibly set up a stake out to see who it is, or wait in one of the rooms, and answer the door when the knock comes. I suggest calling, because that happened to me a few years ago, my mom was out of town, so I thought one of my friends was trying to prank me. It happened four times, and on the fifth, the man broke in assuming that no one was home and if I wouldn't have climbed out my bathroom window, I could've been killed. When the police caught the man, he had all of my moms jewlery and was carrying a gun.

I think you would be right to call the police however not 999 as its not a emergency the number for none emergency enquirers is 101 that will take you through to your nearest police station, if your from the uk that is.

Yes it's perfectly reasonable to call the police over this matter, however I would ring them now on a non emergency number rather than wait till it happens again and ring 999.

call 101 and report it now, then call 101 again as its happening. Never call 999 unless yours or someone elses life is at risk.

I would have phoned them on 999 the first time it happened. Aggressive knocking for 5 minutes at any time is unacceptable.

I would certainly call them, but not on 999 use 101 instead. I'm not too sure what they will do, but it may be just enough to deter whoever it is if a uniformed officer is seen to attend.