Archive for category: News

Hello Neighbours,

And happy Neighbourhood Watch week!  A time to bring neighbours together, and to celebrate the people who make a difference to our communities.  We’ve packed and sent out dozens of Communi-Tea packs, but it’s not too late to get one from our shop, if you’re keen to host an event.

 

We would love to hear what you are doing in your area – it’s always a joy to share the incredible work going on across our amazing network. Tell us about your events here.

Highlights this month:

• Time to celebrate a volunteer or police officer who deserves recognition – our awards are open!
• There is a new crackdown on dodgy shops in town centres
• Long service awards in North Aldridge
• Knife robberies are down by a fifth according to new figures
• It’s a Fair Cop wins gold at the ARIA awards (the podcast Oscars!)

Nominate a volunteer or a police officer for an award!

Neighbourhood Watch volunteers are amazing, and we want to celebrate the brightest and best. Nominations for the volunteer recognition awards are now open, and you have until 5 July to enter. There are five categories five categories: Innovation and Reach, Crime Prevention, Community Health and Wellbeing, Young Volunteer Award, and the Special Recognition Award. Celebrate your favourite volunteers here.  And find out about the police awards here.

 

New high street unit set up in nationwide blitz on dodgy shops on high streets

Organised crime gangs operating across Britain’s high streets will be hit with a major police offensive in a new nationwide crackdown on dubious shops. Rogue barber shops, vape stores, mini-marts and sweet shops linked to organised crime will face raids, closures and cash seizures under a new £30 million crackdown targeting money laundering, tax evasion, and illegal working over three years. Read the full story.

 

Patlock is the home security device that protects patio doors against forced entry. It’s easy to fit and remove, providing a visible deterrent, and peace of mind for homeowners.  Patlock has partnered with Neighbourhood Watch for over 10 years, helping to reduce burglaries and improve neighbourhood security. During Neighbourhood Watch Week, members can save a further 10% and purchase a Patlock for only £38.25 by clicking here.

 

Volunteer spotlight:  Dave Brown

Our data shows that ASB is consistently one of the biggest areas for concern amongst NW members.  So, it is wonderful to see one of our coordinators, Dave Brown from Cheshire, making a real difference in his new build development.  His work shows that one person can be a catalyst for positive change, across a community.  What a great initiative, well done Dave!

 

Loneliness Awareness Week is coming soon

Hosted by Marmalade Trust, Loneliness Awareness Week runs from 15-21 June. It is the world’s largest campaign to inspire conversations about loneliness and promote connection activities happening across the world.  Loneliness can also makes people more vulnerable to crime, so the more we can do to reach out to our neighbours the safer they will be.  Find out more and sign up on their website.

 

5 ways to keep everything safe

Unexpected events and bad news can be made worse if you are not prepared. It can make all the difference if you know where important documents are stored, and your family or trusted people can step in if something happens. Read advice on steps to keep vital information safe for when you need it most.

Neighbourhood Watch members can access Is Everything Safe, an application designed to help households stay organised, connected, and ready to support each other. Use offer code ‘OURWATCH’ to access the member discount here. (Ad)

 

Neighbourhood Guarantee to improve villages, towns and cities

Changes mean that communities are set to benefit from clear expectations around the level of public services they see in their area. Key issues that matter to local people, like cleaner streets, potholes and public services will come under a Neighbourhood Guarantee for the first time.  People will also be able to monitor whether the guarantee is being met in their area through published data. Find out more.

 

Scheme spotlight: North Aldridge Neighbourhood Watch 

North Aldridge recognised some of their longest serving supporters at their recent AGM. And we really mean long serving, they were recognising people who have been volunteering for over 10, 15, 20 and 25 years. That is so impressive. It is also probably the reason that the area is known for being a peaceful and clean area with friendly neighbours. What a fabulous team, we are so grateful for the amazing work you do!

 

SimpliSafe is celebrating Neighbourhood Watch Week!

To mark the occasion, we’re running a special, first-of-its-kind sale on our website this week (1st – 7th). During this time, everyone can get 45% off a SimpliSafe Security System, plus a free Bell Box included.  Check out the sale here. Alongside this, we’ll be sharing fun, collaborative content across our social channels in celebration of the week – so keep an eye out! (Ad)

 

Knife robberies down by more than a fifth

New Home Office data shows that robberies involving a knife in the seven highest volume areas are now more than a fifth lower (21%) than they were in June 2024. Offences fell from 15,918 in summer 2024 to 12,633 by March 2026, meaning thousands fewer people experiencing the fear and financial impact of this violent crime. Read the full story here.

 

Alfie wins gold! 

Massive congratulations to Alfie Moore – broadcaster and ex-police officer turned comedian – for winning a gold ARIA award. In case you don’t know what an ARIA is, they are essentially the podcast Oscars. We’re so delighted as we’ve been recording our own podcast with him over the last few weeks (launching soon!) so watch this space for news on that soon. Listen to an episode of the award-winning series here.

 

Play One Lottery and support Neighbourhood Watch

Did you know you could have a chance to win up to £25,000 each week with One Lottery. Every ticket helps to fund national projects, support volunteers and build safer communities across England and Wales. And for the last four weeks in a row, a lucky player has won more than £170. Play One Lottery here. 
Scheme spotlight – Rosegrove

Rosegrove NW are always so innovative with the events and services that they do. In the last month they’ve hosted a sold-out Pride event, a mad science workshop for school children and a book nook crafting session. Whoever is coming up with these events is clearly a creative genius. Absolutely brilliant work and so much fun for the whole community!
Straw poll results

Thanks to everyone who filled in the straw poll on the frequency of the newsletter. 75% of you have asked us to share a shorter newsletter more often. Honestly, it came as a bit of a surprise, but a nice surprise!  We’ll start working on how we can deliver that. We’re always trying to make our information better, so feedback is always welcome.
Best wishes

 

Reminder that the last EWR Public Consultation runs until 9th June 2026. The last chance to see and discuss plans with EWR representatives is at the Belfry Hotel Cambourne on Saturday 30th May 2026.

Andy Martin will be representing Barton Parish Council at a meeting arranged by our local MP, Pippa Heylings, with the Rail Minister Lord Hendy at the DfT office in London on 2nd June. Please feel free to ask Andy any questions on EWR.

 

Dear Customer
Important roadworks information

M11 junction 14 (Girton Interchange) northbound exit slip road – maintenance 

I’m writing to tell you that we plan to carry out maintenance on the M11 junction 14 northbound exit slip road. Once complete, drivers will benefit from a safer, smoother and better-defined road surface.

We plan to complete this work overnight on Wednesday 27 May 2026. We will be closing the road overnight between 9pm and 5am, weather permitting.

Closures and diversions

To carry out the work safely, we will need to close the M11 junction 14 northbound exit slip road, and divert traffic as detailed below:

Diversion route for traffic exiting M11 northbound at junction 14 (Girton Interchange)

• Continue north on the M11
• Join the A14 and keep going to junction 25 (Bar Hill Interchange)
• Use the fourth exit at Bar Hill to turn around
• Head south on the A14 back to Girton Interchange
• The diversion ends at Girton Interchange

Please note emergency vehicles will have access through the works with caution.

How to find out more

If you would like more information, please contact us on 0300 123 5000, or by email at  info@nationalhighways.co.uk.

Hello Neighbours, 

We have another bumper crop of interesting news from the network to share this month. We are cramming so much in, I’m genuinely considering going to a fortnightly format. I wonder if shorter newsletters every other week, might be easier to read. If you have strong views either to keep this monthly, or to move to fortnightly updates, please let me know in this very basic straw poll.

Highlights this month include

·  The police have new powers to tackle antisocial behaviour

·  New guidance advises using passkeys rather than passwords online

·  Get a sneak peek of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast – coming soon!

·  NW updates from Blackpool and Suffolk

·  Learn how community grants are being used in Nuneaton

·  Catch up on our knife crime webinar

Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent, giving police new powers 

The Crime and Policing Act has over 70 measures including tougher police powers to crackdown on antisocial behaviour and retail crime by introducing Respect Orders so police can ban repeat offenders from town centres and other locations. Other measures include new legislation on the sale of knives and introducing an offence for assaulting a retail worker with a possible sentence of six months in prison. Find out more on our website.

National Cyber Security Centre: leave passwords in the past 

Overhauling decades of security practice, the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ, has taken the decision to no longer recommend individuals use passwords where passkeys are available because passwords lack the relative resilience to modern cyber threats. We’re working with experts on updating our guidance at Neighbourhood Watch but you can find out more from NCSC here.

Get a sneak peek at the Neighbourhood Watch podcast

We’ve finished recording the first four episodes of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast, hosted by BBC Radio 4’s Alfie Moore. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating series, talking to a range of celebrities about the communities they grew up in and their experiences of crime. Get a sneak peek of Andy Bush talking about how his parents were scammed online, here.

Fundraise while you shop online

Did you know that when you buy things online, you could be raising free donations for Neighbourhood Watch Network? 8,000 retailers, including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S, are ready to donate, and it won’t cost you a penny! Each time you shop online, visit the easyfundraising site first, to find the retailer you want. After you’ve checked out, they will donate to Neighbourhood Watch Network at no extra cost to you. Go to Easyfundraising and join for free.

Summer is coming – make sure you are covered before you travel

We’ve partnered with Staysure, the UK’s favourite travel insurance provider with over 20 years’ experience and more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider. Their cover includes options to suit different trips, with 24/7 emergency medical assistance and cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Having the right protection in place can help you travel with confidence. Find out more. – Ad

Neighbourhood Watch Community Grant update

Nuneaton Neighbourhood Watch helped raise funds for bleed kits so they could be placed around the area to help someone in need. Chris Ellis, who lost his son Tom in a knife attack in 2024, presented bleed kits to the local community in a bid to save others’ lives. Brian Stansfield from Neighbourhood Watch said the kits will be given to local businesses and schools. He added: “We all know the terrible incident that happened in Nuneaton town centre and are making it our mission to prevent further needless loss of life.” Read the BBC news story here.

Heading off on a long weekend trip this bank holiday?

It’s important to remember to properly protect your home while you’re away. Sumier Foster-Shah, Customer Service Manager at ERA, shares the simple steps that you can take to make sure you have peace of mind while you’re away from your property, and enjoy your holiday, read more here – Ad.

Say it with flowers! 

Want to say a big thank you to a local hero, friend, neighbour, or community champion? We’ve partnered with Flower Station to celebrate the spirit of community with a stunning Neighbourhood Watch bouquet, perfectly reflecting our iconic brand colours. Flower Station will donate 10% of the sale proceeds to supporting community grants. Check out the Neighbourhood Watch shop to find out more.

Knife Crime awareness webinar

We were very grateful to Anoushka Dunic from the Ben Kinsella Trust for hosting a webinar on knife crime to mark Stephen Lawrence Day on 22 April. The session covers sensitive topics but it’s a very practical insight into the drivers of knife crime and violence, how to support young people and where to go for support. Catch up with the webinar here.

Neighbourhood Watch Lottery update 

Last month one of our lucky NW lottery players won £224.16, congratulations! The lottery generates a steady source of income for us to deliver national projects, support our volunteers and make more of an impact. You too can support Neighbourhood Watch and be in with a chance to win up to £25,000 a week. Play One Lottery here.

Tougher measures targeting antisocial behaviour become law

The Crime and Policing Act has now received Royal Assent. This means that people who wreak havoc on local communities face tough new restrictions under new laws. New measures include Respect Orders that will let police and councils crack down on persistent adult offenders.  Police are also being handed tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour. Find out more.

Volunteer spotlight – Blackpool 

Nathan Burrell, a Coordinator from Blackpool, took part in a local community outreach event to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid. It was held at the Bispham community centre and brought together a whole community to support each other and celebrate. Nathan also helped organise a crime prevention event at Barclays in Blackpool, with police and staff promoting scam awareness to local bank customers.

Association spotlight – Suffolk 

Tony Spall and Nick King recently shared the incredible work being done by Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk.  For over 30 years, Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk was run by the local police, but it’s been successfully managed by volunteers since 2016. They are currently running two funded projects: ‘Working for a Safer Suffolk’ and ‘Suffolk Connected’. Find out more about their impact on the Suffolk Neighbourhood Watch Association website.

Learn about online grooming in children and young people

Breck Bednar was just 14 when he was groomed online. After being manipulated for a year, he was lured to a flat, where he was murdered by his online groomer. Breck’s mother, Lorin, founded the Breck Foundation so no other family should suffer the same fate. They provide information and education on how to spot the signs of grooming and keep young people safe. Find out more about the Breck Bednar foundation.

Neighbourhood Watch Week

Is just a month away, and we’ll be offering Communi-Tea event packs in our shop soon. We got the whole team involved in packing, look at this teamwork! Each pack will include event posters, invitations, balloons, stickers, leaflets and tea. They will be available in the Neighbourhood Watch shop soon, watch out for updates in your inbox.

And that is all for this month. If you’d prefer to have an online version of the newsletter to print, you can find that here. As ever, I love to know what you think, what could be better. It’s always so helpful to have feedback.

 

Best wishes

Charmian