Archive for category: News

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

 

Barton Annual Parish Meeting

This will take place at the Village Hall on Thursday 23rd April 2026 7pm for a 7:30 pm Start.

An open forum will conclude the meeting  which anyone present can ask questions or make comments (with priority given to questions tabled in advance with the Clerk of the Parish Council by 10.00am on 23rd April 2026 on gro.e1779259490galli1779259490vnotr1779259490ab@kr1779259490elc1779259490).

 

Refreshments will be available after the meeting.

 

Ian Minto

Barton Parish Clerk

A man from Cambridgeshire has lost more than £60,000, including his entire pension pot, after being targeted by an investment scam.

The fraudsters contacted the victim over the phone purporting to be from an investment management company and spoke to him about investments in crypto.

They encouraged the vulnerable man to download a banking app as part of the investments, and from there were able to take complete control of his finances.

They moved thousands of pounds out of his accounts and even managed to get access to his pension.

Officers are in touch with the victim and safeguarding measures are now in place.

Investment scams are on the rise. Don’t let your investment dreams turn into a nightmare…

💸 Do your research – criminals create fake platforms to imitate genuine investment sites. Search the company on the FCA Firm Checker and beware of poor design, spelling and grammar.

💸 Beware unsolicited approaches over the phone or on social media or dating platforms about day trading or crypto investment schemes.

💸 Beware of ‘early exit’ attempts to move communication from the original platform onto an encrypted platform, such as WhatsApp or Telegram.

💸 Beware of continuous pressure to make additional investments, and of messages being sent outside business hours.

💸 Be suspicious if you are advised to ignore warning messages from banks & crypto exchanges or being instructed not to tell anyone about a ‘special deal.’

 

If you think you’ve been a victim, report it to Report Fraud and to us immediately:

East West Rail – Spring Consultation 2026

 

EWR Co. has confirmed it will hold an eight-week public consultation from Tuesday 14 April to Tuesday 9 June 2026. This is expected to be the final route-wide consultation before a Development Consent Order is submitted in 2027.

 

This consultation will present the latest designs and information on East West Rail, offering communities along the route an opportunity to have their say on the latest plans and help shape the final design. More information regarding the consultation, including details of the consultation events, can be found on the EWR website: eastwestrail.co.uk/pr-east-west-rail-announces-details-of-last-route-wide-public-consultation

 

EWR Co. has also advised that correspondence will be sent to all newly affected landowners this week to inform them of the potential for compulsory acquisition, and to notify all landowners of the consultation launch date. If you know anyone who may be concerned or has questions about this process, please encourage them to contact the EWR Land & Property team by emailing ku.oc1779259490.liar1779259490tsewt1779259490sae@d1779259490nal1779259490 or calling 0330 838 7583.

 

Following officers’ review of the consultation material, the GCSP NSIP team will provide a briefing for parish councils and residents’ associations – the date is to be confirmed, and further details will follow. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact the NSIP team if you have any queries regarding the consultation or the EWR DCO more generally via gro.g1779259490ninna1779259490lpegd1779259490irbma1779259490creta1779259490erg@s1779259490pisn1779259490.