55 million suspicious emails reported by the public
/in News /by Andrew Martin55 million suspicious emails reported by the public
Members of the public have reported 55.7 million suspicious emails to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS). The free service was created by the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) in 2020 and since its launch has resulted in the removal of 250,000 scams across 443,000 malicious websites.
Why you should report phishing scams
‘Phishing’ is when criminals use scam emails, text messages or phone calls to trick their victims. The aim is often to make you visit a website, which may download a virus onto your computer, or steal bank details or other personal information.
The NCSC is a UK government organisation that has the power to investigate and take down scam email addresses and websites. Reporting a scam is free and only takes a minute. By reporting suspicious emails, messages and calls, you can:
- reduce the amount of scam communications you receive
- make yourself a harder target for scammers
- protect others from cyber crime online
How to report suspicious emails and text messages:
If you’ve received an email or text message that doesn’t feel right, STOP!
- break the contact – don’t reply, click on any links, call any phone numbers or make any payments
- check if it’s genuine: contact the organisation directly using an email address or phone number you know is correct, e.g. from your utility bills, via a search engine, on the back of your card or by calling 159 for banks
- Report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: ku.vo1784871239g.gni1784871239hsihp1784871239@trop1784871239er1784871239
- Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726 (it’s free of charge)
How to report suspicious phone calls:
If you’ve received a phone call that doesn’t feel right, STOP!
- hang up
- check if it’s genuine: contact the organisation directly using contact details you know are correct, such as those on a utility bill, official website, the back of your card or by calling 159 for your bank
- don’t trust the Caller ID display on your phone – it’s not proof of ID
- report it by sending a text to 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam caller’s number
If you have been a victim of cyber crime or fraud, tell the police at www.reportfraud.police.uk.
For advice and guidance on what to do if you have been a victim of fraud, please visit: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk/recovery-from-fraud/
We are looking for New Parish Councillors
/in News /by Andrew MartinReminder EWR Consultation ends 9 June 2026
/in News /by Andrew MartinReminder that the EWR consultation finishes on 9 June 2026. Barton Parish Council has responded to relevant sections on behalf of residents. This is the last consultation before the business case is drawn up and presented to the Government (2027).
Cllr Andy Martin attended a local respresentative group meeting in London at the Department of Transport with Pippa Heyling, Lord Peter Hendy (Rail Minister) and Lord Partrick Vallance. CEO of EWR David Hughes answered most of the questions following an overview by Lord Vallance of why the Goverment believe that EWR is vital as part of the Oxford/Cambridge arc strategy to unlock development and growth in and between the two university cities. After the meeting, a debrief was held with Pippa Heylings.
Neighbourhood Watch June 2026 Newsletter
/in News /by Andrew MartinHello 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
Warning for online shoppers after spike in criminals gaining unauthorised access to retailer accounts
/in News /by Andrew MartinDear subscriber,
Report Fraud is urging online shoppers to stay alert for unusual activity on their accounts following a rise in criminals gaining access to buy expensive goods.
Recent reporting highlights Argos as a key trend in this activity. Report Fraud has seen a significant increase in cases mentioning the retailer, reflecting how criminals are targeting well-known brands. Argos is actively working with authorities and its customers to identify suspicious activity and strengthen safeguards.
Criminals are using login details obtained from data breaches to gain unauthorised access to retailer accounts. This is possible due to the practice of reusing the same password across multiple online accounts. Once they have control of the account, criminals will place online orders and then collect the good in-person at a physical store. In some instances, the goods are paid for using payment details not connected to the victim of the compromised account.
These fraudulent orders are frequently fulfilled through ‘click and collect’, allowing offenders to retrieve goods in person.
In May, Report Fraud received 652 reports which mention Argos, a 323 per cent increase compared to April, when 154 reports mentioning the retailer were made. Since the start of 2026, there have been 1,175 reports mentioning the retailer, with May seeing the highest number to date.
Argos has been contacting customers who may have been affected and continues to work closely with partners and shoppers to help protect accounts and prevent further incidents.
Detective Chief Inspector Steven Kettle, Head of Crime Services at Report Fraud, said:
“Report Fraud urges anyone with online retail accounts to remain vigilant and be alert to any unusual or suspicious activity.
“It is essential to take appropriate steps to protect your accounts by following Report Fraud’s guidance. If you believe you have been a victim of fraud, please report it to Report Fraud via reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.”
How can you protect yourself?
All shoppers with any retailer should take measures to protect their online account. Here is what you can do:
· Reset passwords: if you noticed any unauthorised activity on an online account, you should change your password immediately. You should also do this for any accounts that use the same password. A good way to make sure your passwords are secure and strong is to combine 3 random words to create a unique password. You should opt for a passkey if you can.
· Enable 2SV: whenever available, protect your online accounts by enabling 2-step verification (2SV).
· Shopping online: if you decide to create an account for the store you’re buying from, don’t allow them to store your bank details for future purchases.
If you have been a victim of fraud, you should tell Report Fraud by reporting it on the website at reportfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. Or if you live in Scotland, call 101.
East West Rail Consultation
/in News /by Andrew MartinReminder 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.
Barton Parish Council News
/in News /by Andrew MartinThe first Parish Council meeting of the new four-year term of office was held at the village hall last night (21 May 2026). We welcomed three new Councillors: Francesca Cucchi, Georgie Wise and Alan Archer-Boyd. Ben Pilgrim was elected Chair with Andy Martin Vice-Chair. Deni Devappriya and James Thomas remain on the council.
M11 Road Works 27 May Overnight
/in News /by Andrew MartinDear 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.
Road Works: New Road and Comberton Road
/in News /by Andrew MartinThere will be temporary traffic lights in the village over the next few weeks. These will be at Kings Grove junction of New Road. Belisha Beacons will be installed at the crossing to Burwash followed by road markings for the zebra crossing. Other road markings through the village will be added for the cycle route up to Comberton Road raised table. There will be 20 mph roundels added out to the 40 mph just passed Perennial Homes and Foxcottes. There will also be temporary lights on Comberton Road at some stage for these works.
Please see CCC Roadworks for all upcoming work in and around Cambridge. (Note that this does not always include Highways England work on the M11.)