Added 25th December
Social media summary
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of our members and supporters
Everyone in the Central Support Team at Neighbourhood Watch Network wishes you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
2024 has been another busy year, with some of the many highlights including Neighbourhood Watch Week in June; our Community Grants Fund enabling our volunteers and their communities across the country to enjoy celebrations and events; and the awarding of our Volunteer Recognition Awards to hugely deserving individuals at our annual national conference which, this year, took place in Manchester.
There is so much to look forward to in 2025, and we hope everyone can rest during the Christmas holidays before the new year gets underway.
Our Central Support Team office will be closed from 4pm on Friday 20th December to 9am Thursday 2nd January 2025, but you will still be able to access our free online resources and crime prevention information on our website.
We remind you that if you or someone else is in immediate danger, or if there is an emergency, please call the police and other emergency services on 999, or on 111 for a non-emergency.
Thank you for the important work you do in your communities - we wish you a safe and happy Christmas and start to the new year!
ARE YOU A DOORBELL DETECTIVE?
A brand new BBC TV show, presented by Matt Allwright, wants to hear from Neighbourhood Watch members…
* Have you used your Smart Video Doorbell to investigate a real-life mystery on your doorstep or in your neighbourhood?
* Or, are you part of a community committed to cracking crime by sharing your doorbell camera footage with neighbours or the police to solve wrongdoing?
* Have your home surveillance cameras captured shocking or mysterious footage that is worth revealing to the nation?
If you answered YES to any of the above, then the programme makers at Purple Productions would like your clips and your stories. Whether it’s doorstep scammers, pet thieves, fly tipping, car theft, burglars or vandals - get in touch!
Matt also wants to recruit his own team of Doorbell Detectives to take part in tips and tricks to help us all make our neighbourhoods safer. If that sounds like you, please also get in touch. Please email: doorbelldetectives@purpleproductions.co.uk.
You can hear more from Matt about this new show on BBC’s Morning Live in January.
How to access emergency help from Bucks Council over the festive season
In the run up to Christmas, Buckinghamshire Council is highlighting where families and individuals can seek emergency help and support if they need it over the festive season.
Any Buckinghamshire residents needing emergency support or help with food and/or energy should contact the council’s Helping Hand service using the online form or by calling 01296 531 151. This service is available during office hours but is closed at weekends and on the public holiday days over Christmas and New Year.
Anyone in immediate need of food who cannot wait until the next working day when the Helping Hand service is open – and has no other avenue to help – should contact the council’s Emergency Social Work Team on 0800 999 7677. They will not be able to provide food on Christmas Day when the shops are closed, but otherwise can provide immediate help and advice in an emergency.
Many foodbanks will be operating different opening days and times over the Christmas period – residents who need to access a foodbank will need a referral from the council’s Helping Hand service, or another similar support service, so please contact the Helping Hand service in the first instance if you or someone you know needs to use a foodbank.
If you see anyone sleeping out on the streets in Buckinghamshire, please contact StreetLink online or call 0300 500 0914. They will notify the council’s dedicated outreach workers. If you see anyone you believe to be under the age of 18 and/or are concerned about the health or welfare of anyone that you see sleeping rough, please call 999.
Residents who may be finding this time of year challenging or lonely, or are experiencing difficulty with their mental health can find help and advice on the NHS Buckinghamshire Talking Therapies webpage. In addition, there are some top tips on mental health and being ‘kind to your mind’ during the festive period at Health and Wellbeing Bucks.
Information about additional support can be found on the council’s cost of living webpages.
Online advice is available 24/7 from Citizens Advice Bucks, plus the national advice line is available during office hours on 0800 144 8848 if you need immediate advice.
The council’s offices will be closed on Wednesday 25 December 2024, Thursday 26 December 2024 and Wednesday 1 January 2025. They will remain open on other days during the festive period.
Added 17th December
Neighbourhood policing priorities survey reminder
👮♂️👮♂️ There is still time to participate in our Neighbourhood policing priorities survey, we want to get as many responses as possible before it closes on the 24th December
Link: Thames Valley Police Buckinghamshire LCU Neighbourhood Priorities Jan to March 2025
If you have already done this, thank you for your help
Parcel Theft - Crime Prevention Advice
There have been recent reports of parcels being taken from nearby doorsteps shortly after being left by delivery companies. Although, nobody wants to miss a delivery, unattended parcels are vulnerable to theft.
Here are some steps to help keep your parcels secure:
- Instruct parcel companies not leave parcels when you’re not at home
- Opt for a parcel to be delivered to a ‘safe place’ where it is out of sight/locked away
- Consider opting for delivery to a parcel locker - some companies have lockers in nearby places allowing you to collect when you’re available
- Consider if there is a trusted person who would be happy to keep a parcel secure for you
- Consider CCTV and CCTV warning stickers covering your doorstep and property
- Consider installing a security light
Revised bin collection dates for Christmas and New Year
Buckinghamshire residents are being reminded to take note of changes to bin collections during the festive period and to remember to recycle as much of the extra waste that accumulates at this time of year as possible.
Due to the bank holidays, bin collections will be operating to a revised timetable. Make sure you check the amended dates in the below table and leave your bins out for collection by 6:30am on the morning they are due to be collected.
Residents who subscribe to the council’s garden waste collection service should note that the service is currently suspended for winter and will resume from Monday 27 January 2025.
Garden waste subscribers can dispose of their real Christmas tree, wreaths, holly and mistletoe in their garden waste bin after Christmas. Simply place them in your garden waste bin after removing any decorations and cutting the tree into smaller pieces. Anyone not subscribed to the garden waste collection service, can either take their tree to their nearest Household Recycling Centre or see if there is a local charity collection nearby.
For tips and advice on how to minimise waste and have a more environmentally friendly Christmas, go here.
Buckinghamshire’s Household Recycling Centres will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. On all other days over the Christmas period the sites will operate the usual opening days and hours. Check online before you visit to confirm opening hours and avoid the queues.
Added 11th December
Having celebrated our 25 th Anniversary in November ’24 and welcomed a record 270 new
Members during the year (bringing us to a total of 1,465), we are now busy establishing several
new Groups to join our existing 95+ which already cover an impressive range of physical, mental
and social activities. In the spirit of our self-help ethos, our Members are planning to start new
Groups for:
- - ‘Beginners’ level in: Bridge, Italian, French and
- Spanish
- - Acoustic Guitar playing
- - Jewellery Making
- - Pickle Ball
- - Scottish Dancing
…and we know that during the year there will be plenty more suggestions for new Groups.
to hear external speakers (on 3 rd Wednesday 14:30 – 16:30). During 2024 we heard about:
Writing Novels & Poetry, Working in Prisons / Theatre / BBC, Historical Events and Health matters. Already booked for 2025 are: Top Stories of Murder by Women and Hearing Dogs for Deaf People. You can be sure of variety throughout the year!
…Come and meet other Members and stay for refreshments and a chat! ‘Learn, Laugh, Live’ is not only about the physical and mental stimulation Members get from participating in small Groups, but also the friendships that are made with like-minded individuals.
The monthly gatherings and most of the smaller Group meetings are included in your annual membership fee (currently £28). Only where a specialist tutor or facility is required will there be a small additional charge.
And remember … YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE RETIRED: Membership is open to any adult without full-time employment or caring responsibilities. So, why not ‘Come Alive in 2025’ and fit in some new activities in 2025 around your other commitments.... Or give membership to a friend or a relative? You’ll find a warm welcome awaits – We are even happy that you try out a couple of Groups before committing to becoming a Member: www.chiltern-u3a.org.uk
We’re also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/cu3apub
12 Frauds of Christmas
Lots to explain in this post so click here for a pdf with links to relevant websites.
Neighbourhood priorities survey
We are still looking for responses for our survey before it closes on the 24th December, you can access it here ➡ Thames Valley Police Buckinghamshire LCU Neighbourhood Priorities Jan to March 2025
This survey is to assist your local neighbourhood policing team in understanding what crime is currently of most concern in the community.
Please note, this is different to the “safer Buckinghamshire” survey that was recently sent out.
Social media summary
Added 4th December
Say ‘no no no’ to buying an e-scooter this Christmas
The festive season is almost here, and we know many people will be considering asking for, gifting or purchasing an e-scooter. We want to ensure that anyone doing so is aware of the law and dangers surrounding e-scooters.
E-scooters are classed as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988. This means the rules that apply to motor vehicles, also apply to e-scooters including the need to have a licence and insurance.
It's not currently possible to get insurance for privately owned e-scooters. Meaning if you use a one in public, you risk it being seized. You can ride them on private land, such as in a garden, but only if you have the permission of the landowner to do so.
Where a rental trial scheme is running, rental e-scooters can be used on public roads, some cycle lanes, and other public spaces. When riding a rental e-scooter you must follow road traffic laws. If you don’t, you could face prosecution.
Inspector Mike Darrah said “Many people may not understand the laws surrounding privately owned e-scooters, which prohibit you from using them in public areas.
“There is also a risk of severe injury, and incidents which involve a collision with an e-scooter are investigated in the same way as if riding or driving any other type of motor vehicle.
“We are already working in partnership with schools and colleges to ensure students are aware of the laws surrounding e-scooters, and I am urging parents to consider the risks if they are looking at gifting an e-scooter.”
In November 2024, Thames Valley Police seized 80 e-scooters and e-bikes, with 33 of these seizures being e-scooters. Last night (3/12), 10 e-bikes and e-scooters were seized in an operation carried out in Oxford.
Matthew Barber, Police & Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, said: "Whilst for many, e-scooters are a convenient way to get around, it is nevertheless illegal to use a privately owned e-scooters anywhere on public land.
"Aside from the risk of injuring and concerns about the fire risks from some batteries, you risk having your e-scooter seized by the police.
"So, my message this Christmas is simple: don't by an e-scooter as a present."
Neighbourhood priorities survey
Please see the link to a very short survey surrounding priorities for the Neighbourhood policing team in the new year ➡ Thames Valley Police Buckinghamshire LCU Neighbourhood Priorities Jan to March 2025
This survey is to assist your local neighbourhood policing team in understanding what crime is currently of most concern in the community.
Please note, this is different to the “safer Buckinghamshire” survey that was recently sent out.
The December 2024 edition of OUR NEWS is here
Before you read our newsletter, here are a few notes to remember...
* The Central Support Team office will be closed from Monday 23rd December - Thursday 2nd January, and so you might not receive an immediate reply to your phone call or email. However, you will still be able access our website and all of our crime prevention and safety resources over this period.
* Thank you to everyone who attended our webinars in November - we were joined by the London Borough of Newham, Resolve ASB & the Suzy Lamplugh Trust, who all provided opportunities for meaningful discussion & knowledge sharing. You can view recordings from the session on this page of our website. If you attended one of these sessions, your feedback would be hugely appreciated! Please click here to complete this anonymous feedback form.
* We will soon be launching our 2024 Cybercrime survey - please keep your eyes peeled for this! You will receive a link to complete the survey via an Alert message, and we will also share the survey link via our social media channels.