This page is relevant to all villages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nottingham Knockers

A great deal of people, especially the lone elderly, do not like opening their front door to be face to face with a young man selling what most households already have in their possession. If anything, the Nottingham Knocker call is more akin to menacing begging based on some of the Facebook posts regarding this activity. Often, a Facebook post raises the alarm for locals so that they can be more wary of opening the door. Stickers on doors stating 'No doorstep Selling Zone' do not deter these people. Most of the time the Facebook alarm is too late and so a simple Whatsapp group for an instant alert would work better. A simple statement of Road and Village will quickly highlight where these activities are taking place.
If you want to be notified by and/or notify your neighbours of activity in the areas covered by these pages follow the instructions below.
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Stay vigilant for ticket fraud ahead of top events and concerts this summer.

 

In Action Fraud's new campaign, we are urging people planning to buy tickets or attend this summer’s events and concerts to stay vigilant to criminals.

 

According to new data, £9.7 million was lost to ticket fraud in 2024 in the UK alone. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a new ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold-out events.

 

Follow our top tips to avoid falling victim to ticket fraud.

 

• Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, official promoter or agent, or a well-known ticketing website.
• Avoid paying for tickets by bank transfer, especially if buying from someone unknown. Credit card or payment services such as PayPal give you a better chance of recovering the money if you become a victim of fraud.
• The password you use for your email account, as well as any other accounts you use to purchase tickets, should be different from all your other passwords. Use three random words to create a strong and memorable password, and enable 2-step verification (2SV).
• Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets.
• Is the vendor a member of STAR? If they are, the company has signed up to their strict governing standards. STAR also offers an approved Alternative Dispute Resolution service to help customers with outstanding complaints. For more information visit star.org.uk/buy_safe.

 

If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040, or call Police Scotland on 101.

 

 

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Road Safety Data

 

We would now like to share our next Quarterly report of road safety statistics with you. This is Quarter 4 Oct - Dec 2024

 

We prioritise enforcement and education for drink and drug driving, the non wearing of seatbelts, excessive speed and driving whilst distracted.

 

We create reports on a quarterly basis to share with our policing teams and partner agencies.

 

We are sharing the reports with you as you have expressed via Thames Valley Alerts that you are interested or concerned with Road Safety and speeding.

 

Community Speedwatch is an educational scheme run by our local volunteers.

 

The figures for the Mobile Camera enforcement are from our dedicated Safer roads police staff and the Fixed penalty notices are from any Officer on patrol dealing with a motorist.

 

Link to the report for the Buckinghamshire Council area

 

Burglary arrests and patrols in Chalfont st Peter, Gerrards Cross and Iver

 

The local community policing team was busy this weekend

 

They teamed up with their investigative colleagues from the priority crime team to carry out overt and covert patrols of some of the burglary hotspots

 

They also attended a number of burglaries and at 1 of them caught offenders on scene resulting in 3 swift arrests

 

They also challenged anti-social behaviour, progressed criminal damage investigations, dealt with a number of road traffic offences and completed foot patrols in Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards cross and Iver 👮‍♀️🚓

 

Investment fraud awareness - A message from our fraud prevention unit

 

Data from Action Fraud reveals that people aged 35-44 were more likely to be targeted for investment fraud, while those aged 55-64 suffered the greatest financial losses.

 

Investment fraud occurs when criminals approach individuals, often out of the blue, and persuade them to invest in schemes or products that are either worthless or entirely fictitious. Fraudsters may claim to offer opportunities in foreign exchange, gold and other valuable metals, overseas time-shares, or cryptocurrency, promising unrealistically high returns that far exceed normal market trends.

 

In 2024, Action Fraud received 25,843 reports related to investment fraud, with victims collectively losing £649,062,146. While the number of reports represents a 7 per cent decrease compared to 2023, the total financial loss saw a 13 per cent increase highlighting that fewer but potentially larger frauds were in operation. Cryptocurrency continued to be the most common asset fraudsters claimed to be investing in, accounting for 66 per cent of all reports - a 16 per cent increase from the previous year. 

 

Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn, Head of Central Fraud Unit at Thames Valley Police, said:

 

“Fraudsters are masters of manipulation at presenting seemingly lucrative opportunities from beyond a smokescreen of anonymity.

 

Tactics include:

 

• A.I (Artificial Intelligence) – A.I is used to create deepfakes. These are digitally created or altered content, often fake images, videos, and audio recordings. This content can take on the exact likeness of a real person’s voice and appearance, whether it is a celebrity, someone you know or even you.
• False Urgency – You may be rushed into making a quick decision meaning you do not get the chance to think things through beforehand.
• Emotion – Fraudsters will use emotional levers to make you follow your heart not your head. This can include encouraging you to imagine how your life would look with endless wealth.
• Scarcity – Fraudsters will often use fear of missing out to make you respond quickly. This can also extend to making you feel as if you have been ‘selected,’ which can create a pressure to accept and be grateful.
• “As humans, we tend to accept truth by default and fraudsters will do all they can to exploit this.
• Taking the time the stop and think if something could be fraud, will provide the breathing space to break out of a fraudsters intention to manipulate”

 

 

 

Detective Superintendent Oliver Little, from the Lead Force Operations Room at the City of London Police, said:

 

“Investment fraud continues to be a key focus area for the City of London because of its prevalence - which is evident from the stark figure of £649m that has been lost last year.

 

“It may seem obvious, but we would really emphasise the age-old ‘if it is too good to be true it almost certainly is’ mantra. Investment fraudsters will often be incredibly skilled in what they do and will spin a convincing and alluring pitch of how much money they can make you, in often a short amount of time. Do not be seduced by the promise of making “easy money” as the world of stocks and shares is anything but.

 

“Whether it’s £200 or £200,0000, our advice is always the same - do your research independently, check if the company is FCA registered and never take financial advice via social media or from people who have approached you out of the blue. If it were that easy to make profit on an investment, we would all know about it.”

 

Social media remained a key tool for fraudsters, with 36 per cent of all investment fraud reports linked to a social media platform. As was the case in 2023, WhatsApp was the most frequently used platform by scammers, appearing in 40 per cent of reports, followed by Facebook (18 per cent) and Instagram (14 per cent). Given this trend, individuals should be extremely wary of anyone contacting them via social media or messaging platforms who claims to be an investor or trader who can guarantee high returns.

 

The data also showed that fraudsters frequently impersonated well-known public figures to build credibility. Out of 537 reports, the most commonly used identity was Martin Lewis (44 per cent), in all likelihood due to his reputation as a trusted financial expert. Victims of fraud using his name ranged in age from 31 to 93, but 68 per cent of cases targeted those aged 60 and above, a demographic that may be more familiar with Lewis through his frequent appearances on daytime television. The top three impersonated figures remained unchanged from 2023, with Elon Musk (40 per cent) and Jeremy Clarkson (8 per cent) also being used to deceive victims.

 

These findings underscore the growing sophistication of investment fraud and the importance of public awareness. Fraudsters continue to exploit digital platforms, social media, and the reputations of trusted figures to convince victims into handing over money. As always, if an investment opportunity seems too good to be true, it almost certainly is.

 

As a general guideline, legitimate investments in the FTSE 100 typically yield annual returns of 4-5.5 per cent. Any individual or company promising guaranteed returns of 10 per cent, 12 per cent or even 20 per cent should be treated with extreme caution, as such claims fall well outside standard market expectations.

 

What to look out for:

 

• Being approached via social media: the use of social media platforms as an enabler was identified in 36 per cent of the reports, with WhatsApp being the most prevalent. If you are approached, out of the blue, by someone telling you they can make you guaranteed returns on an investment, then block the number and do not respond. For example, on WhatsApp you can do this by pressing and holding the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.
• Investment opportunities that mention cryptocurrency, trading or stocks and shares: cryptocurrency and trading (unspecified) alone made up 75 per cent of all commodity types mentioned in Action Fraud reports. These two categories hugely outweigh traditional investment in commodities like natural resources (oil and gas), energy, precious metals, alcohol, and forex (foreign exchange) that were mentioned in fraud reports.
• An advert which uses a well-known celebrity: over £10m was lost in 2024 to fraudsters who convinced victims to invest by using an influential identity like Martin Lewis, Elon Musk, or Jeremy Clarkson. AI generated images and videos were produced which helped to promote the bogus investment schemes.

 

How to protect yourself from investment fraud:

 

• Investment opportunities: do not be rushed into making an investment. Remember, legitimate organisations will never pressure you into investing on the spot.
• Seek advice first: before making significant financial decisions, speak with trusted friends or family members, or seek professional independent advice.
• FCA register: use the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) register to check if the company is regulated by the FCA. If you deal with a firm (or individual) that is not regulated, you may not be covered by the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) if things go wrong and you lose your money.

 

For more information about how to invest safely, please visit: https://www.fca.org.uk/scamsmart

 

What to do if you’ve been a victim of investment fraud:

 

• You could be targeted again: fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money, this is just a secondary fraud. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.
• Identity theft: if you suspect your identity may have been stolen, you can check your credit rating quickly and easily online. You should do this every few months, anyway, using a reputable service provider and follow up on any unexpected or suspicious results.
• Legal advice: in many cases of fraud there is a close correlation between what may be considered fraud and the civil tort of deceit and/or breach of contract, for which there are civil litigation options. We would always advise that you seek professional legal advice or contact Citizens Advice to understand your options.

 

 

You can also contact the Financial Conduct Authority’s consumer helpline on 0800 111 6768 or report suspicious businesses or individuals by using the reporting form on their website.

 

If you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it here or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, victims of fraud and cybercrime should report to Police Scotland on 101.

 

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud

 

Community policing survey

 

Please see the link to a very short survey surrounding priorities for the community policing team, it will help shape the neighbourhood policing priorities for the next three months ➡ Thames Valley Police Buckinghamshire LCU Neighbourhood Priorities April to June 2025

 

This survey is to assist your local neighbourhood policing team in understanding what crime is currently of most concern in the community and we are seeking to gather as many responses as possible.

 

 

Bucks residents unite for record-breaking Great British Spring Clean

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Communities around Buckinghamshire have been busy binning and bagging this spring, as Keep Britain Tidy’s Great British Spring Clean has completed its 10th annual run.

 

Committed Buckinghamshire residents came together during 21 March to 6 April as part of the country’s biggest mass action environmental campaign, collecting and safely disposing of litter from streets, parks and open spaces across the county.

 

Following this year’s theme ‘the environment belongs to everyone’, community groups and individuals in Buckinghamshire organised over 160 litter picking events around the county – a record-breaking year for Buckinghamshire. Overall more than 1,622 volunteers collected over 3,887 bags and clocked over 4,055 volunteer hours.

 

Although The Great British Spring Clean is over for this year, the need for litter picking remains. The council empties over 4,000 litter bins every week, but over 2 million pieces of litter are dropped every single day in the UK, littering our towns and countryside.

 

Anyone can organise a litter pick or join an existing litter pick group. To help get you started, the council can help you to organise a litter pick in your local area by lending litter pick equipment, providing waste bags and collecting the waste after the litter pick has finished. You can find out more information on the council's website.

 

Litter picking isn’t just a group activity and doesn’t have to take a lot of time. As an individual, you can take part in the Litter Lotto - it’s easy, simply download the Litter Lotto app on your phone and take a photo in the app, of yourself throwing some litter into a bin. This doesn’t only tidy up our streets but also gives you an opportunity to win instant cash prizes and offers, as well as giving you the chance of winning a weekly £1,000 jackpot. Local Litter Lotto users also have a chance to win an extra £250 in an exclusive monthly prize draw, aimed just at people binning litter in Bucks!

 

Easter bin collection date changes

With Easter approaching, Buckinghamshire residents are being reminded to take note of some changes to bin collections over the bank holiday weekend.

 

Due to the bank holidays, normal collections will be operating to a revised timetable. Be sure to double check to find out when your bins will be collected and remember to leave them out by 6.30am on the morning of collection.

 

Buckinghamshire’s Household Recycling Centres (HRCs) have now moved to summer opening hours of 9am to 6pm. If planning a visit, remember to check opening days of your local site as this varies. You can also avoid the queues by checking the webcam at each site to check how busy it is before you set off. Finally, don’t forget to bring some ID to show your address. HRCs are for use by Buckinghamshire residents only and visitors will be asked to show proof of address by staff at the entrance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Social media and email hacking information

 

Increase in social media and email account hacking prompts warning to take action to protect accounts.

 

Protect your online accounts from hackers and enable 2SV: Action Fraud issue new warning about social media and email account hacking as new data is revealed.

 

This year Action Fraud and Meta are encouraging the public to protect their social media and email accounts as data shows there were more than 35,000 reports made last year.

 

Data shows there was a rise of social media and email account hacking reported in 2024, with a total of 35,434 reports made to Action Fraud, compared to 22,530 reports made in 2023.

 

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a campaign, supported by Meta, to encourage people to take an extra step of online protection by enabling 2-Step Verification for each online account they have. The warning comes as reporting shows £1 million was lost to hackers last year.

 

The most common motives for social media hacking were either investment fraud, ticket fraud or theft of the targeted account, reporting insights revealed.

 

Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn, Head of Central Fraud Unit at Thames Valley Police, said:

 

“Social media and email remain a big part of our lives when it comes to communication, so the risk of being hacked can be concerning.

 

“I urge you to take some time to follow the simple steps detailed below to secure your accounts.”

 

“Do you have vulnerable family members who could benefit from this advice, if so? Use this as an opportunity to share and help them if required.

 

“Our Fraud Protection Toolkit  provides plenty more tips on how to minimise the risk of fraud and is designed to help you and your communities to become empowered against the risk of fraud.

 

“Finally, be on the lookout for behaviour which is out of character from friends on social media and via email, for example:

 

• Being asked to purchase gift cards and share the codes
• Being asked to send and receive money into your bank account
• Being asked to invest in Bitcoin or Crypto

 

“Fraudsters prey on creating pressure which is designed to make you act quickly but Stop! Think Fraud empowers us to collectively join together to help stop fraud in its tracks.”

 

Adam Mercer, Deputy Director of Action Fraud, said:

 

“As social media and email account hacking remains the most reported cybercrime this year, this Action Fraud campaign marks a critical issue for everyone who has online accounts. That’s why we’reraising awareness of the ways people can protect themselves online.

 

“Follow Stop! Think Fraud advice and protect yourself online: enable 2-Step Verification on each online account you have – this will help prove your identity and stop fraudsters trying to steal or access your valuable information. Secure your social media and email accounts by ensuring each password is strong and uses three random words. Remember to never share your passwords with anyone else.”

 

David Agranovich, Security Policy Director, Meta, said:

 

“Scammers are relentless and continuously evolving their tactics to try and evade detection, which is why we’re constantly working on new ways to keep people safe while keeping bad actors out. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) is one crucial example of how people can add an extra layer of security to their Meta accounts, to help reduce the risk of scammers accessing your accounts. We’ve also started rolling out facial recognition technology to help people get back into compromised or hacked accounts and are always working on new ways to stay ahead of scammers.”

 

In the reports made to Action Fraud, there were various different methods of hacking highlighted, these include:

 

On-platform chain hacking

 

This is when a fraudster gains control of an account and begins to impersonate the legitimate owner. The goal is to convince people to reveal authentication codes, including one-time passcodes that are sent to them via text. Many victims of this type of hacking believe it’s a friend messaging them; however, the shared code was associated with their own account and the impersonator can now use it to access their account. Usually when an account is taken over, fraudsters monetise control of the account via the promotion of various fraudulent schemes, like fake tickets or crypto investment schemes, while impersonating the original account owner.

 

Leaked passwords and phishing

 

The other common method of hacking is when account details are gained via phishing scams, or the use of leaked information used from data breaches, such as leaked passwords. This becomes prevalent as people often use the same password for multiple accounts, so a leaked password from one website can leave many of their online accounts vulnerable to hacking.

 

What can you do to avoid being a victim?

 

• Setting up 2-Step Verification (2SV)  will keep criminals out of your account – even if they know your password. Turning on 2SV gives your most important accounts an extra level of protection, especially your email and social media accounts. It can be turned on in a matter of minutes – time well spent to keep the fraudsters out.
• Email and social media passwords should be strong and different to all of your other passwords. An effective way to make sure your passwords are ‘long enough and strong enough’ is to combine three random words to create a unique password which is easy to remember.

 

Report suspicious emails by forwarding it to: report@phishing.gov.uk

 

Find out how to protect yourself from fraud: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

 

If you’ve lost money or provided your financial information to someone, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

 

Notes to editors

 

There were 35,434 email and social media hacking reports made to Action Fraud between 1 January and 31 December 2024, with losses totalling £961.5k.

 

Social media summary

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Get FREE anti-tamper numberplate screws installed on your car!

The Community Safety Team have partnered with various garages across Bucks to offer a project designed to help put the brakes on vehicle crime. There have been some incidents across Bucks where number plates have been stolen, to then be used for vehicle theft.

 

You can head to the following garages and ask about the scheme:

 

• Aylesbury – Tyre Pros – Park Street. HP20 1DX

 

• Aylesbury – Kwik Fit – Wynne Jones Business Centre, Walton Road. HP21 7RL

 

• Buckingham – Eurolane MOT - Swan Business Centre, Unit 5 Osier Way. MK18 1TB

 

• Chesham – Tyre Pros – Amersham Road. HP5 1NG

 

• Iver – Kwik Fit – Shredding Green Garage, Langley Park Road. SL0 0JG

 

• Amersham – Kwik Fit – 2a-2b St Georges Industrial Estate, White Lion Road. HP 7 9JQ

 

• High Wycombe – Kwik Fit – 97 London Road. HP11 1BU.

 

• High Wycombe – Kwik Fit – 511 London Road, Wycombe Marsh. HP11 1EP

 

 

You will also be offered our FREE vehicle crime pack including an advice leaflet and an air freshener/ice scraper.

 

** Whilst stocks last **