Category: Police

Our News – 2 November

Bonfire Night is fast approaching. In my house, the loud bangs are not popular with either the kids or the animals. But for many others, the colour and spectacle are among the highlights of the season. This year, Diwali, the Festival of Lights, also falls on 8 November. Fireworks are sometimes used as part of those celebrations too. Whatever your plans, we can probably all agree that the key to a successful night is staying safe and being considerate. We’ve pulled together some of the official advice for you here.   Other stories we’re sharing this month include:  ·  Respect Orders are launched by the Home Office ·  Neighbourhood Watch volunteers share success stories with ministers and the media ·  Community spotlight on Newham and Operation ADDER Respect Orders launched  People who behave anti-socially could be hit with tougher restrictions as new Respect Orders come into force across England and Wales, enabling police and councils to take stronger enforcement action. Courts can ban offenders from town centres or stop them drinking in public hotspots like high streets and local parks. They can hand out fines and community punishments, including curfews or hours of volunteering. People can also be ordered to do drug or alcohol programmes or anger management courses. Read the full story here.    Neighbourhood Watch volunteers share success stories with ministers and the media Volunteers in Staffordshire and Hertfordshire have been speaking to the Policing Minister and the media about tackling antisocial behaviour at a local level. Angela Michell, a coordinator in Hemel Hempstead, joined Policing Minister Sarah Jones on a walkabout of the town centre, alongside David Taylor MP and senior police leaders from Hertfordshire Police’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team. Meanwhile, Geraint Lang, Association Lead and Chair of Staffs Watch, spoke to BBC Radio 5 Live about the success the organisation has achieved in Penkridge. You can listen to the interview here (scroll to 1.06). AlarmID – the gift of peace of mind Give something genuinely useful this Christmas. AlarmID is a portable tamper alarm that helps protect bags, laptops and suitcases wherever life takes you. Featuring fingerprint activation and a loud 100dB siren, it’s a thoughtful gift for students, commuters, travellers and loved ones whose safety and peace of mind matter most. Get the exclusive NW discount here. – AD.    Deepfake Dialogues  Our Cyberhood Ambassadors have been working with the Deep Truth Project, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to building public resilience against deepfakes and AI-driven misinformation. They work through educational outreach, empowering people to protect themselves and to maintain trust. They also have a podcast with some really interesting stories exploring all aspects of AI and deepfakes, listen on YouTube, Spotify or Apple.    One in eight children don’t feel safe in their local areas Research shows that around 12% of children in England, or roughly one in eight, report feeling unsafe in their local areas. The data comes from a report recently published by the Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza. The dataset brings together 162 measures of children’s lives to build a picture of what it is like to grow up in different areas. Read the report and the interactive data here.    Nominations are open for the Kings Award for Voluntary Service  Thousands of Neighbourhood Watch volunteers across England and Wales make a difference through their volunteering. The King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS) was created to celebrate the contributions of local volunteer groups. Equivalent to an MBE, KAVS is the highest award given to local voluntary groups in the UK. Nominations will close on 1 December. Find out more here.    Community spotlight: Newham  Newham Neighbourhood Watch in London recently supported a collaboration between British Transport Police and the Metropolitan Police in East Ham. Together, they delivered action days for Operation ADDER (Addiction, Diversion, Disruption, Enforcement and Recovery), with high-visibility engagement around commercial hubs, transport locations and local parks to tackle drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and street crime.   Christmas shopping? Fundraise while you shop online When you buy things online, you could be raising donations for Neighbourhood Watch Network as well. More than 8,000 retailers, including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, 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.    The UK’s traditional landline network is due to close in January 2027 Make the move to Digital Voice well before the deadline for switchover, so your BT services are not disrupted. If BT gets in touch with you about switching, make sure you confirm an appointment soon. Still need to book your appointment or need some help?  BT customers can call the customer service team on 0330 1234 150 or simply dial 150 from their landline. Not a BT customer but have questions? Contact your phone provider directly for advice and support.  Discover more on the BT website. – AD.   That is it for this edition – we’ll have more news in two weeks. Don’t forget to tag Neighbourhood Watch Network in your posts and stories on social media. We love seeing what the community is doing. P.S. If you want to read this newsletter on our website, you can do so here.

Want a glimpse inside our force control room?…

Our annual “Postathon” is set to return tomorrow (29 October) as part of International Control Room Week.   The event will offer you an insight into the pressures faced by control room staff who deal, on average, with 1164 calls, 78 web chats and 436 incidents every day.   We will use the event to shine a spotlight on the often-hidden work of call handlers, dispatchers, and IMU operators who work from the force control room – described as “the beating heart” of policing operations.   In previous years, social media users have shared their thoughts on the Postathon, with one saying, “these updates are an amazing insight into life in the control room”, and another describing the Postathon as “absolutely incredible”.   Another user said: “I don’t think it’s recognised how many emergency calls just one police force gets in half an hour! Thank you to all emergency call handlers”.   Superintendent Nick Church, head of demand, said: “When someone contacts us for help, it is a member of our control room team who is there at the other end of the phone.   “They deal with an incredible variety of situations, often supporting people at some of the most difficult moments of their lives, while ensuring our officers have all the information they need to respond.   “The Postathon gives people a rare glimpse into this vital work, and Control Room Week is a great opportunity to say a huge thank you to the dedicated team of control room staff working around the clock to help keep Cambridgeshire safe.   “I want to thank everyone working behind the scenes for the professionalism, resilience and dedication they show, day in, day out. The role they play in keeping our communities safe should not be underestimated.”   To follow the Postathon, visit @CambsCops on Facebook and Instagram, where updates will be shared every 30 minutes between 2pm and 8pm on 29 October.   If you think you could be the calm voice on the end of the 999 phone line, the force is currently recruiting for control room staff, with opportunities for both call handlers and dispatchers. To find out more or to apply, visit the force’s website.

Scam calls warning

Beware a spike in recent scam calls like the one below…   “I received a phone call from a man who asked my name and address. He said he was DC John Wiggins from Hammersmith Police Station and gave the collar number: LEB 1244. He said not to be alarmed and that nobody was in danger, but he needed my help. He asked me if I knew anyone by the name of Campbell. “He went on to say two individuals had gone into an Apple store in there area just an hour ago and tried to purchase five iPhone 18 devices. The shop assistant noticed something wasn’t right about the card they tried to use and called the police. “Officers arrived and arrested the men on suspicion of fraud and discovered they had bank cards and details of numerous people from the Cambridge area, including myself. “The supposed officer then asked me to check if I had my bank cards with me and asked who I Iived with. “He continued to ask more about my bank cards, how many I had and some of the details. It was at this point I told him I wasn’t comfortable discussing this information with him and would call the police direct to verify these details. “He abruptly hung up the phone. “Needless to say, the police had no officer of that name and no ongoing investigation of this nature.” Thankfully, this man was alert to this scam and didn’t lose any money, not everybody is so lucky. Fraudsters often target vulnerable people, and we’re seeing an increasing number of calls from scammers purporting to be the police, requesting assistance with an ongoing investigation. Remember, we will never ask you for your bank cards or the details of them. If in doubt, hang up, wait a while and call us direct on 101 to confirm if a person or investigation is legit.

National Police Survey: Have your say!

Please click here to complete the survey   The research aims to improve:  ·  understanding of what shapes public confidence in policing,   ·  how confidence changes over time, and   ·  the impact of neighbourhood policing on local communities.    Why take part?  Your views matter.  We want to hear from people with a range of experiences and opinions, whether positive, negative, or somewhere in between.  You do not need to have had contact with the police to take part. Every response helps build a better understanding of what matters most to local communities.     FAQs  You may want to learn more before proceeding.  You can access the survey’s FAQs on our website here.     Thank you!

Tuesday 22nd September 2026 – 7:15pm

Please use the link below to register to attend the Cambridgeshire Neighbourhood Watch Association AGM which is taking place Tuesday 22nd September 2026 at 7:15pm

 Click this link to Register for the AGM 

We hope you can join us for the short AGM and the presentation by Chief Superintendent, Paul Rogerson, on local Policing.

Kirsty Carter

Cambridgeshire NW Association Executive Secretary

Courier fraud warning

On a balmy summer afternoon in Cambridgeshire, an elderly man received a series of worrying phone calls from the Financial Conduct Authority.     The person on the line told him they were involved in an important investigation into gangs targeting elderly individuals and needed to know if he had anything valuable in his house that might put him at risk.    He informed them he had some gold coins worth around £100,000. They explained they needed to collect the coins for his safety and to keep them safe from the gangs.    The elderly man got the coins ready in a bag and later that day he received a knock at the door…   He dutifully handed over the coins as instructed and later received a call thanking him for doing so and requesting he didn’t speak to the bank or police about their conversations.    Shortly after these calls, reality dawned on the vulnerable man as he began to realise this was a scam.    An investigation has been launched.    For more on courier fraud and how to protect vulnerable loved ones, visit our website: https://orlo.uk/yp4tq

Harassment, assault, and an old woman in her dressing gown – A typical shift for one of the constabulary’s “hero in a headset”

For most people, calling 999 is something they hope they’ll never need to do.    But for our call handlers, every ring of the phone could be someone experiencing their very worst moment, needing help that could ultimately be the difference between life and death.   In this special behind-the-scenes feature, take a look inside our control room and spend a day with Chelsea, one of Cambridgeshire Constabulary’s call handlers, and discover what it’s really like to be the calm voice on the other end of the line when help is needed most.   Working out of the Force Contact Centre (FCC) in Huntingdon, Chelsea starts her shift today at 2pm. Control rooms operate 24 hours a day, so a typical shift could start at various times of the morning, afternoon or evening depending on which shift pattern you’re on that day.    Chelsea arrives, logs in to all the relevant systems (there’s a few!), takes a quick look at anything ongoing, and puts her headset on.    From the moment she sets her status to live, calls can come in any second. There is rarely a long quiet spell, especially on the weekends, and during the warmer weather.    As a call handler, you truly never know what the next call will be, and have to be prepared for anything: it could be a minor query, or it could be a cardiac arrest.   Let’s take a look at what Chelsea’s shift had in store for her today!    2.04pm – Just four minutes into Chelsea’s shift, her first call comes in. It’s an elderly woman reporting that her neighbour has caused damage to the outside of her property.  Checks on the system confirm that this woman has called multiple times in the last few months. Officers have already been to visit her and their notes suggest that this is mental health related – there was no damage to her property. This call was logged on the system and Chelsea offers the woman reassurance, but officers weren’t deployed.    2.23pm – Call from a bank with concerns for a customer who is currently abroad but lives in Cambridgeshire when she is home. The bank had concerns that the woman was being financially exploited. We will continue to make attempts to contact the woman to check in, offer advice and raise any appropriate crimes.   2.56pm – 999 call made from a business in Peterborough. The caller didn’t ask for ambulance, police or fire, so the call automatically came through to police. No sounds could be heard in the call, so Chelsea attempted to call them back. Eventually a man picked up who confirmed the call was made in error.    3.18pm – 999 call made from a man to report youths were harassing him in Peterborough. This is an ongoing situation, and there was mention of weapons, so officers were deployed to the scene quickly.    4.04pm – Woman reporting that her motorbike, that was stolen yesterday, has been found close to where she lives. Chelsea updated all the systems and officers involved and thanked the woman for the update.    4.28pm – Woman reporting that her stolen phone had been tracked to a shop in Queensgate, in Peterborough. Officers were deployed to the scene to find the culprit and try and recover the stolen phone.    5.09pm – Woman reporting that her property, which was listed on Airbnb, had been used as a massage parlour by the tenants renting it. All information recorded on the police system, but officers were not deployed.     6.39pm – Fourteen-year-old girl reporting a sexual assault that happened on a bus in Peterborough by an adult man. Chelsea attempted to arrange an appointment with officers with the girl face-to-face to gather further information, but she declined.   9.00pm – A man has had a text from police asking him to call back. He submitted an online report to us, but the information he provided was not clear. The crime log was updated with more accurate and detailed information.    9.32pm – A man has called 101 and has shared his suicidal thoughts. Ambulance service were deployed to his location to try and help him.    10.26pm – A woman has called us to report that she has been attacked in the street by an unknown man. Officers were deployed to the scene immediately.    10.57pm – A person called us to report that they could hear a domestic incident in progress. Officers were deployed to the scene.    11.20pm – A woman called to report that people from a house party have spilled out onto the street, and it was turning violent. The woman also reported that she believed people were drink driving to and from the party. Officers were deployed to the scene.   11.41pm – A man called us to report an elderly woman walking on Ely high street in her dressing gown. Officers were deployed to try and locate her, and help get her home safely.    Between calls, Chelsea ensures all the appropriate information has been input into the systems, and logs and files online reports, contacting anyone to retrieve further information where necessary.    999 calls, as well as 101 calls, can vary in length depending on the complexity and needs of the call.    This is just an average shift for Chelsea, who comes to work every day to make a real difference to the people of Cambridgeshire.  Chelsea said: “Every single day is different, but I would say all of them are challenging, insightful and gratifying.”    Keep up the great work, Chelsea, and we hope you’ve enjoyed this glimpse into life inside the constabulary’s control room.

Listen and subscribe to the new Neighbourhood Watch Podcast!

We’re delighted to launch the Neighbourhood Watch Podcast, bringing together well-known guests, powerful personal stories and insightful conversations about crime, community and the places that shape us. Hosted by Alfie Moore, a former copper turned award-winning comedian, episode one: Breaking and Entering with Penny Smith is available now.  New episodes will be available, free to download, every Friday for the next six weeks.  Listen and subscribe so you never miss an episode here.  John Hayward-Cripps, Chief Executive of the Neighbourhood Watch Network, explained why we decided to launch this podcast:  As a charity, our aim is to build stronger communities and reduce crime. This podcast is an engaging way to deliver important messages to new audiences. Almost everyone has been a victim of crime at some point; it can be traumatic, but it is also a near-universal experience. These conversations are fascinating and insightful, spanning the full spectrum of human emotion. We hope the show will help our members, and many others, feel part of our community.  Forthcoming guests include: Ruth Dodsworth OBE, sharing her experience of coercive control; radio star Andy Bush, whose parents were cruelly scammed; journalist Kaf Okpattah, provides insights into the murky world of card fraud; author Becky Holmes, discusses the growing problem of online romance fraud; and Bobby Seagull MBE, broadcaster, educator and writer, talking about street crime.  We’ve put a lot of work into this and hope that you enjoy it.

Like many twentysomethings, Chloe spent much of her downtime on social media, scrolling the pages of her favourite influencers.  She followed a well-known Instagram personality with an enviable lifestyle, a successful businesswoman who seemed to have it all. She claimed she’d made her money by investing in crypto and if she could do it, so could her followers… Chloe included.  With dreams of trading in her unreliable old car and finally getting on the property ladder, the prospect of potentially growing the modest pot of savings she’d worked so hard to scrape together piqued Chloe’s interest. She followed a link on the influencer’s page and contacted her directly to ask how to go about investing in crypto.  The woman was friendly and amenable and advised Chloe of the best crypto schemes to invest in, similar to the ones she had invested in herself.  Chloe parted with every penny of her savings and the influencer helped her manage her investments, assuring her they were increasing exponentially every week. Chloe’s excitement at the thought of driving her new car and owning her own home began to build… until she spoke to her family about her investment ventures. Concerned it sounded too good to be true, they searched the influencer online and discovered multiple scam warnings associated with her.  Chloe quickly contacted the influencer to request her money back, but her messages went unanswered and the influencer mysteriously disappeared… along with Chloe’s money.  Fraudsters often use social media to advertise, frequently featuring celebrities to attract victims. They also target individuals searching for investment opportunities via search engines. Be aware: ·  Were you contacted unexpectedly? ·  Are you being pressured to invest quickly? ·  Are the promised returns unrealistically high? Remember, if an investment seems too good to be true, it probably is. For more on fraud and where to report, visit our website: https://www.cambs.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/

Appeal after motorcyclist dies in collision We are appealing for witnesses and dashcam footage after a fatal collision between a farm vehicle and a motorbike. Officers and paramedics were called to the B1050 Earith Road, at Willingham, at 8pm on Thursday (2 July) following the collision between the yellow and black crop sprayer and an orange Triumph motorcycle. The motorcyclist, a man aged in his 40s, from Over, near Willingham, was pronounced dead at the scene. The crop sprayer driver, a man aged in his 30s from Willingham, was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and has been bailed until 1 October.  Sergeant Mark Atkins said: “I am appealing to anyone who might have seen the collision or the vehicles in the moments before to get in touch. I would also like to hear from anyone with dashcam footage. “Thank you to the local community for their patience while the road was closed.” Anyone with information or footage should use reference 35/49548/26 and report it through the force website.

Our News for July 2026 is here!

Hello Neighbours,  It’s been so hot over the last month. We’ve already shared tips on how to stay safe and be a good neighbour in the heat on our social channels. We’ve also got practical advice from ERA in this edition.  Other highlights this month include:  ·  More powers for the police to tackle vehicle-related antisocial behaviour (ASB) ·  Watch our ASB week webinar with Resolve ·  Community spotlight on Trelewis and Bedlinog Vehicle-related ASB seizures coming into force via the Crime and Policing Act The measures remove the requirement for police officers to give a warning before seizing a motor vehicle used in an antisocial manner. There is also a change in the law to shorten the time between vehicles being seized by the police, and when they can be disposed of. You can read more about this here.  Concerned about a vacant property in your neighbourhood?  Empty properties can become vulnerable to antisocial behaviour, vandalism and unauthorised access, creating concern for residents. Neighbourhood Watch is working in partnership with Ad Hoc Property Management to help members raise concerns about vacant buildings in their area. If you know of a vacant property causing concern, find out more and report it here.  Antisocial behaviour awareness week webinar: reporting ASB Reporting antisocial behaviour (ASB) is everyone’s business, but it isn’t always easy. It can really help to know where and how to report it. We hosted a webinar with Resolve ASB on the topic to help provide some practical advice. If you could not join the event, you can watch the recording of it here. It’s everyone’s business: working together to tackle antisocial behaviour Our head of membership and community engagement, Cheryl Spruce has written a blog about why it’s vital that we all take responsibility for reporting antisocial behaviour. She shares her view that it is also  important that we build community connections and partnerships to tackle issues effectively. Read her blog here.  Protect your motorhome Don’t give thieves the opportunity to operate, VanGuardian provides a visual deterrent and delivers a powerful 113dB+ alarm that activates on contact, exposing a thief, forcing them to retreat and alerting you in time to take action – protecting your campervan and keeping you safe inside. All in a simple end-user fit, find out more here. Community spotlight – Congratulations Trelewis and Bedlinog!  Neighbourhood Watch Trelewis and Bedlinog District has secured £20,000 from The National Lottery Community Fund/ Cronfa Gymunedol y Loteri Genedlaethol Awards for All programme. The funding supports their Community Events and Activities Programme over the next two years, reducing isolation and helping people feel connected, supported and safe. Congratulations to Michelle Symonds and the dedicated team of volunteers. You can follow their fabulous work on Facebook here. Protect your home in warm weather Warm weather can lead to increased antisocial behaviour and opportunistic burglaries within our communities. The home security experts at ERA share some tips to help you protect your property and support safer neighbourhoods throughout the summer season, from securing doors and windows to planning for holidays. Read more here. Learn about ERA’s range of smart home security solutions, visit https://eraprotect.com Social media policy and guidance A lot of our members and groups use social media, and we encourage people to share crime prevention and community advice. We thought it would be a good time to remind everyone that we have a comprehensive policy and a shorter guide for members and groups using social media as representatives of Neighbourhood Watch. Neighbourhood Watch is a trademarked name and logo, so breaches of policy or inappropriate behaviour may result in disciplinary action. Find the policy and short guide here.  The Co-op Local Community Fund is looking for applicants Co-op is still looking for applications in some communities across the UK. Use their postcode checker to find out if you can still apply. Applications in these areas close at midnight on Friday 10 July 2026. Check if your area or scheme is eligible here.  Neighbourhood Watch Lottery Summer Prize Draw On Saturday 29 August, one lucky lottery supporter will win a £2,000 luxury holiday, (or choose a £2,000 cash alternative instead). 50% of all tickets sold from our page go to the Neighbourhood Watch Network. Buying a ticket through One Lottery means that we can continue to support the network throughout England and Wales. Find out more and buy tickets here.  Are your bins looking a bit sad?  Could they use some colour? Why not brighten them up with some Neighbourhood Watch bin stickers! It may sound like I’m not entirely serious, but there is a serious point to them. The stickers act as a crime deterrent, because they signal an active, watchful community. Also, we’ve got some in the shop, so check them out!  P.S. A couple of people mentioned that they find the newsletter’s font size too small. I’m afraid, the newsletter system doesn’t let me change the text size. However, it is set up so it should default to the settings on your device. I’ve added some basic instructions on how to adjust your devices below, I hope it helps.    Phone or Tablet iPhone or iPad ·  Open Settings. ·  Tap Display & Brightness. ·  Select Text Size. ·  Move the slider to increase or decrease the text size. Android phone or tablet ·  Open Settings. ·  Tap Accessibility. ·  Select Display size and text (the wording may vary depending on your device). ·  Adjust the text size using the available options. Desktop or Laptop Computer Windows computer ·  Open the Start menu and select Settings. ·  Choose Accessibility. ·  Select Text size. ·  Move the Text size slider to the right to make text larger. ·  Click Apply to save your changes. Mac (Apple) computer ·  Open the Apple menu and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions of macOS). ·  Select Accessibility. ·  Choose Display. ·  Adjust the Text size setting to make text larger.

Courier fraud alert: Over 70s targeted as courier fraud exceeds £21 million in 2025. City of London Police are issuing a renewed warning to the public as courier fraud continues to evolve across the UK, with criminals using increasingly sophisticated and persistent tactics that are driving significant financial harm to victims. New figures show reports increased by nearly 10 per cent year-on-year, rising from 1,721 in 2024 to 1,891 in 2025. Over the same period, total losses climbed from £19.5 million to more than £21 million, with the average amount stolen per victim now standing at £15,311.08, underlining the significant financial harm caused by each offence. A key feature of this threat is the disproportionate targeting of older people, particularly those aged 70 and above. This group makes up majority of victims, with those aged between 76 and 96 alone accounting for around 62 per cent of all reports. Fraudsters often deliberately focus on older victims, exploiting trust in institutions such as the police and banks, as well as using pressure tactics, fear and urgency to manipulate them into complying with instructions. A growing trend identified in 2025 involves the use of jewellery and gold to carry out high-value frauds. In many cases, victims are persuaded to visit multiple jewellers to purchase expensive items over a period of time before handing them to a courier. This method often results in the highest amount stolen and can involve repeat victimisation, with offenders maintaining contact to extract as much money as possible. How to spot the signs of courier fraud Courier fraud typically begins with an unexpected phone call from someone claiming to be a police officer or bank employee. Victims are told their account is at risk or that they are assisting with an investigation, before being instructed to withdraw money, purchase items, or disclose sensitive information. A courier is then sent to collect the items such as jewellery, cash, bank cards and PINs. In reality, this is the work of criminals and anything handed over is lost. How to protect yourself from courier fraud: ·  Transferring money:  Your bank or the police will never ask you to transfer money to a safe account. · Couriers:  Your bank or the police will never send a courier to your home to collect bank cards, cash, or other valuables such as jewellery. ·  Check if it’s genuine: Contact the organisation directly using contact details you know are correct, such as those on official websites, the back of your card or by calling 159 for your bank. ·  Caller ID:  Don’t trust the Caller ID display on your phone – it’s not proof of ID. ·  Report suspicious calls:  You can report suspected scam calls by sending a text to 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the caller’s number. If you think you have been a victim of fraud contact Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or via the website: reportfraud.police.uk.

Our News June 2026

Hello Neighbours, Welcome to our second June newsletter. First, I must apologise for accidentally labelling our last newsletter as an April edition. I’m so sorry for any confusion, it was human error. It is very embarrassing, and I’ll do my best to make sure it doesn’t happen again. I’d like to think the mistake serves as a reminder that this newsletter is written by a real (and slightly flawed) person, not an AI robot – but I suspect not! We’re sharing a second newsletter this month because a whopping 75% of responders to our poll said they’d prefer a shorter, more frequent format. Please do let me know what you think. Highlights ·  Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week events and resources ·  PoliceAI launch ·  Neighbourhood Watch Week round-up Antisocial Behaviour (ASB) Awareness Week webinars  ASB Awareness Week 2026 takes place from Monday 29 June to Sunday 5 July across the UK. It highlights the impact of antisocial behaviour.  We are hosting two webinars to provide some practical advice on what to do if you, or your neighbours, are having issues.  ·  ASB reviews with Mark Johnson You may be aware of recent changes in the law relating to ASB and the process for requesting a review of your case. Mark Johnson from the charity ASB Help will host a session on best practice. Monday 29 June, 10–11am, Online. Register here. Reporting ASB is everyone’s business with John Hayward-Cripps It can really help to know where and how to report ASB. Join our Chief Executive, John Hayward-Cripps to learn more about reporting ASB. Tuesday 30 June, 2–3pm, Online. Register here.  We also have information and resources, including an ASB diary and a downloadable guide, on our website.  Report, reduce and prevent domestic abuse during the World Cup Did you know that reports of domestic abuse increase by 38% when England lose a match? Even in the event of a win, there is still a 26% increase. Alcohol Concern Cymru has also pointed to evidence from police which shows a link between major sporting occasions, heavy drinking and a surge in reports of abuse. Events like the World Cup should bring people together, but this data shows we need to look out for vulnerable families. Crimestoppers is encouraging everyone to call time on abuse, recognise the signs, and report anonymously. Find out more.  PoliceAI launched A new national centre, PoliceAI, has been launched to develop and scale artificial intelligence in policing. The centre will work across all forces to identify, test and scale AI tools. Trials have demonstrated its potential, for example, 800 hours of footage in a kidnapping case were reviewed in just 3 hours, helping to secure an early guilty plea. Read the full story on our website.  Neighbourhood Watch Week – thank you Thank you to everyone who made Neighbourhood Watch Week such a success. From volunteer awards in Durham to new member recruitment in Milton Keynes, village green improvements in Pontypridd, and litter picks in Eaglesfield Park – it’s been an inspiring start to the Month of Community. It’s fantastic to see people coming together. Read our round up of the week here.  What makes a good neighbour? That’s the question Paula White from BBC Radio explored with Heather Thompson, Chair of Cheshire Neighbourhood Watch Association. They discussed the importance of trust, especially in an increasingly fragmented society. You can listen here (scroll to 17.50). You can also explore the nominees for the Great Neighbour category in the BBC Make a Difference Awards here. Support our Community Grants Fund Great community projects need resources. Our Community Grants Fund helps volunteers access funding for local initiatives that bring neighbours together, support vulnerable residents, and strengthen communities. If you’re able, please consider donating. Your gift will help volunteers turn community spirit into community action. Donate here.  Neighbourhood Watch Strategy webinar We’re now six months into the new strategy shaping our work through to 2030. We recently hosted an online event covering national policy changes and our strategic aims: Watch, Connect and Act. If you missed it you can catch up with the recording here.    As always, there is also an online version of this newsletter on our website here.

Can you save a life?

Jude Bellingham’s 92-minute winner has just put England through to the World Cup final, the atmosphere in the pub is electric, three Lions has begun playing from the jukebox.  During the celebrations you notice the man at the bar, who has been drinking for the past three hours, has headed to the car park.  Looking out the window you see him stumbling into his car and starting the engine.  Your conscience is piqued; you call us to report a drink driver.  You have potentially just saved a life before the dulcet tones of Baddiel and Skinner have even ended. While the first paragraph is optimistic to say the least, what follows is a very realistic scenario where you can help keep South Cambs safe from drink and drug drivers.  During the last mens tournament (Euro 2024) we arrested 7 people in South Cambs on suspicion of drink or drug driving.  If you suspect someone is about to leave the pub and drive home, or you’ve seen erratic driving on the roads, call us immediately on 999. We also have a dedicated confidential hotline you can call, 0800 032 0845 – and it is available 24/7.  One call could save a life.