A PDF of the September summary is accessed via the following link:

https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/AE50133803ADB3AA4B0959A96C95A517

"Hi All

Just wanted to report to everyone to be on lookout if suddenly your cars will not lock with the remote key!

I was visiting my mum in Lansbury Drive Hayes earlier today, and suddenly, I noticed my car would not lock ? I changed the battery in my key and same thing ….then by chance, one of the neighbours noticed suspicious activity by a person climbing the nearest telecom pole to attach something. She also said when she came home, her car would not lock ? Yet when she was away from the house, the car locked. I tested this and same thing … half a mile away from my mum’s house, my car locked !! We think that the person behaving suspiciously on the telecom pole had installed a jamming device !!!!

I have filed a report with the police who will investigate what happened .

Please be mindful if this happens near you !!

Yours Vigilant Neighbour"

Crime prevention Advice

Burglars will use a variety of ways to avoid being noticed.

Keep it visible - Lower fences allow for a clear view over the top and don’t provide cover for anyone wishing to hide. At the rear and sides, taller fences are recommended to prevent easy access.

CCTV – Position your cameras where they are best able to obtain good quality facial images. Could you recognise or identify someone from the footage?

Alarms – Consider accredited burglar alarm system with audible boxes.

The burglars have been known to use ladders to access upper windows that appear to be unlocked. This is to avoid the intruder alarm sensor on the lower floor.
To protect your property from this approach, you should extend any alarm sensor coverage to upper rooms.

Distraction burglars pretend to be someone they are not in order to get in your home. Common methods they use:

Pretending to be from care agency, the council or utility company investigating gas or water leak.

Seeking help to leave a note for neighbour or even asking for drink of water if they claim to be thirsty or unwell.

Claiming to be in a hurry or emergency and needing to get in to your home quickly
Working in teams, with one person distracting you while the other searches your home.

How to prevent it?
Use your door viewer to see who’s there.

If you open the door put the chain on first.

Always ask for ID and check it with the company before letting somebody in to your home.

Call the customer service department if they are pretending to be from utility company and close the door while you are doing this.

If you feel at all unsure, schedule a time for the caller to come back when a friend or relative is there.

If you feel threatened or in danger by the presence of the caller, call 999.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: sntwamailbox-.eastcote@met.police.uk

Regards,
Dewayne Hamilton
police constable
Email: sntwamailbox-.eastcote@met.police.uk

As many residents within Thames Valley area will be setting their alarms for an early start tomorrow in preparation for the launch of the Oasis reunion tour tickets, Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn of the Central Fraud Unit is offering some essential advice to ensure nobody must ‘Look Back in Anger’ at being targeted with ticket fraud… “With the long-awaited news of Oasis reforming for 17 dates across the UK and Ireland next year, there will be an understandable desire for many fans to obtain tickets.

This sadly creates an opportunity for fraudsters to exploit the public by leading them to believe they have successfully purchased tickets when people will only be left out of pocket with no tickets or gig to look forward to.

If you plan to try to get hold of any type of event ticket, my top tips are:
 Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent, or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site
 Watch out for fraudsters selling fake tickets – there is no ‘Definitely Maybe’ about it, this WILL be happening
 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 Setting up 2-Step Verification (2SV) - NCSC.GOV.UK
 Be wary of unsolicited emails, texts or adverts offering unbelievably good deals on tickets
 If you are expecting an email after applying for pre-sale tickets, do not assume an email is genuine as fraudsters can spoof email addresses to make them appear from genuine senders.

Phishing attempts can be forwarded to report@phishing.gov.uk

Message Sent By
April Baldwin
(Police , Administrator , High Wycombe)

Dear DEREK

We are aware that the recent disorder seen across the country has left our communities feeling unsafe.

We are working closely with local and national partners and are monitoring a variety of sources including social media and reports from the public to identify planned protest or disruption in our area, and will keep local communities up to date with the latest information.

Should any planned protests or spontaneous incidents escalate into violent disorder seen elsewhere in the country, we are prepared and officers will swiftly and robustly respond and deal with those choosing to cause harm to our communities.

Please be vigilant to the misleading comments that are circulating on social media about potential protest activity. Please think twice about what you read, share and believe from online sources. There are a lot of motivations for why people may be sharing information so be critical, challenge what you see and if in doubt, look to trusted voices.

If you see or hear anything suspicious, please contact us by making a report online, https://s-url.co/5X0UAA or if this isn't possible, calling 101 or 999 in an emergency.

For the latest updates, please follow Thames Valley Police social media channels.

To read more of our statement following the national disorder, visit our news page. https://s-url.co/5n0UAA

Message Sent By
Corporate Communications

Dear DEREK,

We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.

Here are some highlights in August's edition:

* #RightToFeelSafe: tools for safe intervention and tackling harassment

* We're celebrating two years of our Funding Communities Lottery, and you can be part of it

* Enter SimpliSafe's prize draw to win big holiday prizes and support our Volunteer Programme https://s-url.co/yGUUAA (enter from 6th - 26th August)

* Spotting and reporting loan sharks with the England Illegal Money Lending Team

READ THE AUGUST NEWSLETTER HERE.
https://s-url.co/yWUUAA

We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities!

Message Sent By
Ruby Smart
(Neighbourhood Watch Network, Head of Communications and Digital, National)

Dear resident,

Thanks to the internet it’s easy to share about what you’re doing, how you’re feeling, your opinions, likes, dislikes, passions and interests. As well as information and updates about yourself, family and friends, keeping everyone up to date about your life.

But what if what you share doesn’t have the effect you intended it to because it’s oversharing? Like your home being burgled because you posted your family holiday pics. Or your identity being stolen if a criminal pieces together the personal details in your profile. The attached leaflet provides tips and advice on making sure you don't overshare online.

Separately, a recent survey also revealed that we're too polite when it comes to scam callers - all the information can be seen here, along with some short animations providing advice on how to handle scam callers:

New nationwide poll reveals Brits as ‘too polite’ when it comes to scammers (getsafeonline.org)

The advice - if you receive a telephone call from someone you're not expecting simply say ‘I’m not interested, thank you' and hang up.

With kind regards,

the Get Safe Online team

For the UK-Aug24_Sharing_Leaflet.pdf,
Pleasec follow this link:
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/1D90F2EE72A90184B63CBDA6A60B9C30

Dear residents,

I have copied below an update from my colleague Angela in West Berkshire.

I am attaching a Press Release from Public Protection Partnership regarding a Successful Trading Standards operation.

Consumer scam alerts - Norfolk County Council
https://s-url.co/6VYMAA
This website gives information on numerous scams that are currently circulating and on rogue traders.

Scammers are using fake Zara customer service accounts to trick customers on X (formerly Twitter).

If you have an issue with a company, complaining on social media can usually be an effective way to get your issue resolved more quickly. Which? has found scammers on X posing as real customer service agents for a number of well-known brands in recent months. Which? has uncovered 37 fake Zara accounts that were replying to customers' genuine queries on X in a bid to steal their personal data. The scam accounts we spotted were actively responding to customer complaints that had tagged Zara's genuine X account. These fake accounts will often reply quickly, in the hope that customers won't notice they're being contacted by a fraudster.

The latest type of courier scam has been back in the news recently when a West London man was sentenced to five years in prison for tricking people into handing over their money.

He persuaded one victim to go to their bank and withdraw £5,000, which was then handed over to a courier, under the false premise of keeping it safe. This sentencing comes as courier scams are on the rise - costing people £28.7 million last year, according to figures from Action Fraud - with people in their 80s most likely to be targeted.

During the first two weeks in May this year, the City of London Police’s Lead Force Operations Room recorded more than 100 referrals for courier fraud – and 85% of victims were between 60 and 90 years old. Spokesperson Detective Sergeant Victoria O’Keefe says: “This is a particularly nasty crime type often resulting in significant psychological harm and financial loss to victims, many of whom are living alone and suffering age-related illness.”

You might have heard of courier scams before – they’ve been doing the rounds on Facebook Marketplace and eBay for some time. A buyer, for example, might claim they’re too busy to collect an item and says they’ll use a courier who’ll bring you the cash – and all you need to do is give them your bank details to pay the insurance, which can put your money or identity under threat. But this latest generation of courier fraud is different and more dangerous – involving requests for much larger sums of money and specifically targeting older people. If you’ve not come across it before, it’s important to learn the warning signs.

Strategic Fraud Prevention and Behavioural Lead for UK Finance Paul Maskall explains. “An example is I’ll call you up and say I’m from the police and your local bank branch is under investigation and we’re quite concerned about the safety of your money,” he says. The caller might know some of the target’s details, including their address or other personal data. However, this will likely have been obtained fraudulently to increase the chances of sounding genuine.

“So, I ask you to go down to your bank branch but don’t tell the staff anything about this because they’re under investigation. Then I’ll tell you to withdraw a sum of money and I’ll send a courier to pick it up.” Sadly, the courier will then have driven off with the cash and never be seen again. “We’ve also seen cases where people are manipulated into buying gold bullion and then giving it to a courier,” adds Maskall. Gold bullion-based courier fraud has been prevalent over the last year in multiple locations, costing victims millions. In these cases, those defrauded were between 75 and 91 in age.

Recent other cases have seen victims persuaded to hand over jewellery, gold coins or their bank card with its Pin to couriers – sometimes with a password given to make it seem more legitimate. These valuable items are then surrendered to the courier, all under the guise of these being ‘evidence’ in an ongoing investigation and the victim told they can reclaim the money, only to find it’s all a scam. I heard today that a local person received a call purporting to be a Police Officer who told her that they had arrested a man saying that he was her Grandson and had her cards. They got into conversation and then asked if she had any Jewellery. She told them in her safe and they asked her to bag it up and they would send a courier round to collect the jewellery, as they could keep it safe for her. Fortunately, when another call came through from the fraudster a neighbour had arrived home and took the call which avoided her being scammed.

Scammers are impersonating solicitors and making away with victims’ house deposits just before their completion dates.

This scam is known as conveyancing fraud, and it's typically executed by a fraudster hacking into a solicitor’s or buyer’s email account and providing alternative bank details for deposits to be paid into. Lloyds Bank has warned that it received 29% more reports of conveyancing fraud in the second half of last year compared with the first half. It also found that victims lost an average of £47,000 and around 45% of victims were aged 39 or under, signalling that first-time buyers may be most at risk.

This link provides additional information:

https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/scammers-steal-home-deposits-in-callous-conveyancing-scams-afGcO5t39f7o

Fraudsters use deepfake videos in many ways – to steal identities, impersonate people you know and pose as famous people to sell dodgy products and investments.

In its 2024 identity fraud report, identity verification company Onfido found a 3,000% increase in the use of deepfake attempts at identity fraud in 2023 compared to 2022. Onfido puts this down to growth in the accessibility of cheap online tools, apps and generative AI.

Verification and authentication company iProov also reported an increase in the use of deepfakes in the form of face-swap technology, which is software that allows you to put someone else’s face over your own in a video. It saw these types of attacks grow by over 700% in the second half of 2023, when compared to the first half of the year.

Last year, the passing of the Online Safety Act made it a legal requirement for platforms to remove harmful content, including scams and frauds. Which? is calling on Ofcom, the regulator responsible for enforcing the rules, to develop a code of conduct that puts robust duties on platforms to detect and take down scams using the Online Safety Act.

How to spot and report a deepfake video

Some deepfake videos are hard to identify, but there are methods you can use:

· Watch out for low quality lip-syncing.

· Pay attention to details and quality – do the hair, lighting and skin tone of the person look believable? Is there any blurring in the video?

· Listen out for strange background noises or robotic voices.

· Look for unnatural facial expressions.

· Check where the video comes from. If it wasn't posted by an official account, you should be suspicious of it.

To report scam videos on social media, select the three dots in the top right-hand corner and then ‘Report’.

If you become the victim of a scam, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud. https://s-url.co/nVYUAA

Message Sent By
Neil Gunnell
(NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire)

Dear resident, please find below some hints and tips to dealing with suspicious emails!

For more information on Cyber crime or to report a fraud visit:
www.actionfraud.police.uk


Thank You
Message Sent By
Jo Howland
(Police, Neighbourhood Administrator, Aylesbury Vale)

Safe Place Scheme
Dear residents,

Further to my previous message regarding the Safe Place Scheme, please find below a link to the Buckinghamshire scheme run by the council. Also see attached flyer issued by Buckinghamshire council.

https://www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/community-and-safety/safety-and-crime-in-your-community/crime-reporting-and-prevention/help-if-you-are-a-victim-of-crime/

This link also gives details of businesses/buildings that have registered for the local run scheme.


Thank you

Attachments
GD000534 Safe Place A5 flyer_v4.pdf
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/68C03D92FA6001FCA97206E8C8B515BD

Message Sent By
Jo Howland
(Police, Neighbourhood Administrator, Aylesbury Vale)

Businesses and other public buildings that have registered as Safe Places under a national scheme can offer help if anyone at all is anxious, scared or at risk while they are out and about and need support.

You can recognise a registered Safe Place by a sticker with the official Safe Places logo displayed prominently in the front window.

You can also find the nearest Safe Place to your location by downloading the Safe Places app (free to download on both Apple and Android mobile phones). When you open the app, tap on "Get me to the nearest Safe Place" and it will open a map showing the quickest walking route to the nearest Safe Place that is open.

For more information visit:

Safe Places - Keep Safe with Safe Places
https://s-url.co/VNATAA

Please share this message with anyone who you feel will benefit from extra support while out and about.

Many Thanks

Message Sent By
Jo Howland
(Police, Neighbourhood Administrator, Aylesbury Vale)

Today is the launch of the Thames Valley Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Mediation Service. This service is available to residents across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes, and is being delivered by Alternatives to Conflict (previously known as Mediation Bucks) https://s-url.co/PeYTAA

Mediation provides an independent support service and can offer a solution when there is no clear course of action open to a statutory agency, such as the police or local authority. It also represents an alternative to court proceedings and intervention by statutory agencies.

For further details, please visit the news page.
https://s-url.co/PuYTAA

If you have any questions, please contact the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner.
mailto: opcc.comms@thamesvalley.police.uk

Message Sent By
Corporate Communications

please find attached fraud prevention advice for those working from home this summer holidays that the Central Fraud Unit has requested be shared.

If you have been a victim of fraud, please report to Action Fraud online at www.actionfraud.police.uk ,or by calling 0300 123 2040.

For more advice on types of fraud and how to protect yourself please visit Advice about fraud | Thames Valley Police
https://s-url.co/d50TAA .


Attachments
Work from Home Fraud TV Alert - July 24 Final 2.pdf
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/592C7285689A9CBBFDE66026AE1BAC1D

Message Sent By
April Baldwin
(Police , Administrator , High Wycombe)

Due to Salmonella fears.

https://help.sainsburys.co.uk/help/products/6586687043133463408

Dear DEREK

A colleague recently attended a workshop where this support pack was shared.

Stay safe!

https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/D8854FED7678E70F9BD3CAF2B7B80F56

Message Sent By
Neil Gunnell
(NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire)

Please find the latest newsletter on the link.

Stay safe!

https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/4692B3475D74DD506D810FD418DCAB30

Message Sent By
Neil Gunnell
(NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire)

Over 32 million suspicious emails have been reported to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), with more than a third of all emails reported in the last year, new figures reveal.

The reports have led to more than 329,000 websites addresses being removed by the National Cyber Security Centre. Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, launched a national phishing awareness campaign on 24 June 2024, as reporting reached its highest level since SERS launched. New data shows a rise of 44% year-on-year, with almost 11,611,400 reports made to SERS in 2023, up from 8,074,200 reports in 2022.

Alongside emails, there has also been a huge number of text messages reported to 7726. In March 2024, more than 60,000 malicious websites were removed as a result of being reported using 7726. This is a free service, offered by mobile network providers, allowing customers to report suspicious text messages in order to prevent other people from receiving them too.

Claire Webb, Deputy Head of Action Fraud, said:

“When fraudsters go phishing for valuable information, anyone could be a target. They will hook an unknowing victim with a genuine-looking email, in a bid to get them to share personal information, or bank details.

“Year on year, the amount of people reporting phishing emails and texts is growing. Action Fraud is urging everyone to be extra vigilant of suspicious-looking emails landing in their inbox, which could contain malicious links leading to unknown websites.

“Remember, if you think you have received a phishing email or text message, make sure you report it. You can forward emails to
report@phishing.gov.uk or forward spam text messages to 7726.”

SERS was launched by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the City of London Police in April 2020, to enable the public to forward suspicious emails and report any malicious website links. Since its launch, more than 32 million reports have been made to the service.

What is phishing?

'Phishing', ‘quishing’ or ‘smishing’ is when criminals use scam emails, text messages, QR codes, or phone calls to trick victims. Whether it’s an email asking you to “verify” your bank account details, or a text message claiming you’ve missed a delivery and are required to pay a redelivery fee, the goal is usually the same - to trick you into revealing personal and financial information.

In 2023, a doctor from London lost more than £150 to a fake email claiming to be from TV Licensing. The email claimed that they needed to renew her TV licence as soon as possible. What made the phishing email so believable was that the victim’s TV licence had recently expired and the link in the email led to a fake TV Licensing website that replicated the real one.

Here’s some practical advice you can follow when it comes to dealing with suspicious messages and calls:
If you have any doubts about a message, contact the organisation directly using the contact details on their official website.
Do not use the number or web address in the message. Your bank, or any other official source, will not ask you to provide sensitive information by email.
Received an email that doesn’t feel right? STOP! Report suspicious emails by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk
Send emails to this address that feel suspicious, even if you're not certain they're a scam – they will be checked. Always report suspicious text messages or scam call numbers, free of charge, to 7726. Your provider can find out where the text came from and block or ban the sender.
To report a scam text, forward it to 7726 and then send the sender’s number when prompted.
To report a scam call, simply text 7726 with the word ‘Call’ followed by the scam caller’s number.
If you’ve lost money or provided financial information as a result of a phishing scam, 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.

(If you found this information useful, please share it)

Message Sent By
Action Fraud
(Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

I have received the following from Thames Valley Police:

I am conscious that you don't want to be “spammed” by me: but, on behalf of the community-spirited individuals who run the Policing Issues Forum, I've been requested to provide some last-minute publicity to the online meeting, which will take place at 6:30 pm this evening. 

More details as to the sterling work of the forum can be found at: Chiltern & South Bucks Policing Issues Forum – Community and Neighbourhood Police stronger together ( csb-forum.org ) 

For a link/invite to tonight's event, simply email:  contact@csb-forum.org

As the local head of Community Policing, I will be presenting on current policing issues, and available for questions. We will also be collectively agreeing our community's priorities for my teams, for the coming quarter. 

I hope to see you then. 
Kind Regards,  

Message Sent ByJames Ellis
(Police, Inspector, South Buckinghamshire)

Sadly with a cost of living crisis loan sharks are becoming more prevalent. Stoploansharks gives advice for those needing credit but can't access mainstream credit and also provides a phone line for reporting loan sharks on 0300 555 2222

The latest Stop Loan Sharks newsletter can be read here.
https://s-url.co/czgSAA

Stay safe!

Message Sent By
Neil Gunnell
(NWN, MSA, Thames Valley, South Oxfordshire)

We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.

Here are some highlights in June's edition:

- Neighbourhood Watch Week is here! It kicked off with The Big Lunch over the first weekend of June, and there's plenty of activity to look out for during the rest of the week

- Nominations are now open for our Volunteer Recognition Awards 2024 (nominations close on 30th June) - click here to vote!
https://s-url.co/Fc0RAA

- The NW Shop is offering a 24-hour flash sale on 4 [popular products from 9am Tuesday 4th June - 9am Wednesday 5th June: NW lanyards (individual and packs of 10), NW mugs (individual and packs of 36), NW small wheelie bin stickers and NW new crime prevention booklets!

- Issue 7 of The Lookout has arrived, with hot takes and fresh perspectives from students on safety and wellbeing - click here to read it! https://s-url.co/Fs0RAA

- The Our Watch website gets a fresh look - check it out from Thursday 6th June

- Patlock offers NW members an extra discount from 24th - 30th June, to celebrate the Month of Community

- SimpliSafe offers advice on securing your home during the summer months

READ THE JUNE NEWSLETTER HERE. https://s-url.co/F80RAA

We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities!

4 June 2024

Celebrating our unpaid carers this Carers Week

This Carers Week (10-16 June) the council’s Slough Carers Support team is celebrating our carers in Slough.

The theme for the week is “putting carers on the map.” There is a packed timetable for the week with many events and workshops. For more information about the events including details about how to book please call 07519 751640 or email Ramandeep.gogna@slough.gov.uk

Carers UK estimate 5.7 million people living in the UK today are carers. This could be a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or is affected by mental health or substance misuse. It includes young people under 18 who may be caring at home. Providing care for another person can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience. But there can also be times when people who care find themselves struggling.

This year to thank our unpaid carers, beautiful Ditton Manor has kindly donated their venue for free, for our carers week launch event. We are so grateful for this kind gesture and the team have been extremely generous with both their time and use of the venue. The event is open to all unpaid carers in Slough and runs from 11am-3pm on Monday 10 June. It includes live entertainment (magician and dance show), a delicious buffet lunch, laughing yoga, taster massage treatments and beauty treatments and art therapy to name a few. You need to book your place to attend by calling 07519 751640 or emailing Ramandeep.gogna@slough.gov.uk Entrance will not be permitted without a valid booking.

The Slough Carers Support team also want to thank all of the other companies that have also kindly donated their time and/or products for this event.

Caroline Bowler, Sales Manager, Ditton Manor, said: “We wanted to provide an opportunity for carers to have much-needed time for respite to relax and unwind, we value the work that unpaid carers in Slough do to support their loved ones and are proud to be able to give a little back to them this Carers Week.”

Ramandeep Gogna, Carers Support & Development Officer, Slough Borough Council, said: “We learnt from the pandemic what valuable role unpaid carers carry out in Slough. We are very lucky to have such selfless people in our borough caring for their family and friends. National Carers Week shines a light on these wonderful residents and allows us to celebrate them and arrange a pampering launch event for them. There is a whole timetable of events to attend, and we hope that any unpaid carers understand how appreciated you are by not only the people you care for, but by the wider borough.”

Many people who carry out caring responsibilities do not recognise themselves as carers but may benefit from some support and could be unaware of the help available to them. Many may feel they are simply carrying out ordinary responsibilities as a friend or family member.

For more information:
You can contact Slough Carers Support at: Ramandeep.gogna@slough.gov.uk or 07519 751640.

Alternatively, if you require extra support or guidance, please use the contacts below:

• If you’re caring for an adult, contact Slough Borough Council Adult Social Care on 01753 475111 Option 1.
• If you’re caring for a disabled child, please contact Slough Children First on 01753 875362.
• If you’re a young person providing care, please contact Slough Young Carers on 01753 875510.
• If you’re caring for a person with mental health problems telephone the Community Mental Health Team: 01753 690950 or Older People’s Mental Health Team for a person with dementia on: 01753 635220.

Exactly 53 years ago on 31 May 1971, Tina Whittamore, 15, went for a walk in Luton. She never came back and there have been no confirmed sightings of her since.

Now Bedfordshire Police’s Missing Persons team are conducting a review of Tina’s disappearance and they are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Officers have one picture of Tina from the time. Experts have aged it as best they can to give an idea of what Tina might look like now. She would be 68.

She was born Tina King in Leighton Buzzard in 1955. She lived in Kempston in Bedfordshire under the name Tina Whittamore.

In 1971, Tina was placed in the Whitaker Mother and Baby Unit in Grasmere Road, Luton.

She was last seen in Luton on 31 May at about 2.30pm when she said she was going for a walk and never returned.

In September 1971 Thames Valley Police issued a missing report for a woman called Christine King, who was 18 and had gone missing from High Wycombe. It was established that Tina and Christine were the same person.

In the early 1970s there was information to suggest she had lived and worked in Soho and Notting Hill in London but then there was no further reporting until 1990 when the Metropolitan Police believe she was in a London hospital, but discharged herself before she could be identified. She was in Holland Park and in 1991 was reported to be sleeping rough in Notting Hill. Since then, there have been no reported sightings.

Tina was described as 5’2”, fresh complexion, light brown hair, brown eyes and has a slight squint in the left eye. She was known to dye her hair blonde or wear a wig.

Detective Sergeant James Morgan of Bedfordshire Police said: “We realise this is a case from many years ago, but we never give up trying to find people reported as missing.

“Cases, such as these, are reviewed on an ongoing basis and are re-opened if any new information is shared with us. We would just like to know that Tina is safe.”

If anyone is able to provide any further information, please can they contact us on 101 quoting reference MPL/109/10 or online:
https://www.beds.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/soh/seen-or-heard/


Regarding the photograph:
Tina Whittamore: left: aged 15 years, right: how she might look now

Find out more about joining your energy supplier or network operator’s Priority Services Register, and the extra help you’ll get.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/join-your-suppliers-priority-services-register

Investments are a favourite trick used by fraudsters to steal your money … either funds you’ve put aside ‘for a rainy day’ or life savings to be used for a dream holiday or your retirement.

Between 2020 and the end of 2023, nearly 100,000 people in the UK fell victim to investment scams, totalling £2.6 billion or £13 million every week. These figures refer only to reported scams, so are likely to be considerably higher.

To learn how to invest wisely and avoid being a victim in this way read the latest tips and advice from Get Safe Online, either in the leaflet attached or in the below link:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/investments/

Finally, Get Safe Online has this week launched a new ‘Self Help Tool Centre’ - nine free, easy-to-use to use tools to help keep you and your family safe, secure and confident when using the internet. It can be accessed here:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/selfhelpcentre/

We hope you find these useful.

Kind regards,

the Get Safe Online team

May24_Investment_Leaflet.pdf
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/9ADBD3E1B56444F2BE783812B46907D9

WhatsApp group chat members are being warned they could be targeted by criminals, as Action Fraud reveals it has received 636 reports from victims of the messaging app this year.

The fraud often begins when a member of the group receives a WhatsApp audio call from the fraudster, pretending or claiming to be another member of the group. This is done to gain the individual’s trust, and often the scammer will use a false profile picture and/or display name, so at first glance it would appear to be a genuine member of the group.

The fraudster will tell the victim they are sending them a one-time passcode which will allow them to join an upcoming video call for group members. The criminal then asks the victim to share this passcode with them so they can be “registered” for the video call.

In reality, the criminal is asking for a registration code to register the victim’s WhatsApp account to a new device so they can take over their account.

Once the fraudster has access to the victim’s WhatsApp account, they will enable two-step verification which makes it impossible for the victim to regain access their account. Other members of the group, or friends and family in the victim’s contacts, will then be messaged asking them to transfer money urgently as they are in desperate need of help.

How to secure your WhatsApp account:

Set up two-step verification (2SV) to give an extra layer of protection to your account. Tap Settings > Account > Two-step verification > Enable.CALL. If a family member or friend makes an unusual request on WhatsApp, always call the person outside of WhatsApp to confirm their identity.Report spam messages or block a sender within WhatsApp. Press and hold on the message bubble, select ‘Report’ and then follow the instructions.


If you live in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and have been a victim of fraud or cybercrime, report it at www.actionfraud.police.uk 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: https://stopthinkfraud.campaign.gov.uk

If you found this information useful, please share it with friends and family.

Message Sent By
Action Fraud
(Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Abandoned vehicles, causing obstruction and eyesore, can be reported to local authorities.

Parking disputes on public roads are not actionable unless designated parking spaces are involved.

Parking on someone's driveway without permission is considered trespassing and should be resolved civilly.

Blocking driveways can be reported to local councils, especially if it prevents vehicle access.

Illegal parking on zig-zag lines, dangerously, or obstructing emergency vehicles should be reported online.

Parking over dropped kerbs, pedestrian crossings, Blue Badge spaces, taxi bays, cycle lanes, red lines, or near school entrances, bus or tram stops should be reported to local councils.

https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/asb/asb/antisocial-behaviour/nuisance-parking/

We are pleased to bring you the latest edition of our newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales.

Here are some highlights in May's edition:

- There's just one month to go before Neighbourhood Watch Week, and we want to hear your plans for how you'll be celebrating it

- We bid a very fond farewell to Kevin Sproston, our Project Manager for Devon and Cornwall

- Avast educates us on cyber-trauma and how to access support if you've been a victim of cybercrime

- ERA celebrates 185 years of keeping Britain safe

READ THE MAY NEWSLETTER HERE.
https://s-url.co/F8QQAA

We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities!

Social Media Summary for South Bucks is here:
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/4C627528350285A0DFB7055D1A8BB31C

As a matter of urgency we wish to make you all aware of a scam that was brought to our attention recently.

This week an elderly female who has a disabled badge parked her car in Yiewsley High Street near to the GP surgery. A male approached the victim and told her that it was illegal to park on the single yellow line even with a disabled badge.

Later when she returned to her car, another male wearing what appeared like a black stab vest and a cap told her that she would get a fine for parking illegally. He made her tap her bank card on a portable machine and asked the victim for her card pin number.

Following this incident several fraudulent transactions were noticed in the victim’s bank account.

We would ask everyone to pay attention to anyone posing as enforcement officers in public and do not divulge your bank or personal information to anyone. These people are likely to act in groups. An enforcement officer in public should have identification and will not ask you to pay any fines on the spot.

Please report any suspicious activity to police and call someone you know if you are unsure.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: westdrayton@met.police.uk

Regards,
Jeff Jacob
PCSO
Email: westdrayton@met.police.uk

Here are some things you could do to reduce the risk of doorstep theft:

Track your parcel to ensure you or someone else is at home for the delivery.

Install a video doorbell; this can be connected to your mobile so you are notified immediately of any delivery, and is easier to install than a full CCTV system.

Install a security light.

Arrange for your parcel to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, or other family members who will be at home; if you live in a flat, is there a concierge who could accept the parcel for you?

Use an off-site locker service for frequent deliveries, or for expensive items; these parcel boxes are more likely to be in busy, safer locations - such as supermarkets - rather than secluded areas which could be targeted by thieves.

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: gemma.robinson@met.pnn.police.uk

Regards,
Gemma Robinson
Senior Office Assistant
Email: gemma.robinson@met.pnn.police.uk

Police Contact Advice
Telephone 999 in an emergency where there is a danger to life or a crime is in progress.
Telephone 101 for non-emergencies where police attendance is required, to report a crime or to report any other incidents.
If you are calling about the above message, please tell us that you are responding to a message from OWL.

Neighbourhood Police Reports

Each Neighbourhood Policing team publishes a quarterly report with a wealth of information, including current team personnel, actions to pursue neighbourhood priorities, times and locations of opportunities to meet team members at ‘Have Your Say’ meetings, offenders brought to justice, and other policing news. Links to the latest reports for each area are below.

Further down you will find also links to the latest Rural Crime Team update, and the latest Community Speedwatch newsletter.

https://www.csb-forum.org/policing/neighbourhood-police-reports/

As part of our ongoing commitment to inform the public of the work we do, Thames Valley Police is today (29/4) releasing statistics on our activity from the last financial year, from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.   

It has been another busy year with over 400,000 calls to 999, over 470,000 calls to 101, and over 108,000 online reports to our contact management centres.  

We have attended 160,000 incidents, made 33,000 arrests, and helped find 5,687 missing people.  

On top of that, we policed the King’s Coronation in Windsor, which was another of the most significant policing operations in the history of the Force, additionally we helped people to stay safe at many other events such as Reading Festival, Royal Ascot and Henley Regatta.  

Knife crime and serious violence  

We are continuing our work to stop the devastation that knife crime and carrying a knife has on our communities. 

We have been working hard to reduce serious violence and knife crime on the streets of the Thames Valley, with a reduction of knife enabled crime by over 10% year on year, we have also seen a reduction in homicide. 

We continue to play an active role in the Thames Valley Violence Prevention Partnership, working with partners to prevent young people being drawn into crime and violence, which includes proactively working with schools to speak to young people, as well as visiting sports and local community groups.  

Through Hotspot Policing and the use of technology, we are putting our officers into those areas where violence is most prevalent, providing a high-visibility deterrent to crime and taking strong proactive enforcement.  

Operation Deter has been implemented across the force to ensure there is a swift consequence for those aged over 18 arrested for knife crime. So if someone is arrested over the age of 18 with a knife they will be charged, remanded and put before Magistrates, within 48 hours.   

We are also expanding the ActNow approach for those under 18, seeing a rapid response from Youth Offending Teams to support young people and provide intervention.  

So if a person under the age of 18 is arrested with a knife, they will be brought into custody and within 90 minutes they are seen by Youth Offending Team caseworker to engage with them and divert them. A further meeting is also held within 48 hours with the young person’s parents or guardians.  

Additionally we have continued to target those who run County Drugs Lines through our Drugs and Serious Organised Crime teams. We have seen a 25% increase in people arrested for drug trafficking. This is down to the proactive work by these teams to bring county lines drug gangs and dealers to justice. 

Violence against women and girls 

Our relentless pursuit of those who seek to carry out violence and sexual violence against women and girls, has seen our charge rate for rape offences increase by 17.4% and for other sexual offences, the charge rate has gone up by 13.6%.  

Project Vigilant continues to be utilised across the Thames Valley with over 280 deployments this year.  

The project uses a combination of uniformed and plain clothed officers to carry out patrols in public areas outside nightclubs, bars and pubs, to identify people who may be displaying signs of predatory behaviour, such as sexual harassment, inappropriate touching and loitering.  

 

Project Vigilant which was developed by Thames Valley Police is now seen as national best practice and has been adopted by other Forces across the country. 

Domestic abuse accounted for 9,253 of all arrests made between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 in the Thames Valley, which equates to 28% of our overall arrests.   

We have seen a reduction in formal outcomes for domestic abuse. This is due to a reduction in the use of out of court disposals where there is no sanction on the offender. We are now focused on charging or giving more conditional cautions to offenders, which better protects victims.  

We have also seen significant sentences handed to child sex offenders, for example a 27 year sentence was handed to a Slough man who was found guilty of 18 serious child sex offences, another man from Oxfordshire was sentenced to 19 years for multiple counts of rape and other sexual offences.  

Roads police 

We continue to work proactively to reduce serious injury and death on our roads. Sadly, there have been 58 deaths on our roads. We are again using proactive hotspot policing to reduce casualties and catch offenders particularly of the fatal four. 

As a result, our officers have dealt with 14,132 people for speeding, driving without due care and attention, not wearing a seatbelt, driving without insurance and driving while distracted (using a mobile phone). A further 157,103 people were caught speeding by a traffic camera. (note figures are for calendar year ending 2023) 

Additionally, a further 4,303 people were arrested for drink or drug driving (figures from financial year to April 24).  

We will continue to proactively enforce and educate road users around the four fatal driving offences of speeding, not wearing a seat belt, driving while using a mobile phone and drink and drug driving.   

Recruitment  

We have recruited the highest ever number of police officers over the past year, as we continue our focus on creating a diverse work force which reflects the communities we serve.  

Our work force is made up of 9,270 officers, staff, PCSOs and Specials, with 48% female and 52% male. Meanwhile, of the 522 officers recruited in 2023-24, over 40% were female. Additionally 6.1% of new recruits were from an ethnic minority backgrounds.  

Chief Constable Jason Hogg, said: 

“I am extremely proud of all our officers, staff and volunteers, who are working to make the communities we serve in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire safer.   

“We have made significant progress in reducing serious violence and homicide, and I am also proud of the progress we have made on tackling violence against women and girls.   

“We have arrested over 30,000 people, responded to more than 160,000 incidents, and we have responded to over 950,000 contacts from the public. We have also made strides to reduce fatalities and serious collisions on our roads. Further, we have supported thousands of victims and have put more defendants through the courts.   

“There is always more we can do, and this year I really want for us to solve more crime and bring more offenders to justice, especially in crimes such as burglary, robbery and shoplifting.  

“Everyday I am reassured that we have the right people in Thames Valley Police, and we are continuing to recruit the right people, to create a police force that is trusted by our communities, but also reflects the public that we serve.”  

Numbers at a glance   

• 984,280 total contacts from the public – increase of 2% from 2022/23  

• 404,654 calls to 999   

• 471,512 calls to 101  

• 108,114 online reports – an increase of 15% from 2022/23  

• 638 missing people found deemed ‘high risk’   

• 160,127 incidents attended   

• 33,006 arrests made   

• 755 knife crime arrests   

• 9,253 domestic abuse arrests   

• 6% increase in personal robbery (1,022 incidents to 1,088)   

• 3% increase in residential burglary (4,942 to 5,075)   

• 17.4% increase in charges for rape offences (121 to 142)   

• 13.6% increase in charges for sexual offences (426 to 484)   

Force and people awards 

• Police Force of the Year award at GG2 Leadership & Diversity Awards   

• Kings Police Medal - DCC Benjamin Snuggs  

• MBE - Tori Olphin, Chief Data Scientist and Head of Research for the force's Violence Reduction Unit (VRU)  

• Menopause Friendly Employer of the Year Award 2023  

• Top 100 Employers for Apprenticeships 2023   

• Member of the Royal Victorian Order- Superintendent Andy Cranidge   

• National Investigator of the Year by Police Federation- Detective Laura Corscadden   

• National Roads Policing Officer by Police Federation- Inspector Simon Hills   

• Protective Services Apprenticeship of the Year 2023

There has been a recent attempted burglary and a burglary in Denham during the past week and this information has now been released to the public. Please follow the links below to find more information about these. Police are aware the same vehicle have been linked to both of these incidents.

AMENDED: Witness appeal following attempted burglary-Denham | Thames Valley Police
https://s-url.co/OXkQAA

AMENDED: Witness appeal following Burglary - Denham | Thames Valley Police
https://s-url.co/OHkQAA

Please see attached this week's Thames Valley Police social media summary. 

Links are included in article: 

 Appeal for witnesses following sexual assault – Marlow | Thames Valley Police 
https://s-url.co/9T8QAA

 Appeal for witnesses following collision – Buckinghamshire | Thames Valley Police 
https://s-url.co/9j8QAA

Six people sentenced in connection with drugs and trafficking offences – High Wycombe | Thames Valley Police
https://s-url.co/9z8QAA

Report Cruelty | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk
https://s-url.co/AkAQAA

This social media summary for 22.04.2024 can be downloaded in pdf format from the following URL:
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/531AF902CD25D0AFCDE73AFB4DFF8A49

Message Sent By
April Baldwin
(Police , Administrator , High Wycombe)

New data released by Action Fraud reveals £6.7 million was lost to ticket fraud last year. https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ticketfraud

Action Fraud, the national fraud and cybercrime reporting service, has launched a ticket fraud awareness campaign, warning people to be alert to fraudsters trying to catch out people planning for popular and sold-out events. Last year more than 8,700 people reported they had been a victim ticket fraud, with a total of £6.7 million lost. This works out to an average loss of £772 per victim.



How to protect yourself from ticket fraud:

Only buy tickets from the venue’s box office, the promoter, an official agent or a well-known and reputable ticket exchange site. 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 Society of Ticket Agents and Retailers (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.


Report ticket fraud

If you feel at all suspicious, report the email to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS) at report@phishing.gov.uk. For more advice on how to stay secure online, please visit cyberaware.gov.uk.



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



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

Message Sent By
Action Fraud
(Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Here are some highlights in April's edition:

- The results from our National Crime and Community Survey 2023 are in and ready for you to read

- Recordings from our spring webinar series are now available

- It's time to get ready for Neighbourhood Watch Week and the Month of Community!

- You can win a £50 Shop voucher for sharing your community stories

We would also like to highlight that the NPCC (National Police Chief's Council) has launched a new app called Police.UK, which allows the public to report crimes and incidents, find out information about local policing teams, and access prevention advice and support for victims and witnesses of crime. 

You can read more about this here.
https://s-url.co/3I4PAA

Read the April newsletter here:
https://s-url.co/3Y4PAA

We hope you enjoy this edition - please share it far and wide with your communities!

The latest PDF version should be accessible here:
https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/Alerts/A/149955

The March 2024 edition of OUR NEWS from the Neighbourhood Watch is here:

https://s-url.co/kKsOAA

Thames Valley Police have issued a new document relating to fraud.

https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/Alerts/A/146484

🎆🎇🎆Remember remember the 5th of November!🎆🎇🎆

We're asking everyone in our community to also remember the laws and safety procedures around fireworks and bonfires to ensure everyone has an exciting and pleasant time.

Police officers will be conducting patrols around and on the night, they will look to remind people of the legislation first and foremost, but will look to enforce if they see people knowingly breaking the law.


Please keep in mind:

🔥 For most days of the year, it is illegal to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am,

🔥 On the 5th November only, the curfew will be extended to midnight, giving you an extra hour to enjoy the night.

🔥 Please bare in mind that for displays shortly before or after the 5th November, the usual legislation still applies, this includes the Friday and Saturday prior to bonfire night this Sunday.

🔥 It is illegal for under 18s to purchase any fireworks and shop staff must do their due diligence in challenging those who look under 21.

🔥 Under 18s are also not legally allowed to possess adult fireworks in a public places, items such as sparklers do not count as adult fireworks.

🔥 It is ideal to inform neighbours in advance if you will be letting off fireworks at home, particularly for those who are elderly or vulnerable, or have pets or infants. If you live near horses or other animals kept outdoors, it is best to approach the owners to let them know.

We have confidence that most people know how to set off fireworks safely and responsibly, but for some refresher advice, please see the following links:

British firework association website: Consumer Information - British Fireworks Association
https://www.britishfireworksassociation.co.uk/firework-advice-for-consumers/

GOV.UK website Staying safe with fireworks - GOV.UK
www.gov.uk

UK Fire service: Bonfire Safety – UK Fire Service Resources
https://www.fireservice.co.uk/safety/bonfires/

Safety advice on bonfires specifically: Bonfires London Fire Brigade (london-fire.gov.uk)
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/safety/the-home/bonfires/

TVP: Bonfire Night | Thames Valley Police
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/police-forces/thames-valley-police/areas/c/2018/bonfire-night/

What is the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel (CSARP)?

If a victim or survivor reported allegations of child sexual offences before 5 June 2013 and the police or the CPS decided that no further action should be taken at the time, they can request that the Child Sexual Abuse Review Panel reconsider the decision, if they are not satisfied that the original allegations were dealt with appropriately. CSARP is a joint enterprise between the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS).

Cases will be considered if:

The report is about an alleged sexual offence against the victim or survivor; The victim or survivor is referring to a report previously made to the police about the sexual offence; A decision to take no further action was taken by the police or by the CPS; The alleged sexual offences was committed when the victim or survivor was under 18 years of age; The alleged offender may still pose a risk; The alleged offence was committed in England and Wales; The case was investigated and marked no further action by police or CPS before 5 June 2013.
It is important to note that even if the victim or survivor has previously asked the police or the CPS to look at the decision they made previously, their case will still be considered.

Find out more information from the leaflet:
https://members.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/AlertMessage/Attachment/3DA83941682B1AD83389D941DDB429D7

Thames Valley Police is seeing a high number of fraudulent offences involving the selling of items online and through social media.

In the past 13 months, data provided by the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau shows that there have been 2,925 victims within the Thames Valley who have been targeted in this particular type of fraud. This is 21% of all different types of fraud which has resulted in losses of £2.3million.

How does it happen?

There are two different scenarios taking place:

Victims are contacted by the suspects who show a real interest in the goods, attending the address to look at the item with a view of purchasing it. The suspect will obtain the victim’s bank details and show the victim their mobile phone which details the payment has been made via the banking app and then walk away with the goods. This is a fake banking app and the profile used and contact details are also fake.
Please be mindful in these scenarios that you may be providing fraudsters with a lot of personal information, name, address, bank account. Be careful with how you protect your information.

The other type of offending is online shopping where the suspect agrees to purchase the item but will not pay for the goods until proof of purchase has been provided to them. The victim will arrange for the parcel to be sent in the post and will provide the tracking number to the suspect. The suspect is then able to track or redirect the parcel. This results in the payment not being received and the parcel has gone. The addresses where the parcels are being sent to are either used for a day, or the parcel is redirected to another address resulting in the loss of the item which is at a cost to the victim.
Prevention advice

While it is difficult to spot potential fraudsters, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself and provide the police with evidence when reporting.

Make sure you receive payment before sending the goods
Carry out your research before parting with your items or money; how long have they been online? Are there any reviews or sellers feedback? Do they have many associates or linked groups?
Always check your account online or ask your bank to make sure the funds have been received
Take pictures of items before posting them
Keep any video footage which can be shared with law enforcement
Make a report to Action Fraud online Action Fraud or via telephone 0300 123 2040
Detective Inspector Duncan Wynn of the Thames Valley Police Central Fraud Unit said: “These are common scams which are occurring across the Thames Valley and the rest of the UK and we ask that the public become aware of these tactics to prevent them from being targeted in this way and being at a financial loss.

“We are already seeing an increase in the number of calls we are receiving. As we start to look towards Christmas and shopping for gifts, we anticipate there will be a further increase in online shopping, which leaves shoppers more at risk of fake websites and profiles. We ask that people are always cautious and if in doubt, avoid going ahead with a sale. If something seems to be too good to be true, it probably is. If you believe you have fallen victim to fraud, please make a report to Action Fraud online or via telephone on 0300 123 2040.”

Operation Tramline was run by Thames Valley Police’s Roads Policing Joint Operations Unit in partnership with National Highways between 7 and 11 August. The road safety operation covered sections of the M40 and M25.

Officers deployed an unmarked HGV tractor unit supplied and funded by National Highways to detect and deal with road traffic offences such as using a mobile phone while driving and not wearing a seatbelt.

Operation Tramline targets all vehicles with the elevated position of the HGV cabs allowing police officers to drive alongside vehicles to film any unsafe driver behaviour taking place. Using the HGV enabled officers to not only detect offences being committed by private vehicles but also enabled them the opportunity to observe commercial vehicles that are sometimes more difficult to see into from patrol cars.

During the week long operation a total of 104 traffic offence reports were issued to drivers for offences of driving whilst using a mobile phone, not wearing a seat belt, careless driving, registration plate not fitted, excessive window tints and driving whilst not in proper control. A car driver was also arrested on suspicion of driving whilst over the prescribed drug drive limit.



Detective Chief Inspector Mike Bettington of the Roads Policing Joint Operational Unit said: "We see the huge, often tragic, impact of road traffic incidents every day, so we are always keen to find alternative ways to put a stop to the offences that cause such harm. By using the HGV we have been able to deal with motorists who are committing offences that are linked to the fatal four - not wearing a seatbelt, drink/drug driving, speeding and using a phone while driving."

National Highways has a long-term ambition that no one should be harmed when travelling or working on the Strategic Road Network. Operation Tramline is helping to reinforce appropriate safe driving behaviour.

Regional road Safety Programme Manager for National Highways in the South East of England, Colin Evans, said:

“When the majority of people get behind the wheel they drive safely and sensibly, but unfortunately a small minority think the rules don’t apply to them and their selfish actions endanger the lives of others on the road network.

“Working with our police partners in the Thames Valley, and using the unique perspective we get from the ‘supercab’, we are able to target those individuals with officers taking enforcement action where they believe it is appropriate.

“We use the supercab across the country as a means of highlighting bad habits that put other road users in danger. Whatever vehicle you are in, please think about your behaviour when you get behind the wheel and help us make sure everyone gets home safe and well.”

Thames Valley Police has carried out 31 warrants on suspected cannabis grows as part of the largest national operation of its kind, aimed at unearthing and disrupting organised crime groups (OCGs) and their illegal revenue streams.

The warrants, which ran through June 2023, saw 35 arrests as well as the seizures of drugs, plants, and electronic devices.

Chief Superintendent Jim Weems of Thames Valley Police said: “Cannabis factories are a very real local threat. Those tasked to look after the plants are often vulnerable and sometimes the victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

“The size of criminal cannabis ‘factories’ means that damage is often caused to the properties themselves; the buildings can become dangerous as a result of fire risks, unlawful abstraction of electricity, fumes and water damage.

“Anyone with information about a potential cannabis factory or drug dealing can contact Thames Valley Police online or via 101. In an emergency always call 999.

“You can also contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or crimestoppers-uk.org”

To find out more, visit our website https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/thames-valley/news/2023/july/03-07-2023/organised-crime-groups-targeted-by-police-who-arrest-35-and-seize-cannabis-plants-worth-an-estimated-4202400/

Almost 21 million reports have been made to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service (SERS), resulting in the removal of over 235,000 malicious websites.

SERS was launched by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/ and the City of London Police in April 2020 to enable the public to forward suspicious emails to an automated system that scans them for malicious links. Since its launch, almost 21 million reports have been made to the service.

Mobile phone providers also offer a service that allows customers to report suspicious text messages, by forwarding them to the number 7726. The service is free of charge and enables providers to takedown malicious websites and block malicious texts from being sent across their network.

As of 31 May 2023, 54,000 text message scams have been removed as a result of suspicious texts forwarded to the 7726 service.

Commander Nik Adams, from City of London Police, said:

“Every year, thousands of people in the UK are scammed by a fraudulent email or text message. Phishing scams, whether it’s a text message claiming you have missed a delivery and are required to pay a redelivery fee, or an email claiming to be from your bank are a common security challenges that both individuals and businesses across the UK face on a daily basis.

“If you receive an email or text message that you think might be a scam, don’t respond to it or click any links in the message or email. Instead, contact the organisation directly using contact information from the company’s official website, and not the links or numbers provided in the message itself.

“If you think you have been a victim of fraud, report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. By reporting phishing scams or suspected fraud, you are directly helping us in our work to identify and stop these criminals and helping us protect others from these scams. If you are in Scotland, I ask that you report the fraud directly to Police Scotland by calling 101.”

How to protect yourself from scam emails and texts

Received an email or text that seems suspicious? Report it. Your reports enable us to remove the emails and websites criminals use to commit fraud and cyber crime.

1: Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk . Send emails to this address that feel suspicious, even if you're not certain they're a scam - we can check.

2: Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 (it’s free of charge). Your provider can find out where the text came from and block or ban the sender.

3 - If you’ve lost money or provided personal information as a result of a phishing scam, notify your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud at www.actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. In Scotland, call Police Scotland on 101.

Please note: Sometimes a forwarded email may not reach us because it is already recognised by spam detection services. You can also take a screenshot of the email and send it to report@phishing.gov.uk

(If you found this information useful, please forward it to your friends and family)

Message Sent By
Action Fraud
(Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Please view the video below produced by the Council, the Fire & Rescue Service and TVP - and pass it on to friends and family members. Even if you are unlikely to try open water swimming yourself, the video includes advice for the public on helping anyone who gets into difficulties when doing so.

Video link: Olympic Gold Medallist Swimmer Tom Dean
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jdcxThIHUmc&%3Bt=1s

Many thanks

David

Message Sent By
David Alder
(NWN, Area Representative, MSA, Thames Valley, South Buckinghamshire ( East))

To view the latest Community Watch magazine, click https://issuu.com/peter2491/docs/tv_magazine

Thanks

David

Message Sent By
David Alder
(NWN, Area Representative, MSA, Thames Valley, South Buckinghamshire ( East))

Hi!
Neighbourhood Watch (NW) is possibly the biggest voluntary organisation in the UK, with some 3 million Members. Why is NW so popular?

Firstly, it’s FREE to join (How? See below.)
Registered Members get prompt advice from the Police on local crimes and crime-prevention advice.

Our National website at ourwatch.org.uk is bursting with guides to staying safe in your home and in your community – making where YOU live a better place to be.

You can choose which other service-providers to get messages from, such as the PCC, Get Safe Online or the Fire Service. It’s your choice.
Perhaps best of all, having a NW Scheme in YOUR road helps to bring neighbours together with the common aim of making your area a more caring community.

Each NW Scheme is unique. Each is run the way neighbours choose it to be. NW provides the basic structure and support. The rest is your choice.

How is FREE to join?
The Police know from experience that NW actually works in deterring crime. Crime rates tend to be lower where there are NW Schemes. So a lot of the (modest) costs of running NW across the UK is funded by the Government, through the Home Office. In addition, a small number of concerned commercial enterprises donate funds too. But most of all, NW is FREE because it is almost entirely run by volunteers, with only a handful of paid employees in our London Head Office. Everyone else gives their time willingly to help keep their community safer.

So, PLEASE JOIN US.
It is very easy – just go to ourwatch.org.uk and register as a Member. If you want to set up a new NW Scheme in YOUR road, simply follow the steps shown on the website, and contact bucksnhw@gmail.com if you need any help or further advice.

YOU WILL BE VERY WELCOME!