Hello DEREK

Sign up to our COMMUNITY SAFETY CHARTER

We are delighted to invite you to sign up to our COMMUNITY SAFETY CHARTER launched at our Neighbourhood Watch Crime and Community Conference 2022. With our first anniversary quickly approaching, please consider signing up, if you have not already joined.

The Community Safety Charter aims to engage with a broader reach of people, businesses and organisations to encourage them to take an active stance against crimes in public spaces, such as harassment, hate crime, and antisocial behaviour. The Charter tagline is #BeTheChange, focusing on the role of active bystanders in leading the change within their communities. The Charter supports greater understanding about how we recognise and deal with community safety issues and support victims by knowing where to get help, how and who to report to, enabling a more positive, proactive approach by the whole community when witnessing or experiencing confrontation, hostility or harassment.

Do I need to make a pledge?
By signing up to the Community Safety Charter, people, businesses, organisations and groups pledge to four actions:

PROMOTE – promote a culture that does not tolerate harmful language, antisocial behaviour and hostility toward othersENABLE – enable others to identify and take an active stance to prevent harassment, antisocial behaviour and intimidation within their communityREPORT - actively encourage and support others to report harassment, antisocial behaviour and intimidation and share intelligence about these crimes with the relevant authoritiesSUPPORT – support those affected by harassment, antisocial behaviour and intimidation and refer victims to the appropriate support agency

What will I receive when I sign up?
Those who have signed up to the Charter will receive an information pack on a specific topic or crime in PDF or an interactive format every two months to share with your staff and /or volunteers. The topics covered in the first year are:

harassment hate crime antisocial behaviour being an active bystander dealing with confrontation leading the change in our communities
Individual downloadable pledges to share on social media will also be made available, together with a downloadable poster to exhibit in your premises.

Where can I find out more?
To find out more about the Charter, click here or contact Cheryl Spruce, Head of Membership and Engagement, cheryl.spruce@ourwatch.org.uk.

How do I sign up?
As a valued partner of Neighbourhood Watch, we invite you to sign up to the Charter. Simply complete the online form on ourwatch.org.uk/charter. Once you have signed up, we will be in contact with you within 10 working days to share the first information pack and other resources.

Please share the details of the Charter with your networks and encourage them also to sign up and share it. #BeTheChange

What people have said about why they joined the Charter and the resources they receive.

Good idea, well constructed resource packs and content useful

Education, and to potentially make a difference.

Never been one to "just walk pass"

I feel passionate about the Community I reside in, want to make valuable contributions

Over 82% of those who have signed up to the Charter have found the materials easy to follow and informative.

Please encourage your community groups, councils, businesses and schools to sign up too.

Best wishes

Cheryl

Cheryl Spruce | Head of Membership and Community Engagement

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team

WG07, Vox Studios, 1-45 Durham Street, Vauxhall, SE11 5JH

Message Sent By
Cheryl Spruce
(NWN, Head of Membership & Community Engagement, England and Wales

Dear Subscriber,

Why are email accounts so important?
Your emails contain a lot of information about you, so it’s crucial you make your email password strong. If criminals get into your email account, they could access personal information that could be used to scam you or others. To make it harder for them, always use an email password that you haven’t used elsewhere.

Your email inbox can also act as a ‘gateway’ to your other accounts. Once they can access it, a criminal could use the ‘forgot password’ option to request emails enabling them to get into other accounts, such as your social media.

How to secure your email account

Your email password.
Using a combination of 3 random words creates passwords that are long enough and strong enough. Avoid words that can be guessed, like your pet’s name or birth month. Adding numbers and symbols is a good way to make your password even harder to guess.



Turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV) for your email.
2-Step Verification (2SV) gives you twice the protection so even if cyber criminals have your password, they can't access your email.

2SV works by asking for more information to prove your identity. For example, getting a code sent to your phone when you sign in using a new device or change settings such as your password.

You won't be asked for this every time you check your email.



Hot to turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV)

· Turn on 2SV for Outlook
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-use-two-step-verification-with-your-microsoft-account-c7910146-672f-01e9-50a0-93b4585e7eb4


· Turn on 2SV for Gmail
https://myaccount.google.com/signinoptions/two-step-verification/enroll-welcome?pli=1

· Turn on 2SV for iCloud
https://support.apple.com/en-il/HT204915

If you are using an email service that does not offer 2SV, please consider switching to an email provider that does.

How to check if one of your online accounts may have been compromised
Services such as www.haveibeenpwned.com can tell you if your personal information or any of your account passwords have been made public in a major data breach.

If you have been affected by a data breach, you can find some useful information here from the National Cyber Security Centre on how to how to protect yourself from the impact of data breaches.

For more advice on how to stay secure online, please visit www.cyberaware.gov.uk

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

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

This campaign was launched by Action Fraud. Please pass it on to family members and friends who may have missed it.

Don’t get burnt before you’re on the beach: Action Fraud reports over £15m lost to holiday fraud in the past year

Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, has today published new data showing that in the last financial year, it received 6,457 reports of holiday fraud, amounting to over £15m lost.

Victims reported losing a total of £15,319,057, a 41 per cent increase on last year’s results, which amounts to an average loss of £2,372 per victim. From May – August alone, more than £4.6m was lost.

With the summer months seeing the highest levels for holiday fraud reports, Action Fraud has launched a national awareness campaign today to urge the public to think twice before booking a holiday, so consumers don’t get burnt before they are on the beach.

Pauline Smith, Head of Action Fraud, said:

“With summer only just around the corner, we enter a period where fraudsters ramp up efforts to catch out unsuspecting members of the public.

“Scammers prey on people wanting to find a good deal online – whether that’s cheap flights, great hotels close to the beach at discounted rates or package holidays that undercut well-known travel operators and brands, people are more than willing to snap up a deal which sometimes comes at a heavy cost.

“When booking a holiday here or abroad, it’s important to do your research before handing over any money and to double check any website. To avoid the wave of crime this summer we encourage people to stop, check and research before paying. If it sounds too good to be true – it most definitely is.”

Anna Bowles, Head of Consumers and Enforcement at the UK Civil Aviation Authority, which runs the ATOL financial protection scheme, said:

"Before booking any trip abroad it is always worth doing some homework before you part with any money to make sure you limit your risk of being impacted by fraud. Make sure you research the company you're booking through - check reviews and ensure that your booking includes all the extras you're expecting, such as baggage allowance and transfers.

“We also recommend some simple measures to financially protect your well-earned holiday, including using the atol.org website to check your trip is financially protected by ATOL, consider paying by credit card and taking out travel insurance as soon as you book. This will add extra layers of protection against anything going wrong with your booking.”

Data revealed that the top 10 hotspots of people being caught out by holiday fraud in the UK were as follows: London, West Midlands, Greater Manchester, Thames Valley, West Yorkshire, Hampshire, Essex, Sussex. Avon and Somerset and Kent.

Interestingly, People in their 20s and 40s who reported losses accounted for 44 per cent of all reports, further dispelling the myth that only older people are targeted by fraudsters.

Holiday fraud encompasses many different tactics employed by criminals to dupe unsuspecting members of the public. The most frequent frauds are clone comparison websites, airline websites and holiday websites.

At a quick glance it would appear you are on a trusted site, whereas in reality the URL has been changed. Here, victims assume they are on the genuine site and willingly hand over money at a great cost.

Fake confirmation emails or booking references are even sent, which has resulted in some cases of victims only realising they have fallen victim to fraud when they are at the airport to check in for their flight to be told that their booking does not exist.

An emerging trend is fraudsters using counterfeit Air Travel Organisers’ Licensing (ATOL) protect numbers on their fake webpage. All credible and trusted companies are provided with a number that shows the company has passed the regulatory checks by ATOL, with this number being unique to the website. Recently, fake websites have used duplicate or fabricated numbers which have been edited onto an ATOL logo.

ATOL recommends double checking all numbers on websites and with travel operators before handing over any money. If you do pay, use a credit card as this can offer greater protection should you lose your money.

Top tips to avoid falling victim to holiday fraud

Do your own research: Booking your trip via a company you haven’t used before? Do some research to check they're legitimate. Read feedback from sources that you trust, such as consumer websites. You can find a company’s official website by searching for them on Google or another trusted search engine.

Look for the logo: Check whether the company is an ABTA Member.
https://www.abta.com/abta-member-search
Look for the ABTA logo on the company's website. If you have any doubts, you can verify membership of ABTA online on their website. If you're booking a flight as part of a package holiday and want more information about ATOL protection, or would like to check whether a company is an ATOL holder, visit the ATOL
https://www.atol.org/about-atol/how-to-check-for-protection/
or CAA

website.

Pay safe: Book your holiday with a credit card, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases, and are obliged to refund you in certain circumstances.
https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/everyday-money/credit-and-purchases/how-youre-protected-when-you-pay-by-card?source=mas
Using a credit card (rather than a debit card) also means that if your payment details are stolen, your main bank account won’t be directly affected.

Secure your email: If your email is hacked, it could allow a criminal to access information about your holiday booking. Use 3 random words to create a strong password for your email that’s different to all your other passwords. If you’re offered 2-step verification to protect your email and social media accounts, always use it.

For a full list of tips to avoid becoming a victim of fraud, please visit https://www.atol.org/about-atol/how-to-check-for-protection/ or https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/planning-and-booking-a-holiday/how-avoid-travel-related-fraud.

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

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

Dear Resident,

Every time you use visit a website, send or receive a message or email, buy or book anything online, comment on a post, upload a photo or find directions on your phone, you’re adding to your digital footprint.

The internet provides many positive experiences, but we could probably all benefit from thinking more about the trail we leave online.

Your digital footprint is part of your online history and can potentially be seen by other people, or tracked and held in multiple databases, however careful you are with your privacy settings.

This month the Get Safe Online campaign considers what might happen as a result of your digital footprint, and provides tips and advice on what you can do to protect your digital trail. Please visit the following link for further information:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/digitalfootprint/?utm_source=nwemail&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=nwmay23

And attached is a leaflet for use and to share as helpful.

With kind regards,

the Get Safe Online team

In support of Operation Sceptre, the national week of action to reduce the threat of knife crime, we would like to remind residents that there are knife amnesty bins located around Buckinghamshire for you to safely dispose of your knives and bladed articles.

The bins are available to use all year round and you can dispose of your knives anonymously.

Knife amnesty bins are located in the following police stations:

- Aylesbury, Wendover Road, HP21 7LA
- High Wycombe, Queen Victoria Road, HP11 1BE
- Milton Keynes, 302 North Row, Witan Gate East, MK9 2DS

You can find alternative amnesty bins in the following public locations across Buckinghamshire:

- Aylesbury; Southcourt Baptist Church, Penn Road

- Milton Keynes; Westcroft Centre, Wimborne Crescent, Frank Moran Centre (West Bletchley), Melrose Avenue (West Bletchley)

Amnesty bins located in other areas of the Thames Valley are listed here.

https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/thames-valley/news/2023/may/08-05-2023/thames-valley-police-takes-part-in-spring-national-knife-amnesty--operation-sceptre/

Message Sent By
Emma Tarry
(Police, Communications Officer, Thames Valley)

Hartwell Nurseries in Aylesbury is hosting a driver safety event from the Older Drivers Forum on Thursday 18 May.

The Older Drivers Forum is about keeping mature motorists on the road safely for longer. Whether that’s giving practical and informative help and support to continue driving or pointing you in the right direction for an assessment to identify your driving needs – from wing mirror adapters to an elevated driving seat – they’re here to help.


The Older Drivers Forum is run by Hampshire Constabulary Road Safety Team and the Forum is a not-for-profit organisation made up of experts in road safety – from representatives from the emergency services to charities, local authorities and business specialising in keeping older people on the road.

For more information visit: https://olderdriversforum.com/

Emily Boneham
(Police, Campaigns Officer, Thames Valley)

As the country gears up for the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla, we will be supporting our communities to safely celebrate this historic occasion.

Chief Constable Jason Hogg said: “This is a significant moment for the country and it is a moment of huge pride for Thames Valley Police to once again be involved in such a historic moment.

“We have a rich history of policing Royal events across the Thames Valley and our officers and staff will work tirelessly to ensure the celebrations are safe and enjoyed by all.

“You will see an increased police presence at events over the Coronation weekend, notably in Windsor, including some armed officers. This is part of the many visible and not so visible security measures we are putting in place to keep people safe. If you see any of our teams while celebrating do come and say hello.

"On behalf of Thames Valley Police, I hope everyone taking part in the Coronation celebrations has an enjoyable weekend."

Read more about our plans on our website:
https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/thames-valley/news/2023/april/24-04-2023/thames-valley-police-supporting-their-majesties-coronation-celebrations/

Kind regards,

Message Sent By
Jack Duggan
(Police, Media Officer, Thames Valley)

"We have seen a 21% increase in the number of stalking offences resulting in a charge..."

Stalking Protection Orders (SPOs), court appearances, and formal actions have all increased in the past year, so how has Thames Valley Police achieved this increase in stalking outcomes and what does it all mean?

Victim safety and relentless perpetrator pursuit remains and will continue to be a top priority for Thames Valley Police. During National Stalking Awareness Week, we’re highlighting some of the good work that is ongoing in our response to stalking.

Find out more on the Thames Valley Police website:

https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/news/thames-valley/news/2023/april/24-04-2023/national-stalking-awareness-week/

Message Sent By
Emily Boneham
(Police, Campaigns Officer, Thames Valley)

If you are planning on buying tickets to an event this summer, take time to read Get Safe Online's advice on purchasing tickets online safely. Attached is a new leaflet on Ticket Fraud, whilst the below link provides the latest advice listed on our website:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/ticketfraud/?utm_source=nw&utm_medium=email

Whether it's cricket, tennis or a concert, however desperate you are, don’t buy tickets from anyone apart from official vendors, the box office or reputable fan reseller sites.

With best wishes,
the Get Safe Online team

This week, I had the immense privilege of commencing in the role as your Chief Constable for Thames Valley Police.

I take this honour incredibly seriously and I am fully committed to working and engaging with you, the public, to ensure Thames Valley Police protects our communities.

As the person responsible for keeping you safe, I feel it’s important that you should know a little bit about me. I’ve been in policing for 27 years and Thames Valley Police since 2016, most recently as Deputy Chief Constable.

I was inspired to join the police when I volunteered at The Gatehouse, a homeless charity in Oxford. Police were regularly called to incidents at the charity. The police officers I met on those occasions inspired me to join the service and I felt excited about the job that they did and the difference they made. I wanted to use their inspiration to give something back to my own community, so in 1995 I joined the police.

As your Chief Constable, I want to share my priorities with you. They are: supporting victims, fighting crime, and building trust and confidence amongst our communities.

Supporting Victims
As an emergency service our response will depend on the seriousness of the incident, and vulnerability of those involved, enabling us to prioritise the nearly two million reports that come into the force every year. We will strive to provide the best possible response and victims will always be at the centre of our service.

Fighting Crime
We will continue to focus on preventing and disrupting crime. However, when crimes do occur, we will pursue those responsible, with an emphasis on neighbourhood crime, tackling knife crime, acquisitive crime and violence against women and girls. 

Building Trust and Confidence
I know that trust in policing both nationally and internationally is low. Therefore, everyone in policing needs to take responsibility to build and maintain trust and confidence in the police. I take this responsibility extremely seriously, and although this will undoubtedly take time, we will work tirelessly to build trust through treating everyone with fairness and respect. It will be through having greater visibility within our communities, increased transparency and engagement with all of our communities that we can begin to make strides towards this. 

Finally, I want to take this opportunity to thank all our communities for your continued support.

Kind Regards,
Jason Hogg
Chief Constable
Thames Valley Police

Dear resident,

If you are thinking of buying or selling a car this spring, then take a read of Get Safe Online's latest advice on how to make sure you do so as safely as possible if doing so online. Tips from our team of experts can be seen here: https://www.getsafeonline.org/vehiclefraud/

Secondly, we are always keen to ensure our campaigns are as useful as possible. If you saw our recent online shopping campaign - https://www.getsafeonline.org/onlinebuying/?videoname=emily - we would be really grateful if you could take 2 minutes to complete our short survey: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/Y9X5SSC

With kind regards,

the Get Safe Online team

Message Sent By
Get Safe Online

Dear resident,

When you’re buying online, how confident are you that you’re dealing with a genuine seller and not a criminal? Or do you even think about it?

Many people believe that online shopping scams are easy to spot, with poor spelling or grammar, dodgy logos or unusual website or email addresses or phone numbers. However, this is now rarely the case, with scammers going to great lengths to earn your trust before cheating you out of your money. It’s upsetting at the best of times, but even worse when money’s tight.

Whether you're buying a car, clothes, or gifts online, help to safeguard yourself and your money by watching Get Safe Online's latest short video and reading on to discover our top tips:

https://www.getsafeonline.org/onlinebuying/?videoname=emily

With kind regards,

the Get Safe Online team

Thames Valley Police and Hampshire Constabulary’s Joint Operations Unit made more than 700 arrests across both force areas as part of Operation Holly.

From 1 December to 31 December, officers carried out targeted activity in order to stop drivers under the influence of drink and drugs.

Across both force areas, 737 arrests were made, with 451 of those being made in the Thames Valley alone. This is an increase of 24% compared to last year.

Of those arrests made, 283 were for drink driving and 168 for drug driving.

There was also a 42% increase in arrests of those aged under 25 on last year with the figure rising to 101.

Detective Chief Inspector Mike Bettington, of the Joint Operations Roads Policing Unit, said: “Operation Holly is carried out throughout the festive period every year and it’s disappointing to see that people are still getting behind the wheel when under the influence of drink and/or drugs.

“We see all too often the devastating consequences that can result from this behaviour and I am pleased that we have managed to make so many arrests and prevent the potential harm that can be caused by drink and drug drivers.

“Our priority is to make the roads safer for everyone and we’d ask the public to help us do this by challenging anyone you think may be about to drive having drank alcohol or used drugs.

“Even the smallest amount of alcohol or drugs can impact on your driving. It’s not worth the risk.”


Message Sent By
Caitlin Rosetti
(Police, Media Officer, Thames Valley)

I have just seen this Government information notice on Nextdoor.

Wildfire risk – share to help protect people and places. This is what a wildfire looks like.

Wildfires put people in danger and can devastate natural habitats.

With warm weather expected in parts of the country this week, the risk is increased.

You can reduce the risk through a few simple actions:

-Don’t light fires in the countryside
-Only have BBQs where signs allow, or better still – pack a picnic
-Take rubbish home with you

If you see a fire unattended in the countryside, note its location, get to a safe space and dial 999.

Take care this weekend by following the Countryside Code: https://www.nationaltrail.co.uk/en_GB/countrysidecode/?utm_campaign=coco_22&utm_medium=NE_organic&utm_source=Nextdoor.

There was a video of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service tackling a wildfire in Yateley, Hampshire (April 2022) that I am unable to share here, but this is similar.
https://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/local-news/yateley-common-fire-footage-shows-12881807

Amersham Missendens and Chalfonts - Neighbourhood Policing Quarterly Update
The Amersham, Chalfonts and Missendens Neighbourhood Team consists of:
INS Richard Vine, PS 3675 Darren Walsh, PC 6633 Matthew Carson, PC7844 Matthew Cumming.
Along with:
PCSO 8632 Jen Shraga and PCSO 9601 Charlotte Marsh covering the Chalfonts.
PCSO 7495 Lucy Groves and PCSO 9783 Chris Hinkley–Ging covering the Missendens.
PCSO 8882 Jacqueline Day and PCSO 9631 Kerry Clarke, covering Amersham.

The priorities for your Neighbourhood Policing Team (NHPT) are decided from the Policing Issues Panel. This steering group of local residents and representatives from organisations across the area allows us to hear what the community wants us to focus on and to consider how we can accomplish these aims. The top three priorities are chosen, every four months and are assumed by your Neighbourhood Policing Team. https://www.csb-forum.org/about

There is currently a number of changes happening within Thames Valley Police. Chiltern & South Bucks LPA will be merging with Wycombe LPA becoming South Buckinghamshire Police Area more in line with the council’s boundaries. The area will be commanded by Supt Emma Burroughs, with Chief Insp Gassan Shaladan as the deputy commander.

Inspector James Ellis will be assuming the role of leading Neighbourhood Policing across South Buckinghamshire.


Priorities from the PIP meeting on the 30th March 2022:

Priority 1; Serious Acquisitive Crime i.e. robbery, burglary, theft from, or of a motor vehicle
We did; Over the last quarter, there has been a considerable fall in the amount of burglaries. It is acknowleged that with many people working from home this has had an impact on the opportunities available to the burglar. Which goes to show the importance of basic crime reduction advice in giving the appearance that someone is at home.

With the changes in technology, keyless car crime is taking place and offenders no longer have to enter your house to steal your car or cars. Many of the public are still unaware of this risk.

Proactively we have carried on working with other departments and police forces in targeting travelling criminals and trying to deny them the use of the road. Dedicated operations in January and February saw us working with the new Rural Task Force, Herts Pol and Roads Policing units. This resulted in 3 arrests, 30 people being reported for various offences and 13 vehicles being taken off the roads.

Last year saw the launch of NHW Crime Reduction Advisors. They offer a free service where people who would like an impartial home assessment can speak to a trained volunteer about crime reduction advice. There has been a big uptake for this service. Victims of burglary will be offered such a visit.


Top tips
1; Use your garage - if you have one and it is not stuffed with the garden furniture, the treadmill that never got used, the roll of left over carpet (just in case)
2; Keep your keys safe. Get yourself a Faraday Pouch. For a fiver this blocks the keys signals
3; Keys - can you turn the signal off - some models do allow for this. Check your manual.
4; Consider a steering lock. Yes I know we thought we got rid of these in the 90's - but they do work as criminals come equipped to steal with technology rather that tools.

Dwelling Burglaries
2021 2022 Change
Amersham 8 8 0%
Chalfonts 5 9 80%
Chesham 7 4 -43%
Missendens 3 1 -67%

Shed/Garage breaks
2021 2022 Change
Amersham 3 3 0%
Chalfonts 1 1 0%
Chesham 5 3 -40%
Missendens 3 3 0%


Business Burglaries
2021 2022 Change
Amersham 0 3
Chalfonts 2 2 0%
Chesham 5 2 -60%
Missendens 5 1 -80%

Theft of Motor Vehicle
2021 2022 Change
Amersham 1 5 400%
Chalfonts 13 14 8%
Chesham 7 5 -29%
Missendens 3 2 -33%



Theft from motor vehicle
2021 2022 Change
Amersham 18 9 -50%
Chalfonts 10 10 0%
Chesham 22 15 -32%
Missendens 9 5 -44%


Robbery
2021 2022 Change
Amersham 1 0 -100%
Chalfonts 0 0
Chesham 1 3 200%
Missendens 1 0 -100%

Figures Jan – Mar 22


Priority 2; SPEEDING
We did;
Community Speedwatch schemes are currently running in Chalfont St Peter, Missenden, Prestwood, Holmer Green and Kingshill areas and I anticipate that Amersham, Chesham Bois and Little Chalfont will have schemes in operation shortly.
A further advancement in the CSW Community Speedwatch schemes website https://communityspeedwatch.org comes into fruition this month. This system will allow CSW Schemes to directly import information without having to wait for an administrator to input it, will include training and recording of sites. The PCC, Matt Barber has secured funding, enabling short-term loan start-up kits for new areas that are waiting for funds being available to purchase equipment. These will be available, on a loan period of up to 6 months only, once loaned you cannot request to loan again. This will enable other teams starting up in the TVP area to get started as soon as possible. These devices will be available as soon as they arrive from the suppliers.
A few TVP Speedwatch results:
413 sites approved across TVP.
635 people who have joined new TVP CSW scheme.
735 roadside sessions in hours.
2057 operator hours across TVP.
Percentage of non-reoffenders after receiving 1st letter = 95.20%
Operation Glare: In the last quarter, the following locations were targeted, by police, for enhanced checks:
Cokes Lane and Bell Lane in Little Chalfont, Austenwood Lane and Kingsway in Chalfont St Peter, Narcot Lane and Vache Lane in Chalfont St Giles.
A404 Chenies, Copperkins Lane, Whielden Street, Highland Road, Clifton Road in Amersham.
Church Road in Penn, High Street in Prestwood, Browns Road in Holmer Green, Martinsend Lane in Missenden.
As a result of these enforcements 47 people were issues with speeding tickets.

Speed Cameras in Chiltern
Our Road Safety vans and fixed cameras provide enforcement and a visual deterrent across the JOU. The aim of the enforcement we carryout is to help support you to reduce the speed of traffic, making the roads safer for all road users, and reduce the risk of injury, collisions and casualties in your district.

Figures from the Road Safety Mobile and Speed Enforcement Team advised, that between Jan-Feb 2022 387 offences were captured by the mobile speed cameras whilst 115 offences were captured by fixed cameras.

Priority 3; ASB
We did; Drug use is a common cause of ASB. PCSO led operation to identify and target drug dealers resulted in dealer being detained a large number of drugs being recovered in Chalfont St Peter. An offensive weapon was later found in the subsequent house search. Targeted house to house ‘Have your says’, in problem areas, has resulted in a number of people feeling confident to come forward and discuss with us concerns and observations. The team has also been able to promote our NHW groups. We aim to make life as uncomfortable as possible for any would be gangs so that we can protect our community.

In Amersham we are currently assisting Paradigm Housing in case where resident is continuously smoking a noxious substance effecting the neighbours. This has led to resident being served notice. We will work with our partners in securing evidence and improving the community. We will also be looking at focusing our attention on a number of blocks of flats where there are a disproportionate amount of calls and crime.

In a bid to try and reduce future ASB we will be working with Evolve Boxing Academy and The Amersham School, Dr Challoners Grammar and High Schools. Supported by Buckinghamshire Council. “Evolving through Boxing” places will be offered to selected children as a reward, to build confidence or for youths who would benefit from mentoring. Similar schemes in Milton Keynes resulted in a lot of positive feedback. We are looking for this to be rolled out next school year.

Most of our current workload within the Anti-Social Behaviour category stems from neighbour disputes. This issue continues to grow and demand seems to be higher at this time. Some of the work that the team are currently dealing with include noise disturbances, arguments, cannabis smells and drug using, inconsiderate parking, boundary disputes, hate crimes and allegations of harassment. We continue to work with our partners as a multi-agency in order to solve these issues. Partners include housing, environmental health and mediation charities.

Another issue is with graffiti in the Chalfonts. We are currently investigating a number of sprayed emblems on road signs. Enquiries are ongoing and I will look to have an update on this for the next report.

Have Your Say meetings
We will be running a HYS van and giving crime prevention advice on the following dates:

13/04 – C9783 Chris HINKLEY-GING & C8882 Jacqueline DAY
Holmer Green Shops, Brown Road – 0930-1030
Chesham High Street – 1100-1200
The Green on the High Street, Chalfont St Giles – 1300-1400

17/05 – C9601 Charlotte MARSH & C7495 Lucy GROVES
19/06 – C9631 Kerry CLARKE & C8632 Jennifer SHRAGA

Locations and timings to be confirmed and will be advertised on the www.csb-forum.org.


Offenders Brought to Justice
Offences from the 1st Jan 22. This does not include persons who are currently under investigation.

Amersham
Person given a caution for possession of Class A drugs
Person given restorative disposal for Cannabis
Person given restorative disposals for Cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for Assault
Person given restorative disposal for Assault
Person given restorative disposals for Drugs
Person given a conditional caution for Cannabis
Person given a conditional caution for Disclosing a private sexual act
Person given restorative disposal for dangerous dog out of control
Person given a conditional caution for harassment

Chalfonts
Person given restorative disposal for possession of a knife (self harm)
Person charged with 5 thefts from motor vehicles
Person given restorative disposal for assaults
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given restorative disposal for public order
Person given restorative disposal for cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for sending a malicious communication


Missendens
Person given restorative disposal for Cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for Assault
Person given restorative disposal for Abstracting electricity
Person given restorative disposal for Criminal damage
Person given restorative disposal for Assault
Person given restorative disposal for Assault
Person given restorative disposal for Assault
Person given a caution for Assault
Person given restorative disposal for ABH
Person given restorative disposal for Cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for Cannabis
Person given a conditional caution for Assault
Person reported for Publishing indecent images


Rural Crime
Rural Crime. Last month 46 visits were carried out to our farms in an effort to get them signed up to our Country Watch Scheme and to discuss ways to improve security at rural locations.

Already we are seeing that the Rural Crime Taskforce visiting our area and assisting us in trying to target rural crime. Several days of action last month resulted in all plant machinery being moved being stopped and checks carried out to see if it was stolen. Our aim is to make the Chilterns one of the most hostile areas for criminals who are driving through our areas.


Social media
We ask our readers to consider subscribing to our Thames Valley Alerts, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk ‘TV Alerts’ allow the subscriber to filter the subject matter which is of relevance to them, and only requires an email address to begin receiving local policing information.

Our “Twitter” feed @tvp_chiltsbucks will show you what the policing team are doing, will provide crime prevention information, witness appeals and “Good Result” stories. The Facebook group TVPChilternandSouthBucks will provide the same information as Twitter but seems to be the preferred social media site used by the public.

We do not take reports of crime via social media and we do not see comments placed into personal social media groups. To report crime online visit https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/

Stay safe out there and keep your eyes peeled.

Sergeant Darren Walsh

Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

Our research shows two thirds (67%) of people are worried about their home being broken into, yet there are simple, proven measures we can all take to reduce our chances of becoming a victim of burglary by up to 50%.

To help you be and feel safer at home, we are running our Think WIDE(N) burglary prevention campaign (1st-31st March), highlighting the simple, evidence-based WIDE measures which can be taken in any home on a variety of budgets.

At Neighbourhood Watch, we also believe neighbours keeping an eye out for each other is key to reducing burglary, so we've extended the WIDE acronym to WIDE(N):

W: WINDOWS: Keep your windows locked
I: INTERIOR: Put inside lights on a timer/smart bulb
D: DOORS: Double or deadlock your doors
E: EXTERIOR: Put outside lights on a sensor
(N): NEIGHBOURS: Keep an eye out for your neighbours

To learn more about WIDE(N) and burglary prevention measures, visit ourwatch.org.uk/thinkwiden.

John Hayward-Cripps, CEO of Neighbourhood Watch Network, said 'It is not okay for two-thirds of people to fear being burgled. More needs to be done to help people be and feel safer, and when it comes to burglary, prevention is always better than cure. Since 1982 we have been supporting communities to feel and be safer. We know that by securing your home's windows, interior, doors, exterior and keeping an eye out for neighbours, we can all give ourselves the best chance of not being burgled. If you have been burgled recently, criminals are familiar with your home and may come back once you've had time to purchase new items. Act soon to avoid being retargeted - use the WIDE(N) advice for a combination of simple yet effective prevention measures.'

We have joined forces with our longstanding primary smart security partner, ERA Home Security, to bring their expertise to our Think WIDE(N) burglary prevention campaign. We are excited to invite you to some events this month:

WEBINAR: WHAT DOES SMART SECURITY MEAN FOR MY HOME? 10th March, 5-6pm delivered in partnership with ERA – booking opening soon on ourwatch.org.uk/webinars.
ASK THE EXPERTS DAY: 16th March on our Facebook / Twitter / Instagram channels – an opportunity to learn more and discuss burglary prevention live with ERA experts and Neighbourhood Watch

Member discount
In addition, as a thank you for your continued support of Neighbourhood Watch, ERA is offering a discount of 10% off all alarm kits using the code NHW2022. Click here to take advantage of this special offer. https://h5ur1diw1a1ak5zf-59175633074.shopifypreview.com/pages/burglary-campaign?view=burglary-campaign
Take advantage of this offer by 31st March 2022.


If you have any questions or feedback regarding the campaign, please email enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk.

Kind regards

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349

Message Sent By
Central Support Team (NWN, Neighbourhood Watch Network, England and Wales).

Message to all Country Parks Parking Permit Holders…

All Buckinghamshire Country Parks (including all car parks) will be closed on Friday 18th February due to the arrival of Storm Eunice and the extreme winds forecast. The parks aim to re-open from 10am on Saturday (at the earliest) subject to safety inspections being completed. We strongly advise you not to try to enter the parks during this period for your own safety.

Please be aware that the sites will only reopen when we are happy that there is no risk to staff and visitors.

Kind regards

Buckinghamshire Country Parks Team

Communities Directorate

Buckinghamshire Council

01753 511060

countryparks@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

The Countryside Centre, Black Park Country Park, Black Park Road, Wexham, Buckinghamshire, SL3 6DS

Hello Everyone,
Covid infections were at their peak a couple of weeks ago and had been steadily reducing since. However we are now seeing another increase due to lifting of restrictions, children returning to school and the emergence of a slightly different version of Omicron.
It is not a new variant but a different ‘subtype.’ We all know by now that the more a virus is given a chance to spread the greater the risk of it evolving and mutating. The Omicron Covid-19 variant has so far four different subtypes identified: BA.1 (the original), BA.2, BA.3 and BA1.1. The main differences are in the spike protein that poke out of its surface and allow the virus to latch on and enter human cells. BA.2 is now growing rapidly and in Denmark and parts of South Africa it is already the dominant strain having overtaken the original Omicron (BA.1).
Studies suggest that BA.2 is over 40% more infectious than the BA.1 but does not seem to cause more severe disease. In the UK this new subtype of Omicron is spreading fast and at the moment accounts for about 8% of cases. It is doubling every 4 days and will probably become the dominant Covid virus in the next 2-3 weeks which means that more people will become infected in the current Omicron wave. So just as Delta displaced Alpha and Omicron displaced Delta so BA.2 will displace Omicron.
The vaccines are still effective against it – especially if you’ve had the booster as well. In the US BA.1 seems to be being rapidly replaced by BA.1.1 in some states and BA.2 in others. The good news is that because these subtypes are quite similar having had one will also give some natural immunity to the other. So if you have had Omicron (BA.1) already you are very unlikely to get anything more than very mild symptoms (if at all) from BA.2.
We also know that infection with Delta does not provide much protection against Omicron but having Omicron infection gives you good protection against Delta which is probably why Delta is fading fast. This is really good news because Delta causes much more serious illness and deaths than Omicron. Some people will say why not just wait for ‘natural immunity’ from an infection and not have the vaccine. Well the biggest advantage of having the vaccines is that they cover a much broader range of Covid variants whereas natural immunity will usually only cover the one that you were infected with - apart from Omicron/Delta as mentioned above.
As a society we still have to be pretty careful and need to be mindful of spreading the virus – it can still cause serious illness and death in certain groups of vulnerable patients. We are also getting more children affected with it. This is probably because it is so contagious and so many children are being affected that even a small percentage who get the virus turns out to be a big number who end up ill and sometimes in hospital. The main symptoms are just like having a bad cold so: runny nose, fever, headache, tiredness, muscular aches and pains, sore throat, persistent cough, hoarse voice and a reduced sense of smell.
So why does Omicron seem to give less severe disease than Delta? It is thought that Omicron affects the lower respiratory tract less than Delta and so causes less inflammation and likelihood of pneumonia. However it does affect the upper airways which is why some children under 5 years get symptoms of croup – a barking cough, often worse at night.
Most people will make a good recovery within a few weeks but we do know that there are over 1.3 million people in the UK suffering from Long Covid – many of these are children. Data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) seems to indicate that people who are double vaccinated are much less likely to report Long Covid – however at present this only covers Long Covid from Delta – its too early to tell how many people will get this from Omicron. One of the main effects of Long Covid is breathlessness – especially on exercise. Chest XRs and even CT scans don’t seem to show much up and both doctors and patients have been frustrated at the lack of any obvious changes.
However a new technique called Xenon gas inhalation MRI is being developed. Xenon acts like oxygen when inhaled – so it should transfer from the lungs into the bloodstream quite smoothly. However MRIs of certain patients whilst they are inhaling Xenon seems to indicate that some areas of the lungs just don’t work properly and do not allow Xenon/oxygen to flow. No one yet knows what the solution is – most people just seem to make a slow recovery with supportive help such as respiratory physiotherapy. At least now more research is being done to help the many more people who are and will be affected with Long Covid.
Now that Covid has been with us over 2 years some politicians are starting to mention the word ‘endemic.’ This means that the infection is constantly maintained at a baseline level - it usually implies a steady state without large peaks. So chickenpox and the common cold are endemic in the UK but Covid is certainly not. As long as Omicron and other variants are causing massive illness -however mild - and as long as this overburdens the healthcare sector then it cannot be called endemic. Omicron is less severe than Delta but being much more contagious is still leading to a significant number of hospital admissions and deaths. The speed of its spread and of the new BA.2 could also hasten the emergence of new more deadly variants.
So we are still in a pandemic but it will end at some point – all pandemics do. Some scientists think that the emergence of Omicron and its dominance over Delta maybe the first step towards this pandemic fading. So as always we need to continue to protect ourselves and our communities by:
· Wearing masks when appropriate eg when using public transport or shopping.
· Avoiding the three Cs:
o Closed spaces with poor ventilation
o Crowded places with many people nearby
o Close-contact settings such as close-range conversations
The risk of getting Covid is particularly high when all ‘three Cs’ overlap
· Getting fully vaccinated:
o The best way to protect yourself and prevent spread is get your two jabs then a booster.
o Having the booster gives much better protection against Omicron than just 2 jabs. You can get the booster 3 months after your 2ndjab. Vaccination may also improve your immunity against other variants that might come along in the future.
o Being fully vaccinated means that you are 8 x less likely to end up in hospital than someone who is unvaccinated.
o Being fully vaccinated means that you have much less chance of getting Long Covid which has serious long term effects which can be life-changing.
o Pregnancy changes your immune system and makes you more likely to become seriously ill with Covid. Vaccination is the best protection.
In rich developed countries we are lucky to have great vaccination programmes, testing facilities and medical care which help protect us and our loved ones. Unfortunately in poorer countries vaccination rates are still extremely low and Covid is running rampant in many areas. This will allow the virus to mutate and spread…eventually back to us with possibly another nasty variant. Let’s hope politicians, doctors and drug companies all over the world can work together to give everyone a chance for a vaccine. As the World Health Organisation has said before ‘No one is safe until we are all safe.’

Burnham Vaccination News:
We are continuing to offer Covid vaccinations at Burnham Health Centre. These appointments can be accessed via the National Booking Service by searching "book a Covid vaccination" on the internet. We are mainly running clinics on Monday afternoon/ evenings. We will soon be inviting our "at risk" 5–11 year-old children. Appointments can also be made at Salt Hill Vaccination Centre.
Stay Safe Everyone
Bye for now
Dr M Tanvir Jamil
Senior Partner
Burnham Health Centre

The changes will be made to The Highway Code from 29 January 2022.

There are changes in 8 important areas:

introducing a new hierarchy of road users
crossing the road at junctions
walking, cycling or riding in shared spaces
positioning in the road when cycling
overtaking when driving or cycling
cycling at junctions
people cycling, riding horses and driving horse-drawn vehicles on roundabouts
parking, charging and leaving vehicles

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-highway-code-8-changes-you-need-to-know-from-29-january-2022?utm_source=dvsa&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=dvsa-direct

The Amersham, Chalfonts and Missendens Neighbourhood Team consists of:
INS Richard Vine, PS 3675 Darren Walsh, PC 6633 Matthew Carson, PC7844 Matthew Cumming.
Along with:
PCSO 4233 Lucy Sandford and PCSO 8632 Jen Shraga covering the Chalfonts.
PCSO 7495 Lucy Groves and PCSO 9783 Chris Hinkley–Ging covering the Missendens.
PCSO 8882 Jacqueline Day, PCSO 9601 Charlotte Marsh and PCSO 9631 Kerry Clarke, covering Amersham.

The priorities for your Neighbourhood Policing Team (NHPT) are decided from the Policing Issues Panel. This steering group of local residents and representatives from organisations across the area allows us to hear what the community wants us to focus on and to consider how we can accomplish these aims. The top three priorities are chosen, every four months and are assumed by your Neighbourhood Policing Team. https://www.csb-forum.org/about

Priorities from the PIP meeting on the 29th November 2021:

Priority 1; Serious Acquisitive Crime i.e. robbery, burglary, theft from, or of a motor vehicle
We did;
Criminals are changing how they work. With changes in technology, offenders no longer have to enter your house to steal a car. Keyless car crime has become a huge problem with many of the public unaware of the risks. The team has been giving out crime reduction advice almost daily via, meetings, visits, social media, and through Neighbourhood Watch. Our annual Peak Seasonal Trend Analysis Operation took place in October to raise awareness of current crime themes. Identified areas received crime reduction events to raise awareness.

My team has been proactively working with other departments and police forces in targeting travelling criminals aiming to deny them the use of the roads in Chiltern & South Bucks. There has been excellent results in disrupting a variety of crimes. In the last 3 months 21 people were arrested, 22 people reported and 15 cars were taken off the road as a result of our operations. The message we want to send out to criminals is that if you come into C&SB there is a high chance you will be caught and punished.

Since the start of the COVID Pandemic, we have seen a huge reduction in the amount of Burglaries across our area and has continued since restrictions eased. This goes to show that burglars do not like to target properties when someone is likely to be at home due to a heightened chance they will be caught. This echoes the basic advice of make it look like someone is at home to reduce being a victim.

One of our Force priorities is to have a 15% reduction in residential burglary. Year to year I can report there were 39 such incidents in Amersham a 37% reduction, 26 in the Chalfonts a 61% reduction and 10 in the Missendens a 60 % reduction.

Robbery thankfully is not a common offence. In the last 12 months there have been 3 offences in the Missendens, 2 in the Chalfonts and 6 in Amersham. This equates to a 54% decrease in Amersham, a 33% decrease in the Chalfonts but a 200% increase in the Missendens due to 1 offence the year before.

Theft of Motor Vehicle. In the last 12 months 20 offences occurred in Amersham a 38% reduction, 51 in the Chalfonts a 38% rise and 10 in the Missendens a 17% reduction.

Theft from Motor Vehicle. Figures show there were 61 offences in Amersham a 31% reduction, 57 offences in the Chalfonts a 19% reduction and 22 offences in the Missendens a 5% gain.

The reduction figures are good news for the area. COVID no doubt has had an effect with more people working from home reducing opportunities available to thieves. This goes to show the importance of giving the appearance that someone is at home.


Priority 2; SPEEDING
We did;
Community Speedwatch schemes are currently running in Chalfont St Peter, Missenden, Prestwood, Holmer Green and Kingshill areas and I anticipate that Amersham, Chesham Bois and Little Chalfont will have schemes in operation shortly.
We want to expand the scheme to other areas and will be working with local parishes and volunteer groups to create new groups. An advancement in the CSW scheme’s website came into fruition last month. The system allows CSW members to import information without the need for an administrator. The system also has on-line training and a record of sites. This will make it easier for new members to join and members to manage their schemes.
I would like to add a special thanks to all the volunteers who do go out in the cold and to our Police Support Volunteer Mr Grover who give up their time to help support these schemes.
Operation Glare
In the last quarter, the following locations were targeted, by police, for enhanced checks:
Amersham Road, Bell Lane, Elizabeth Avenue, Cokes Lane in Little Chalfont, and, Austenwood Lane, Denham Lane and Kingsway in Chalfont St Peter.

Speed Cameras in Chiltern
Our Road Safety vans and fixed cameras provide enforcement and a visual deterrent across the JOU. The aim of the enforcement we carryout is to help support you to reduce the speed of traffic, making the roads safer for all road users, and reduce the risk of injury, collisions and casualties in your district.

Figures from the Road Safety Mobile and Speed Enforcement Team advised, that between Sept – Nov 867 offences were captured by the mobile speed cameras whilst 907 offences were captured by fixed cameras.
Priority 3; ASB
We did;
TVP’s more robust attitude towards cannabis will have an effect on those caught in possession of cannabis. They will now be required to complete a drugs awareness course.
Chalfont St Peter has had issues with public order and criminal damage. Mental Health frequently plays a part in people’s behaviours and we are currently working on finding solutions in several cases. These cases require intervention from a number of agencies to try to achieve an acceptable outcome and to get people the support that they need. However, this is not a get out of jail free card and we will still seek charges, when appropriate, and look for court orders off the back of convictions.
Targeted house visits in problem areas, to discuss concerns with residents, resulted in a number of people coming forward to discuss their concerns and observations. This led to drug dealers and their properties being identified. Such visits took place in Prestwood, Chalfont St Peter, Chalfont St Giles, Amersham and Holmer Green. This course of action has assisted our Stronghold Team in obtaining warrants and recovering drugs at a number of locations. The team has also been able to promote our NHW groups; getting a group set up in The Bramblings in Amersham following reports of ASB. We aim to make life as uncomfortable as possible for any would be gangs or criminals so that we can protect our community.
Most of our current workload within the Anti-Social Behaviour category stems from neighbour disputes. This issue continues to grow and demand seems to be higher at this time. Some of the work that the team are currently dealing with include noise disturbances, arguments, cannabis smells and drug use, inconsiderate parking, boundary disputes, hate crimes and allegations of harassment. We continue to work with our partners in a multi-agency approach to solve issues and hold people to account.

Have Your Say meetings
We will be running a HYS van and giving crime prevention advice on the following dates:
07/02/22 – Market Square Chalfont St Peter and a joint meeting with members of Bucks Council in Amersham. Times to be updated on Forum Website.
Come and meet C8632 Jen SHRAGA, C9631 Kerry CLARKE and C9783 Chris HINKLEY-GING.
23/03/22 – Tesco in Amersham, Peterley Manor in Prestwood and Holy Trinity Church in Seer Green
Come and meet C7495 Lucy GROVES, C9601 Charlotte MARSH and P7844 Matt CUMMING.

Other News

Violence Against Women
In the current climate with a heavy focus on violence against women and girls (VAWG), this is a joint venture with Richard who will teach the classes, with the support of Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) and Thames Valley Police (TVP) who will provide crime prevention advice and support after the classes, so in a nutshell the plan is:

• Free self-defence classes for females at LITTLE CHALFONT PARISH HALL
o 11:00 - 12:30 hours on Saturday 22/01/2022
o 11:00 - 12:30 hours on Saturday 05/02/2022

• Participants 16+ years old
• Advance booking required Email: rmross0404@googlemail.com

• Up to 40 participants per class, with 1 class per person (reserve lists will be maintained)

• Crime prevention advice and support / Q&A session with local police officers after the classes

N.B. Any persons who attend the sessions will be required to complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) on attendance/can complete and email it ahead of the class.


Offenders Brought to Justice
Offences from the 1st October 21. This does not include persons who are currently under investigation.

Amersham
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given restorative disposal for public order
Person given restorative disposals for drugs
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given a caution for criminal damage
Person given restorative disposals for drugs
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given a conditional caution for criminal damage
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person charged for drug possession
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person charged for possession of a knife

Chalfonts
Person given restorative disposal for dog bite
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given restorative disposal for assault
Person given restorative disposal for public order
Person given restorative disposal for cannabis
Person charged for public order

Missendens
5 people given restorative disposal for cannabis
Person given restorative disposal for harassment

Rural Crime
Thames Valley Polices Rural Crime Taskforce is now operational. Already their work has resulted in a large amount of plant machinery being recovered. I’ll be looking to utilise their resources on our areas to further combat criminals coming into the Chilterns targeting our residents. Throughout the coming year we will be completing seasonal rural crime reduction campaigns with the focus on landowners target hardening their property. Reviewing 2021 figures showed a 200% increase in this type of crime. A further breakdown across the Chiltern Area showed there were 20 burglaries, 34 criminal damages, 7 arsons. Another incident that is occurring regularly is hare coursing. This activity normally results in damage to gates and farmers land, trespassing and cruelty to animals. If you see suspicious activity, at night, please call it in for us to check out.

From the last Policing Forum it clear how much of a concern Fly-tipping is in the community. The police will be supporting Bucks Councils Waste Enforcement Team in disrupting offenders. Two people are being prosecuted, by the Councils Enforcement Team, for separate incidents, following our patrols catching them in the act.


Social media
We ask our readers to consider subscribing to our Thames Valley Alerts, Facebook and Twitter accounts.

www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk ‘TV Alerts’ allow the subscriber to filter the subject matter which is of relevance to them, and only requires an email address to begin receiving local policing information.

Our “Twitter” feed @tvp_chiltsbucks will show you what the policing team are doing, will provide crime prevention information, witness appeals and “Good Result” stories. The Facebook group TVPChilternandSouthBucks will provide the same information as Twitter but seems to be the preferred social media site used by the public.

We do not take reports of crime via social media and we do not see comments placed into personal social media groups. To report crime online visit https://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/ro/report/

Stay safe out there and keep your eyes peeled.

Sergeant Darren Walsh


Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

Message sent on behalf of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley.

The Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley, Matthew Barber, has launched an online survey seeking views on the budget for Thames Valley Police for 2022/23.
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90415648/Council-Tax-Survey-2022-23

On 16 December, the Home Office announced the funding settlement for police forces across the country for the next financial year. In Thames Valley, this means an additional £15.5m in Government grant to pay for a further increase of 244 police officers (including 13 for the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit, SEROCU) next year. The increase in officers is part of the national uplift programme that will see 20,000 additional officers across the country by March 2023. In the Thames Valley, we have already seen the positive effects of recruitment with more police officers than a decade ago and, in addition to the Home Office funded recruitment, Police & Crime Commissioner, Matthew Barber, is seeking to fund additional future growth to ensure that police officer numbers increase in-line with our population.

Despite the increase in funding from government, there continue to be cost pressures on the Force, and the public rightly expect to see improving performance in order to keep us all safe and bring criminals to justice. Alongside the funding from the Home Office, the Government has also allowed Police & Crime Commissioners to increase council tax by up to £10 (for a Band D property) in order to make additional investments in policing. This monetary increase is called a precept. There are eight council tax bands but nationally Band D properties are used as the benchmark. In Thames Valley, that means that for less than 20p a week for the average household, more than £9m could be invested in frontline policing.

Earlier this year, Matthew Barber published his Police & Criminal Justice Plan which sets out the following priorities for Thames Valley Police:
https://www.thamesvalley-pcc.gov.uk/police-and-crime-plan/

• Strong local policing – recruiting more police officers, supporting neighbourhood policing teams and focussing on local crimes such as vehicle crime, burglaries and anti-social behaviour. Ensuring that we protect victims of domestic abuse and ensure that everyone can feel safe on our streets

• Fighting organised crime – tackling county-lines drugs gangs that exploit young people and drive serious violence in our communities

• Tackling cyber crime and fraud – ensuring that the police and other agencies are equipped to protect you and your family from scams and fraud

• Improving the criminal justice system – bringing more criminals to justice, bringing more cases of domestic abuse, sexual assault and rapes to court and reducing reoffending

• Tackling illegal encampments – ensuring the police and local authorities take a firm but fair approach


Launching the survey, Matthew Barber said: “As your Police and Crime Commissioner, I am committed to ensuring that your police precept is spent wisely and delivers best value for money. I am committed to ensuring effective spending across policing, to ensure we employ the maximum number of police officers possible. By giving us your feedback, you can help shape decisions about police funding and how Thames Valley Police can continue to work to keep us all safe.
 
“In previous years, the support of local tax payers through their council tax has meant that we have managed to reduce the time it takes for the police to answer non-urgent 101 calls; to significantly increase detection rates, meaning that more victims of crime receive justice and more criminals are held to account; and creating dedicated rural crime taskforce.
 
“It is important that if there is any increase in council tax now, at a time when many families are struggling and costs are rising, it is focussed on frontline policing to tackle the concerns of the public. I am proud of the work done by Thames Valley Police Officers, PCSOs, staff and volunteers every single day, but with more investment, there is more that could be done.

“Final decisions on council tax and budget priorities will be made at the end of January, and by contributing your views now you can help play your part in shaping how Thames Valley Police continues to improve and tackle crime across our communities.”

You can complete the Council Tax Precept Survey 2022-2023 online and have your say on the budget for Thames Valley Police. The survey is open for your feedback until 5pm on Tuesday 18 January 2022.
https://survey.alchemer.eu/s3/90415648/Council-Tax-Survey-2022-23
 

Message Sent By
Emma Tarry (Police, Communications Officer, Thames Valley)

Why are software updates important?

Software updates are an important part of staying secure online. But why? You’ll often hear about the new features or performance improvements in a software update, but what isn’t talked about as often are the bug fixes and security improvements. Out-of-date software and apps contain weaknesses. This makes them easier to hack. Companies fix the weaknesses by releasing updates. When you update your devices and software, this helps to keep hackers out.

Why would cyber criminals target me?

Your device contains a lot of personal data that is highly valuable if it fell into the hands of a fraudster. The likelihood is your device will contain your full name, date of birth, address, bank details, passwords, as well as many other forms of personal data such as private photos or videos.

Improve your online security by using automatic software updates

We understand it can sometimes be annoying to remember to update your devices every time a new update is released, that’s why we encourage you to enable automatic updates wherever it’s available. That means you don’t have to manually install updates every time they’re released. 

We’ve provided some useful links below where you can find step by step instructions on how to enable automatic updates for your devices and apps.

• Apple - Mac (opens in a new tab)
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT202180

• Apple - iPhone and iPad (opens in a new tab)
https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT204204

• Microsoft Windows 10 (opens your MS settings)
http://ms-settings:windowsupdate/

• Windows 7 is no longer supported. You should upgrade to Windows 10

• Android smartphones and tablets (opens in a new tab)
https://support.google.com/android/answer/7680439?hl=en-GB

• Android apps (opens in a new tab)
https://support.google.com/googleplay/answer/113412?hl=en-GB

 
For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: www.cyberaware.gov.uk
 
Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.

 

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

Festive greetings!

As 2021 draws to a close, we reflect on the year gone by. Communities across England and Wales have once again faced significant challenges and losses, and we want to thank every single person who has stepped up and supported their neighbours, loved ones, and colleagues throughout the year. Every small act makes a difference, especially in difficult times.

Acknowledging the amazing neighbourly spirit that has helped us weather the last 2 years, in September we launched the NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR 2021 AWARDS with Co-op Insurance, including three categories of NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR, YOUNG NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR and COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR. We were blown away by the number of people who have gone out of their way to do all they can to care for others over the past year. In case you missed it on BBC One’s Morning Live on Monday morning, we are delighted to announce the winners of this year’s NEIGHBOUR OF THE YEAR AWARDS in partnership with Co-op Insurance. Please open the attached PDF to see the winners and hear their stories.

We are thrilled to be celebrating Neighbourhood Watch’s 40th Anniversary next year – and we want you to join us! In celebration of our rich past, present and future, we have a range of events planned throughout the year that we would love you to get involved with. We will update on these in January, but for now make sure you mark in your diary - Neighbourhood Watch Week 2022, with the theme of 40 YEARS - 40 ACTIONS between Monday 30th May – Sunday 5th June 2022.

It is thanks to our amazing volunteers throughout England and Wales that since the first scheme was set up in Mollington, Cheshire in 1982, we have continued to support communities and adapt to the ever-changing nature of crime. And we look forward to supporting communities for the next 40 years!

With many people facing isolation and loneliness again this season, we ask you to consider not who is my neighbour, but how is my neighbour, and support them how you can (always prioritising your own safety of course).

All the Central Support Team and I would like to wish you a safe and festive season and a Happy New Year!

Best wishes,

Thank you and see you in 2022!

John Hayward-Cripps,
CEO, NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349


Attachments
Neighbour of the Year Awards 2021 Winners.pdf - 7,150.8 KB
https://assets.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/Attachment/267516/409176/84655/84655_Neighbour_of_the_Year_Awards_2021_Winners.pdf

Message Sent By
Central Support Team (NWN, Neighbourhood Watch Network, England

Fake emails and text messages are a common tactic used by cyber criminals, their goal is often to convince you to click a link. Once clicked, you may be sent to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, or steal your passwords and personal information.

In order to try and convince you that their messages are legitimate, criminals will pretend to be someone you trust, or from some organisation you trust. This could be your Internet Service Provider (ISP), local council, even a friend in need. And they may contact you by phone call, email or text message.

Reporting suspicious emails:

If you have received an email which you’re not quite sure about, you can report it by forwarding the email to the Suspicious Email Reporting Service at: report@phishing.gov.uk

As of 31st October 2021, the number of suspicious email reports stands at more than 8,100,000, with the removal of more than 67,000 scams and 124,000 URLs.

Thank you for your continued support.

*In a small number of cases, an email may not reach our service due to it already being widely recognised by spam detection services. The vast majority of reports do reach our system so please keep reporting any suspicious emails you receive.

Reporting suspicious text messages:

You can report suspicious text messages to your mobile network provider, for free, by forwarding the text to 7726.

If you forward a text, your provider can investigate the origin of the text and take action, if found to be malicious. If 7726 doesn’t work, you can find out how to report a text message by contacting your provider.

(On many Android devices and iPhones, pressing and holding on the message bubble should present the option to forward the message)

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.

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

Dear Resident,

When I wrote to some of you last week, I thought that would be my last newsletter update before Christmas. However, as we all learned on Wednesday evening, the Government has moved to its ‘Plan B’; new restrictions are coming into force and the guidance has been updated. Although the numbers infected are still very small, the new variant of Covid, known as Omicron, is spreading rapidly and is now believed to be infecting people who have no connection with southern Africa. The scientists are still learning about how easily Omicron is spread and how serious any cases may be.

There are not currently any reports in the UK of people being hospitalised suffering from Omicron. Nevertheless, the Government’s view is that it is better to be cautious at this stage and slow the spread until more is known and the number of people with booster jabs has increased. Whilst it still doesn’t necessarily mean that you would be seriously ill if you catch this new strain, we are all being asked to do a little bit more to help slow the virus spreading.

‘Plan B’

These guidelines or ‘Plan B’, as they are referred to, mean the following requirements are being introduced:

From today (Friday 10 December) face coverings will be required by law in most indoor settings, including our libraries and customer access centres.
From Monday (13 December) office workers who can work from home should do so.
From Wednesday (15 December) certain venues and events will be required by law to check that all visitors aged 18 years or over are fully vaccinated, have proof of a negative lateral flow test in the last 48 hours, or have an exemption.

The guidance does provide exceptions to where you need to wear a face covering; these include restaurants, cafés and canteens, bars, gyms and exercise facilities, and nightclubs. It is also not necessary to wear a face mask if you are attending a wedding or funeral.

From Wednesday 15 December you will also need to have an NHS COVID Pass as a condition of entry into several places and events including nightclubs, other venues that provide music for dancing, indoor events with 500 or more unseated attendees, outdoor events with 4,000 or more unseated attendees and any events with 10,000 or more attendees indoor or outdoor.

There are some settings however that will be exempt from having to use the NHS COVID Pass including communal worship, wedding ceremonies, funerals and other commemorative events, protests, and mass participation sporting events.

These changes won’t affect any of our services although, as I mentioned above, you will be expected to wear a mask in our libraries and customer access centres.

I would encourage you to check the new guidance which is on the Government’s website.
https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/5438-GX0B-30HOJW-CIKXK-1/c.aspx

Booster jabs

Our best line of defence against Covid remains the vaccine including having the booster jab as soon as you can. Please make sure you take this up and please keep an eye out for the changes which should be available soon, which will offer boosters to all adults over 18 and who have had their previous vaccination at least three months ago. Please keep looking at the NHS website for details of when you will be able to book.

Don’t forget too that you can book a first or second dose at any time. To do this, or to book your booster and find out more vaccine information please check the NHS website.
https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/5438-GX0B-30HOJW-CIKHF-1/c.aspx

Covid rates in Buckinghamshire

The infection rate from all types of Covid has increased to 622.1 per 100,000 in Buckinghamshire. This is an increase of 10% compared to the previous week. We have seen increasing rates in the former Aylesbury Vale, Chiltern and South Bucks District areas but a decline in the former Wycombe area. School age residents overall (5 to 18 years old) make up 39% of cases in Buckinghamshire. The highest case rates remain in those aged 5 to 15 years old. We have seen a decrease in infection rates amongst those aged 60 to 69 years compared to the week before (210.6 per 100,000 - down by 29 cases). This may well be due to the roll out of the booster vaccine to this age range.

A reminder of general precautions

Keep using regular lateral flow tests, especially before you meet up with others in an indoor space/are seeing someone at higher risk from Covid-19.
Isolate and book a PCR test if you develop symptoms.
Keep windows open, even if it’s cold; good ventilation plays a big part in blowing virus particles away and stopping the spread.
Keep up the basics – good hygiene and handwashing in particular.

Covid news via email

I am often asked why some people no longer receive these Covid newsletters. It is because Government regulations restrict what we can communicate to you about without your agreement. On the plus side, with your agreement, it does mean I am able to talk about other Council services and support such as roads, waste collections, social care and the help we can provide if you are struggling with food or energy costs.

If you wish to receive regular emails from myself and the Council – which will continue to contain Covid information too – please sign up at www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/signup.

You can of course, unsubscribe from these emails at any time using the link at the bottom.

Finally, I know you will all be frustrated that again we are being asked to make more sacrifices in our battle to combat this virus, but when applied with common sense, we should all be thankful that these latest guidelines will allow us to all to have a much better Christmas than we faced last year.

With best wishes for a happy and healthy Christmas.

Martin Tett
Leader of Buckinghamshire Council

December Our News - The Neighbourhood Watch Newsletter For Supporters
Hello DEREK

OUR NEWS December 2021

The December newsletter for Neighbourhood Watch supporters across England and Wales can be read here.
https://bit.ly/OurNewsDec2021

This edition features pieces on our amazing partnerships with Patlock and ERA, the Neighbourhood Watch Community Grants Fund, Neighbour of the Year Awards 2021, the success of Park Hall Area Neighbourhood Watch using WhatsApp, how to make sure we all #ShopKind this season, working towards ending men’s violence against women, and much more.

So dive into December’s edition of OUR NEWS here.
https://bit.ly/OurNewsDec2021

Best wishes,
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349Email tracking gif
Message Sent By
Central Support Team (NWN, Neighbourhood Watch Network, England and Wales)

We are delighted to invite you to attend a webinar on the 9th December, 5-6pm on Counter-Terrorism Policing and Community Vigilance: Action Counters Terrorism.

The webinar will be held on Microsoft Teams with expert presenters from the National Counter Terrorism Security Office and Counter-Terrorism Policing Communications.

Counter-Terrorism Policing is a collaboration of UK police forces working with the UK intelligence community to help protect the public and our national security by preventing, deterring and investigating terrorist activity.

The webinar will outline our Counter Terrorism Policing efforts from a national and local perspective and the current terrorist threat.

In addition to explaining how their staff and officers keep you safe, they will address how you can protect yourself and others by utilising their free resources and remaining vigilant. There will an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session.

Visit www.ourwatch.org.uk/webinars to book your place now!

Kind regards

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team

Dear Resident,

It’s hard to believe that it’s nearly Christmas already. I hope that you, your families and those you love are well and gearing up for the festive season.


Covid

One ‘Christmas present’ we could all do without is the new Covid variant, first identified in southern Africa, and now known as Omicron. Many people have asked why I have waited nearly a week before writing to you in connection with this? The answer is that in the week since it was first identified and named, our level of understanding of this has been very limited. Views have changed almost daily and the media has been full of lots of guesswork and supposition in connection with it. It is likely that it will be several weeks before the scientists know with greater certainty the full implications of this new variant.

What does seem to be most likely is that it is more transmissible. That means it is easier to catch than previous Covid variants. As with other variants, catching it does not necessarily mean that you would be seriously ill or need to go to hospital but it is still wise to follow government advice and take reasonable precautions. These precautions include wearing a mask when in shops or on public transport. We also know that ventilation – ensuring a flow of fresh air can make a big difference, even opening windows, doors and vents for 10 minutes to let in some fresh air can really help.

This week it was confirmed that the new variant is present across much of the country and in Buckinghamshire. Our Public Health team continue to work closely with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to trace anyone who might have come into contact with those infected, who themselves are now self-isolating.


The Booster ‘jab’

The most important single thing for us all to do is to have the booster jab as soon as we are able.

The government have now made it possible to prebook your booster for all adults aged 40 and over, anyone aged 16 and over with a health condition that puts you at high risk from Covid, and frontline health and social care workers, as long as it has been 5 months (152 days) since your 2nd dose. The appointment date you will be offered will be from 6 months (182 days) after your 2nd dose.

You can find out more information and book your vaccine here:
https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/5438-GSOL-30HOJW-CEYCP-1/c.aspx

Importantly, the government has also announced that it intends to offer boosters to all adults over 18 years of age and who have had their previous vaccination at least three months ago, by the end of January 2022. Please keep looking at the NHS website for details of when you will be able to book.


How would YOU like to see us plan for the future?

One of the most challenging roles that we have in local government is preparing a Local Plan which describes what we want Buckinghamshire to look like in years to come. This covers issues such as new housing, employment, the Green Belt, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, our town centres and the environment generally, including how we manage mitigating Climate Change.

Preparing the new Local Plan for Buckinghamshire is something that national government requires us to do and it is an important way of deciding what sort of development we do want and where, and conversely what we don’t want. The way the Plan has to be done and what it contains is laid down by government. If we don’t follow this precisely then the Plan can be found ‘unsound’ and thrown out by an independent Planning Inspector. The way government want us to make the Plan may change but it is important that we make a start as it is a long process.

As a first stage in preparing the new Plan we are asking local people about the future of Buckinghamshire in a survey we have just launched. The survey, which takes only a few minutes to complete, asks about where you live, local housing needs, the local economy and you views on what should be protected and what’s precious about Buckinghamshire.

It’s the first stage of involving local people in shaping the future through the new Local Plan.

Have your say:
https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/5438-GSOL-30HOJW-CF5WV-1/c.aspx

The survey will run until 11 February next year.

Separate Chiltern and Wycombe area food waste collections to restart from 13 December

As you will know from previous Residents’ Newsletters we had to suspend the separate collection of food waste in the former Chiltern and Wycombe areas due to the national shortage of lorry drivers, coupled with Covid-related sickness amongst crews. I am however pleased to tell you that separate food waste collections will restart from Monday 13 December. From this date, households should put out their food waste in its separate brown bin on their usual collection day.

During the suspension, food waste was taken along with general waste to the Greatmoor Energy from Waste plant for incineration, generating electricity in the process. Less than 0.1% of Buckinghamshire’s waste is sent to landfill.

Our waste contractor has worked hard to recruit new drivers, with incentives designed to retain existing staff and attract new staff to vacancies that have now been filled. This means that once more food waste will be separately collected by dedicated teams. Material will again be treated at an anaerobic digestion plant, where it generates electricity.

We want to thank residents in the Chiltern and Wycombe areas for their patience while we dealt with the impact of the nationwide shortage of HGV drivers.

Find more information about the council’s waste collections:
https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/5438-GSOL-30HOJW-CF5WR-1/c.aspx

I hope that your Christmas shopping goes well and remember to shop locally where possible and support our Buckinghamshire town and village businesses.

With best wishes for a happy and healthy Christmas.

Martin Tett

Leader of Buckinghamshire Council

Chiltern South Bucks Rural Crime Update
Current trends show that horse boxes, trailers, Range Rovers and Land Rovers (Even older models with a proper key) are being targeted by thieves. There has been an increase in reports of hare coursing taking place. This is a cruel activity resulting in large groups of people turning up at country locations, frequently causing damage to gain access to fields, so they can carry out this activity. If you suspect this is going on please do report it to the police.

Nationally work between Forces and other countries has taken place resulting in property being recovered and stopped from being cloned and sold on. Current crime trends include the theft of high value Tractor GPS and control systems. Offenders were carrying out reconnaissance of suitable properties in the daytime and carrying out the thefts overnight with the use of electric scooters. Top Tip; Remove GPS systems where practicable and consider overtly marking the property with farm name and postcode to make them unattractive to would be thieves.

Your NHP team will be doing working with the Equestrian Community in highlighting common issues this time of year. The Horse Watch and Rural Spotters lead Helen Evans has given us some guidance on what people can do to protect their horses.

“Now Winter is here, rugs are a priority for our horses and buying new ones can be very expensive. A new Rambo is around £250, so don't risk having rugs stolen off your horse's back. Put your postcode in big letters on both sides of the rug. You can use fluorescent paint, or iron on ready-made letters and numbers. Use any way you can to identify it as yours and deter thieves. If you are worried that it will spoil the look of your rug, don't fret, as your horse will be more than happy to oblige! One MO that is popular with perpetrators is to steal rugs off horses, and then when they are replaced with new ones, they steal those as that is what they are after.”

“Trailers have been targeted by thieves recently, and the biggest hold up to recovery is the lack of information provided by the victim. After reporting the crime to Police, if you are posting on social media please include the following - date, location, description, model, colour, chassis and registration number, Police force area and crime reference number. Keep all this information in your records in case of emergency. Remember to report all suspicious incidents to the police, even if your item is not insured, as it will assist police in prioritising resources.

There are many varied ways of protecting your property and new technologies available. There are some very good trackers that cost as little as £40, but whatever system you use, buy the best you can afford and make your kit identifiable.”

The Rural Spotters Scheme has been put on hold until the New Year. We will be holding a training event for people interested date tbc. Joining the Rural Spotters can help provide a visible deterrent in rural areas. If you are interested let me know.

Officers will be at the following venues on the 3rd December to discuss rural matters

The Shop at the Lee, Lee Clump Road, Chesham HP16 9NB 1000-1200hrs
Hildreths Garden Centre, Wycombe Road, Prestwood. HP16 0HJ 1300-1500 hrs

Dobbies Garden Centre, London Road, Beaconsfield, HP9 1SH 1000-1200hrs
Flowerland Garden Centre, Norwood Lane, Iver SL0 0EW 1300-1500 hrs

My Whats App lead PC McGregor will be rolling out the Chiltern Whats App Group in January. The group will be run by the public, with an administrator being responsible for admitting persons into the group. A code of conduct will need to be agreed to before members can use the platform. The purpose of the group is not a crime reporting tool, but to share information about suspicious incidents to make both the community and Police aware. The direct engagement with the Neighbourhood Team will assist the Police in where to target their patrols and in which areas to raise their visibility.

The latest Policing Issues Forum has ranked Fly tipping as a big concern to our community. We will be looking at ways in which we can target offenders and support our partners in bringing them to justice.

It is important to report all crimes. We need information to target resources and develop intelligence. Tell us if you think an offence has or is about to be committed. If it is happening now, ring 999. If you have information that does not require an immediate response report it to Thames Valley Police online or by calling 101. You can report or pass information about rural crime anonymously to the Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online.

Yours sincerely


Darren Walsh
PS 3675
Chiltern & South Bucks Neighbourhood Police Team

Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

Chiltern Souths Bucks Policing Issues Forum
All residents of Chiltern & South Bucks are cordially invited to Chiltern & South Bucks Policing issues Forum. A Zoom meeting will be taking place at 6.30p.m. on Monday 29th November 2021.

The Neighbourhood Policing Inspectors will provide an update and there will be a Q&A session with residents. Updates will be provided on the Community Speedwatch relaunch, fly tipping and rural crime. The New LPA (Local Police Area) Commander Supt Emma Burroughs will be present.

The meeting will set future priorities for the neighbourhood policing teams to focus on. Make sure your voice is heard on what is important to you and your family.

All are welcome. Please register at contact@csb-forum.org for a link.

Please click on the below hyperlink to see the results from the panels on-line survey.

https://www.csb-forum.org/meetings/chiltern-s-bucks-policing-issues-forum-29th-november-2021/

Best Regards

Sergeant Darren Walsh
Amersham, Chalfonts and Missendens
C&SB Neighbourhood Policing

Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

Hundreds Fall Victim To Lottery Scams In Just Seven Months

What is lottery fraud?

Criminals will contact unsuspecting victims informing them they have won a lottery or prize draw. The victim is then informed that they will need to pay an advance fee in order to receive their winnings. In reality, the winnings are non-existent and it is an attempt to steal the victims money, personal or financial information.

Between April and October 2021, Action Fraud received 629 reports of lottery fraud, with 89 per cent of reports mentioning well-known prize draws. Impersonation of People’s Postcode Lottery accounted for almost half (49 per cent) of all reports. Almost three quarters of victims (70 per cent) were aged over 50, with those aged over 65 accounting for 40 per cent of reports.

Fraudsters use gift cards as a form of payment as they can be easily redeemed and sold on. The criminals don’t need the physical card to redeem the value as they ask the victims to share the serial code on the back of the card with them. In other instances, victims reported being asked for personal and financial information in order to obtain their alleged winnings. Some victims reported providing their bank details thinking they would be sent a small payment to verify the account. In reality, criminals will use these details to steal the victim’s money.

How to protect yourself

Stop: Unsolicited offers of large sums of money in return for a small upfront payment should always raise a red flag. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe.

Challenge: Could it be fake? Remember, you can’t win a prize in a competition you didn’t enter. It’s okay to reject, refuse or ignore any requests. Only criminals will try to rush or panic you.

Protect: If you think you’ve been a victim of fraud, contact your bank immediately and report it to Action Fraud online at: actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040.
You can find further protection advice around lotteries and competition on the Gambling Commission’s website:
https://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk/.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware


Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.Email tracking gif
Message Sent By
Action Fraud (Action Fraud, Administrator, National)

Safe Online Shopping

Dear resident,

Keep your Christmas, Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping safe

Whether it’s getting the Christmas list ticked off, that last minute gift for someone special or a treat for ourselves, most of us will be buying more online this festive season.

It’s fantastic being able to take advantage of the convenience, choice and value brought by the internet, but unfortunately it is also a favourite haunt of fraudsters, vying to take advantage of the fact that you have so many distractions in the lead-up to Christmas.

That why it’s especially important to safeguard yourself, your family and finances when you’re buying online on Black Friday, Cyber Monday or any other day. Attached is our latest Get Safe Online leaflet providing top online shopping tips, but if you want to find out more you can always visit our website at www.getsafeonline.org

Happy shopping!

From,
The Get Safe Online team

Attachments
Shopping_Nov21_Leaflet.pdf:
https://assets.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/Attachment/267516/405687/83503/83503_Shopping_Nov21_Leaflet.pdf
- 1,014.9 KB

Message Sent By
Get Safe Online Admin (Get Safe Online, Content Director, National)

15M Lost To Online Shopping Scams Last Christmas

Online shopping scams cost shoppers £15.4 million over the Christmas period last year.


New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, reveals that 28,049 shoppers were conned out of their money when shopping online over the Christmas period last year – an increase of almost two thirds (61 per cent) when compared to the same period in the previous year.

Ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Action Fraud is warning the public to take extra care when shopping online as reports of online shopping fraud have continued to surge. Here are some simple tips to help you and your family enjoy a secure online shopping experience this festive season.

Where to shop
Buying from an online store you haven’t used before? Carry out some research first, or ask a friend or family member if they’ve used the site and about their experiences before completing the purchase.


Your information
Only create an account if necessary or to save you effort if you’re going to use that site a lot in the future. Be cautious if the website asks you for details that are not required for your purchase, such as your mother’s maiden name or the name of your primary school.


Payment method
When it's time to pay for your items, check there's a 'closed padlock' icon in the browser's address bar. Use a credit card when shopping online, if you have one. Most major credit card providers protect online purchases.

Phishing
Some of the messages you receive about amazing offers may contain links to fake websites. If you’re unsure about a link, don’t use the it – go separately to the website. Report suspicious emails you receive by forwarding them to: report@phishing.gov.uk. Report suspicious text messages by forwarding them to: 7726.


Email accounts:
Make sure that your really important accounts (such as your email account or online shopping accounts) are protected by strong passwords that you don't use anywhere else.

Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions:
Gmail:
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/41078;
Yahoo! Mail:
https://help.yahoo.com/kb/account/reset-yahoo-password-sln27051.html;
Outlook:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/change-your-password-in-outlook-com-2138d690-811c-4545-b2f3-e4dbe80c9735?ui=en-us&rs=en-gb&ad=gb;
BT:
https://www.bt.com/help/email/manage-email-account/i-need-to-change-or-reset-my-bt-email-password;
AOL Mail:
https://help.aol.co.uk/articles/account-management-managing-your-aol-password.


If things go wrong
If you've lost money to an online shopping scam, tell your bank and report it as a crime to Action Fraud (for England, Wales and Northern Ireland) https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/ or Police Scotland (for Scotland)
https://www.scotland.police.uk/. By doing this, you'll be helping to prevent others becoming victims of cyber crime.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware


Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.

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

With the dark nights upon us, we expect that the number of burglaries to increase. The impact of your home being burgled is immense both financially and mentally. Yet it is common for us to delay doing basic security things until a close friend or you are attacked. Having the time or money to buy security measures can be a reason.
Rather that telling you to go out and spend lots of money on expensive security products I want to focus on the basics that may jut prevent you from becoming a victim.

Key Messages
1; Keep a light on. Give your house the appearance that somebody is at home.
2; Make sure you lock your doors. CCTV has shown that this is the first port of call for a burglar is trying the front door handle. Make sure you challenge your family if they are not doing this.
3; Lock your gate. Stop people from having free access to the rear or side of your house.
4; Beware of keyless car theft. Buy a Faraday box or pouch to protect them.
5; Seen something suspicious call it in. You know your neighbourhood better than anyone else! If something is not sitting right with you, act on this and do not be afraid to call the police. If you think it could be a burglary or theft of vehicle then call 999.
6: Become a NHW member.

A Neighbourhood Watch is a great way to get to know your neighbours so that you can build up community resilience. The scheme is free and some studies have shown that you could reduce the chance of being a victim by 25%. The scheme offers a number of offers from security firms.

One of the best ways you can help is to join or establish a Neighbourhood Watch Scheme in your area. Neighbourhood Watch schemes are owned and operated by their members, supported by the Police with crime information and advice. If you’re interested then contact the Buckinghamshire Council Community Safety Team e-mail communitysafety.csb@buckinghamshire.gov.uk

A new crime reduction initiative is being piloted in the Chiltern area by Neighbourhood Watch in partnership with Thames Valley Police and supported by Buckinghamshire Council.

A team of Neighbourhood Watch volunteers have been trained as Crime Reduction Advisors (CRAs) to work with local residents to help ensure that their homes are protected from potential burglars. They will carry out home security surveys and advise on measures that could be taken to improve home security and reduce the risk of falling victim to burglary.
Training, provided by Thames Valley Police, in assessing homes for security weaknesses that criminals are known to exploit and various crime prevention measures that can be taken to provide further protection.
The free, confidential home security survey and assessment takes approximately 60-90 minutes. All CRA’s are experienced Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators who’ve been CRB checked. A password will be provided which the CRA will quote to confirm their identity.
David Alder, Neighbourhood Watch Representative for the Chilterns area, said: “We see this as a very important project. Our CRAs will be pro-actively supporting both TVP and residents in a way we have not tried before. Burglary risk remains a top concern for the local population, so I was delighted to get so many volunteers offering to take the role on. Our trained volunteers can make a positive contribution to better home security, while freeing TVP to focus on other areas of concern.”
Inspector Richard Vine, Neighbourhood Inspector for the Chiltern and South Buckinghamshire policing area, said: “I’m really pleased to see this initiative launching in the Chilterns to help ensure our residents feel safe in their homes and confident in their home security. The impact of a burglary is incredibly far-reaching and something that I wouldn’t want anyone to experience. It is excellent to be able to work in partnership with the local Neighbourhood Watch schemes to help keep our communities safe and I look forward to hearing how this progresses.”

To request a booking form to arrange a free home security survey, email bucksnhw@gmail.com.
On a positive ending from my last newsletter for those who may not have read it. One of our Forces priorities is to have a 15% reduction in residential burglary. Year to date I can report a 51% fall in this crime overall in Chiltern and South Bucks.

To beat the burglar we need to work, with the most important partner in tackling crime, you! the public. We all hope that you will take the first step in helping us to help you create a safer, more resilient and friendly neighbourhood for you all to live in.

Darren Walsh
PS 3675
Chiltern & South Bucks NHPT

Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

Do you live or work in the Chiltern and South Bucks Area? If so the next C&SB Forum takes place on the 29th November 2021.

Have your voice heard on what the local Neighbourhood Policing teams should be concentrating on and help to decide the top 3 priorities.

The meeting will be held via Zoom and all are welcome; details are on the website:
https://www.csb-forum.org

Darren Walsh
PS 3675
Chiltern and South Bucks Neighbourhood Policing Team

Message Sent By
Darren Walsh (Police, Sgt, Amersham)

Enabling two-factor authentication (2FA) is the single most important thing you can do to improve the security of your online accounts.


What is 2FA?
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a way of strengthening the login security of your online accounts. It's similar to how an ATM works. You need both your debit card (first factor) and your PIN (second factor) to get access your account and withdraw cash. The main objective is better security. If your card is stolen, they still need your PIN. If your PIN is stolen, they still need your card.

Enabling 2FA will help to stop hackers from getting into your accounts, even if they have your password.

How do I enable 2FA on my accounts?
Here are links you can use to enable 2FA on some of the most popular online services and apps:
Gmail
https://myaccount.google.com/signinoptions/two-step-verification/enroll-welcome?pli=1

Yahoo
https://help.yahoo.com/kb/add-two-step-verification-extra-security-sln5013.html

Outlook
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/account-billing/how-to-use-two-step-verification-with-your-microsoft-account-c7910146-672f-01e9-50a0-93b4585e7eb4

AOL
https://help.aol.com/articles/2-step-verification-stronger-than-your-password-alone?guccounter=1

Instagram
https://help.instagram.com/1124604297705184

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/help/148233965247823

Twitter
https://help.twitter.com/en/managing-your-account/two-factor-authentication

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/help/linkedin/answer/544/turn-two-step-verification-on-and-off?lang=en


For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware


Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.

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

For the latest information from Martin Tett, Leader of Buckinghamshire County Council, please follow the attached link:

https://enews.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/t/5438-GHH8-B784699C9AA548EA30S0JZE223BCBB2444F758/cr.aspx

Hello Derek
With the festive season fast approaching, and thoughts turning to treating friends and family, it’s important to stay alert when it comes to keeping your money safe. Urgent requests, unbelievable bargains and copycat websites are all tactics to trick you. So taking a moment to stop and think can help you beat scammers at their own game.

We’re sharing some tips on what to do – and what not to do. You’re also invited to a special Scams Event on 23 November, where you’ll learn how to best protect your money.

Search ‘Scams’ on the Barclays website for more help on how to spot them.

Make money work for you
Things we’d never do
If you get an unusual request, especially if you’re told it’s urgent, take a minute to think if it makes sense – there are things we’ll never ask you to do.

We will never…

Ask you to transfer money
Barclays would never ask you to transfer money out of your account. Scammers might claim you need to move money to keep it safe. They also might remind you about a text message link you clicked a few days ago. This is part of the same scam. If you’re ever moving money, make sure it’s on your terms, nobody else’s.


Demand your PIN or personal information
You should never reveal your PIN, PINsentry codes, Activation codes, QR activation codes or Online Banking passcodes to anyone. We don’t need this information from you, it’s yours. This sort of request may come via an unexpected text with a link, or a cold call asking you to reveal personal and security details.


Request remote access to your devices
There is no need for anyone from Barclays to have remote access to your smartphone, computer or tablet. We would never ask to view your online banking.


Tell you what to say
If someone asks you to lie to members of staff about payments, or tells you what options to select when making a payment, it’s a scam.

🌲🌲🌲🌲🌲

Be wary of festive fraudsters
As you start to think about your Christmas shopping, scammers will be too. ’Tis the season for shoppers to be targeted – here’s what to look out for.


Fake adverts and deals
If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Scammers know people are looking for a bargain at Christmas time, so they’ll try and hook you in with deals on everything from cars to game consoles and mobile phones. Stay alert to what you click through to, especially on social media. Before committing to any purchase, do your research.


Websites URLs
Always check the URL of the site you’re on when online shopping – scam sites can often look genuine. Always look out for extra full stops and dashes. Scammers will target you with a professional looking advert, and then send you through to a copycat website. Don’t feel rushed into a purchase – be sure to stop and think before you buy and ensure the website you’re ordering from is legitimate.

Remember, adverts on social media and genuine auction sites could still be fake.

Always pay with your debit card, credit card or the site’s recommended payment platform for the best protection.


Learn more at our scams event
Join the Digital Eagles on 23 November and learn how to best protect your money. There’ll be a special guest from the Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit (DCPCU), who’ll be talking about how scammers think and what to look out for. To register, search ‘Barclays Digital Wings Blogs’ and select the article ‘Scammers have met their match. It’s you’.

Monthly Updates from Burnham Health Centre

Hello Everyone,

Some researchers think that we have reached another peak of Covid infections and this may now flatten out. However, this flattening effect may be due to the effects of half term which has reduced classroom transmission. This school break also means there are fewer lateral flow tests (LFTs) and PCRs being carried out which are then not being counted. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) sends out tests to thousands of people and its data is thought to be a more reliable indicator of case numbers as it does not rely on people themselves coming forward for a test. These ONS figures show that cases in school children may have peaked but cases in adults are not reducing yet. The slightly better news is that we probably won’t get as many deaths as we did last winter as many of us are now vaccinated. Deaths are now a tenth of what they were in January although they are rising.

Covid is still a major problem in the UK with 1 in 53 people being affected with over 37,000 cases per day and 1000 deaths per week. Covid patients in ITU who need a ventilator has gone up steadily over the last 6 months. In some areas, almost a third of the critically ill are taken up by Covid patients. Five million people are still unvaccinated in the UK and they make up the biggest proportion of people being admitted to hospital.

However, in October 2,500, fully vaccinated people over 70years of age died. Not because vaccines don’t work but because there is such a high level of circulating virus and because in many vulnerable people immunity is waning. Doctors, nurses and volunteer jabbers have done a tremendous job with the vaccination programme but still, only about 55% of those who had their 2nd dose 6 months ago have been boosted. The vaccination programme in the UK has slowed down and needs much more government resources and larger centres to open up to cover all those that need their boosters now. New changes now mean that if you know the date of your 2nd jab and it's been over 6 months (officially - 182 days) then you can go along to a walk-in centre and have your booster. The concern is that 5 million people are due their booster now and we may not be able to get through them all until January. So mixing at Xmas and New year may leave a lot of people susceptible to infection. Research shows that the booster works very well and reduces the risk of death by 85-90% which is even better than after the 2nd jab.

Cases seem to be driven by school-age kids who catch it from freely mixing in classrooms then passing the infection on to more vulnerable relatives and friends. There are no plans for better ventilation or compulsory mask-wearing in schools at the moment so this pattern will probably repeat itself. As expected households with children have a higher number of cases and unlike other medical problems or pandemics cases are highest in the least deprived areas. Children don’t only pass on Covid infection. They can also get very ill, end up in a hospital and die from it. Thousands of children in the UK are also suffering the effects of Long Covid – persistent symptoms of fatigue, joint pains, memory fog and breathlessness. The vaccination programme for children from 12 yrs and upwards is still slow in the UK compared to other countries. We need this to get much quicker so that transmission from children can be significantly reduced as well as protect them.

Things are not much better in the continent with surges of cases and deaths in Eastern Europe with their much lower vaccination rates. Cases have risen dramatically in Germany in what they are calling a ‘fourth wave.’ Belgium and The Netherlands are going back to compulsory mask-wearing. Spain, Italy, France and Portugal are steady at the moment. They have higher vaccination rates than us but also have other measures such as Covid passports and masks.

In the USA they have started to vaccinate 5-11-year-olds as the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) feel that the coronavirus poses a greater risk to children than many other illnesses that they are already vaccinated against. Two million children in the US have been infected with the virus – 8000 have been admitted to hospital and 172 have died.

The more the virus circulates and reproduces the higher the chance of another variant developing. We have a new one in the UK called ‘Delta-plus’ or ‘Delta’s grandchild’. It now accounts for about 6% of all UK cases. Scientists estimate it is about 10% more infectious than Delta – which first originated in India – but does not think it is a ‘super variant’ that might sweep the country. However, the virus is changing all the time. Most of these changes or variants are harmless and die out but eventually one will develop which will be immune to antibodies and vaccines. That is why we may need boosters every 1-2 years to cover these new variants. As always to stop this virus from circulating – we all need to do our bit - wear masks in public places, meet people in well-ventilated areas and maintain good hand hygiene.

As well as vaccines that are designed to prevent infection scientists are now developing new oral drugs to treat patients with Covid. The antiviral drug molnupiravir was originally developed to treat influenza. It has now been found to be very effective against the coronavirus which causes Covid infection. This is the first drug that can be given at home as a pill at the early stages of Covid to those who may be particularly prone to a bad infection such as the elderly, those who are immunocompromised or those that might have significant chest or heart problems. Research shows that molnupiravir (developed by the drug company Merck) halves the risk of hospitalisation and death in at-risk patients. It’s given twice daily and works by stopping the virus from making copies of itself and spreading in the body. Ideally, it will be given as soon as possible (or within 5 days) after a positive Covid test to at-risk individuals with mild to moderate Covid with at least one risk factor (eg. heart disease, diabetes, COPD, old age). We don’t quite yet know when it will be rolled out or how it will be made available. We do know that it will not be available on a simple prescription from your GP - not at first anyway. Pfizer has also developed a similar drug to molnupiravir. In the future, both drugs could also be used to reduce the chances of adults getting infected after exposure to the coronavirus.

At the Burnham Health Centre, we are trying to manage as many of our patients as we can. We have a whole host of clinicians including paramedics, physicians assistants, pharmacists, specialist practice nurses as well as the GPs offering telephone and face to face appointments. This combination of telephone and face to face seems very popular with most of our patients and it is a system we plan to continue. Apologies that the ‘Patient Access’ system has not been working recently. This is due to a central problem with IT. We hope this will be fixed as soon as possible. As always it is incredibly busy at the surgery as is the whole of the NHS. I know that many of you have even had difficulty in calling 111. The basic problem is that demand for the NHS is huge but there is a national shortage of doctors and nurses available. The NHS needs much greater investment for the well being of its patients and staff. We will all suffer if the NHS is failing.

Bowel cancer. 1 in 20 people will get this in their lifetime. NHS bowel screening is being offered but at the moment only just over 60% take this up in our area. If you are 55yrs you will be invited for a one-off ‘bowel- scope’ which involves a camera up the back passage. If you are 60-74yrs you will automatically be invited to do a home test every 2 years. Please watch out for this information through the post and please do go for your bowel screening or submit a home stool test. It might save your life. If you are over 75 yrs then you can ask for a home testing kit every 2 years by calling the bowel screening helpline on 0800 707 6060.

The NHS breast screening programme invites all women from the age of 50-70 for screening every 3 years. This can mean that you do not get your first screening mammogram until you are 52 or 53. Please attend when you receive your invitation.

Cervical screening is a smear test that checks the health of the neck of your womb (cervix). It’s a test to help prevent cancer and all women aged 25 to 64 are invited for screening. You get an invite every 3 years if you are aged 25 to 49. After that, it is every 5 years until the age of 64. Cervical screening is carried out at the health centre – please make an appointment when you are sent an invitation.

Burnham Vaccination Programme:

We are progressing through Covid vaccinations with a mixture of first doses, second doses, "third doses" (for those patients contacted who are generally on chemotherapy or immunotherapy) and boosters. We are mainly doing boosters at present. Patients will receive a text message when they are 6 months after their second dose and will be able to book electronically by clicking on the link. We will also have some appointments on the National Booking System (NBS). These can be booked by putting "book a covid vaccination" on the internet. We continue to try and vaccinate as many patients as possible and we are continually adding more appointments. You are also welcome to attend the mass vaccination centres such as Salt Hill via the NBS or their walk-in services. Please let the receptionists know if you are totally housebound and unable to leave the house for any reason and we will arrange a home visit.

If you are anxious about coming forward for your vaccination - especially a first dose - we have an amazing team of vaccinators who can reassure you and talk you through the whole process. You are not under obligation to have a vaccination but best to talk to the experts if you are worried and we have a great team who can help.

Stay Safe Everyone

Bye for now

Dr M Tanvir Jamil

Senior Partner

Burnham Health Centre

23M People Used 123456 As A Password

Whether it’s your Facebook, Amazon, or Netflix account, the explosion in popularity of online apps and services means more and more of us have to remember an increasingly long list of passwords.

Unfortunately, some of us cope with this challenge by resorting to practices that leave our data, devices and money at risk - by using the same password across multiple accounts, or by creating simple passwords that could easily be guessed by hackers. Bad password practice is more prevalent than you might think - the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre carried out analysis of passwords leaked in data breaches and found that more than 23 million users worldwide used 123456 as a password. You can read more about it here: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/most-hacked-passwords-revealed-as-uk-cyber-survey-exposes-gaps-in-online-security

Here are some top tips that will make your life easier and your online accounts more secure:

1: Creating memorable passwords

A good way to create strong, memorable passwords is by using 3 random words. But remember, don’t use words that can be guessed (like your pet’s name). You can include numbers and symbols if you need to. For example, “RedPantsTree4!”

2: Saving passwords in your browser

Saving your password in your browser means letting your web browser (such as Chrome, Safari or Edge) remember your password for you.

This can help:
make sure you do not lose or forget your passwords
protect you against some cyber crime, such as fake websites
It is safer than using weak passwords, or using the same password in more than one place.

Here are some useful links on how you can start saving passwords in your browser: Google Chrome https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95606?co=GENIE.Platform=Desktop&hl=en&oco=1 ;
Microsoft Edge https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/help/4028534/microsoft-edge-save-or-forget-passwords ;
Firefox https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/password-manager-remember-delete-edit-logins#w_make-firefox-remember-usernames-and-passwords ;
Safari https://support.apple.com/en-gb/guide/mac-help/mchlf375f392/mac.

3: Email account passwords

If a hacker gets into your email account, they could:
reset your other online account passwords
access personal information you have saved about yourself or your business

Your email password should be strong and different to all your other passwords. This will make it harder to crack or guess.

Need help changing your email account password? You can use these links to find step by step instructions: Gmail https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/41078 ;
Yahoo! Mail https://help.yahoo.com/kb/account/reset-yahoo-password-sln27051.html ;
Outlook https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/change-your-password-in-outlook-com-2138d690-811c-4545-b2f3-e4dbe80c9735?ui=en-us&rs=en-gb&ad=gb ;
BT https://www.bt.com/help/email/manage-email-account/i-need-to-change-or-reset-my-bt-email-password ;
AOL Mail https://help.aol.co.uk/articles/account-management-managing-your-aol-password.

For more of the government’s latest advice on how to stay secure online, visit the Cyber Aware website: https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberaware

Thanks for reading! If you found this information useful, please help us spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends.

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

Preventing and thoroughly investigating crime, supporting victims and bringing offenders to justice. This commitment can’t be achieved by any one person alone; it relies upon a team of over 8,000 TVP staff, officers and volunteers, working alongside partner agencies and the public.

To ensure we deliver a high-quality service, we require the very best talent to be a part of the TVP family.

Now is your opportunity to take on a role with pride and confidence, inspiring change in our communities.

At TVP, we have numerous opportunities available, including staff and officer roles.

Here are some the staff roles we are recruiting for now:
ICT Roles
Administrative Roles
Registered Mental Health Nurse
Transport Fleet Manager
External Communications Manager
Foundation Skills Trainer
Police Contact Enquiry Officer
Corporate Governance Officer
Community And Diversity Officer
Witness Care Officer
Victims First Officer
Driver Trainer
Detention Officer
...and many more!

Visit our TVP vacancies portal today to find the role for you: click here
https://thamesvalleypolice.tal.net/vx/lang-en-GB/mobile-0/appcentre-External/brand-3/xf-da0d5e8339b9/candidate/jobboard/vacancy/1/adv/

"I'd love to join the police but I don't want to be a Police Officer"... we hear this sentence all the time - and that's OK!

Want to learn more about our staff roles and the variety of departments within our force?

Interested in joining us as a Police Officer, Detective, or as a Police Community Support Officer (PCSO)?

Policing really is a job like no other. But what is ‘the job’?

Policing the Thames Valley 24/7, 365, is much more than blue lights and fast cars. It’s protecting the vulnerable when they need you most. It’s working in partnership to tackle serious and organised crime and it’s making critical decisions that will change lives forever. You will investigate a wide range of crimes such as burglaries and assaults, going that extra mile to ensure the best chance of securing a conviction. Sounds like the job for you?

We are now open for recruitment for Police Officers, the Detective-DHEP programme, and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs).
Join us as a Police Officer – apply here
https://tvpcareers.co.uk/roles/police-officer/

Join us as a Detective Constable – apply here
https://tvpcareers.co.uk/roles/police-officer/

Join us as a PCSO – apply here
https://tvpcareers.co.uk/roles/pcsos/

A career in policing, be it as staff, officer, or volunteer is a unique and rewarding career. A career worth living. Join TVP and be the difference you want to see.

Message Sent By
Cristina Bratu (Police, Comms, HQ)

We are delighted to be able to invite you to our FREE online webinar regarding Preventing and disrupting county lines exploitation. This will be held on Tuesday 9th November from 5pm-6pm.

The webinar will focus on providing an in depth view on County Lines exploitation, based on the key principals; exploitation, prevention, protection, and reporting

What is County Lines?
County lines is a form of criminal exploitation where urban gangs persuade, coerce or force children and young people to store drugs and money and/or transport them to suburban areas, market towns and coastal towns (Home Office, 2018). It can happen in any part of the UK and is against the law and a form of child abuse.

We are delighted to welcome expert guest speakers from The Children's Society, County Lines leads and organised crime county lines coordinators to be part of our panel of presenters.

Event Details
•Tuesday 9th November 2021
•5.00pm - 6.00pm
•Online via Zoom
•Register for your FREE place
How to register for the event
•Simply register for your FREE space https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/preventing-and-disrupting-county-lines-exploitation-tickets-195017421357
•You will receive your link to the event once you have registered.
We look forward to welcoming you to the event as part of our serious crime webinars in November. Look for more details in our November newsletter.

Best wishes
NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH Central Support Team
Message Sent By
Central Support Team (NWN, Neighbourhood Watch Network, England and Wales)

Antisocial behaviour (ASB) incidents have increased over the last three years. Police forces, councils and housing associations are reporting significant spikes in ASB cases – and these are not minor incidents. They are complex and serious cases causing real harm to many people.
45% of people say ASB is a problem where they live, and 56% of those who had either been a victim of or a witness to ASB did not report it to anyone. *


To help tackle the issue, we are running a campaign encouraging people to SAY NO TO ASB.
The campaign will run from the 25th October through to the 21st November on our social channels with key information on recognising, recording, and reporting ASB on our website: ourwatch.org.uk/asb.

We are running a free online ‘SAY NO TO ASB’ webinar on 15th November at 5pm with the charity ASB Help as part of the campaign. Places are limited. To book your place, visit ourwatch.org.uk/webinars.

HOW TO SUPPORT THE CAMPAIGN
•Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and share our posts to your social channels, including WhatsApp community groups, to encourage more people to SAY NO TO ASB
•Download our ‘Recognising, Recording and Reporting ASB Guide’ from ourwatch.org.uk/asb to share with your community
•Download our 14-day ‘ASB Diary’ from ourwatch.org.uk/asb to support you in recognising, recording, and reporting ASB incidents in your area.
•To find out more and SAY NO TO ASB, visit ourwatch.org.uk/asb.
If you would like a digital campaign pack, please email enquiries@ourwatch.org.uk.

* Data source: Taking Back our Communities - working together to make communities safer report, commissioned in 2021 by RESOLVE, a Centre of Excellence solely focused upon community safety and antisocial behaviour

Kind regards

NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NETWORK, Central Support Team
Follow us.. ourwatch.org.uk / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / LinkedIn
Neighbourhood Watch Network is a charity registered in England & Wales, CIO no: 1173349

Message Sent By
Cheryl Spruce (NWN, Head of Membership and Community Engagement , National)

National county lines intensification week, which targets drug traffickers who often recruit children and vulnerable adults to supply drugs across the country, ran from Monday, 11th to Sunday, 17th October.

Hampshire Constabulary alongside other forces in England and Wales engaged in operations to crackdown on county lines. These are the highlighted results:

• 43 arrested, including seven Under 18.

• 49 vulnerable people, including children, were engaged for safeguarding purposes activity. Of these, 28 were adult males, 13 were adult females, and a further eight were juveniles.

• £50,272 cash seized, as well as 3 Rolex watches which have yet to be valued

• 25 warrants

• 35 stop and searches related to county lines activity

• offensive weapons seized, 5 knives and 6 air weapons

• 63 mobiles seized

• £20,000 of Heroin seized

• 269 wraps of Crack Cocaine, 265 wraps of Heroin

• 10 landlords visited for engagement and educational awareness

• 26 cuckooed addresses visited

• 21 schools visited as part of welfare and education visits.

• 35 stop and searches were completed, and of those 5 individuals were from the London area, Birmingham or out of County.

County Lines is the term used to describe drug dealing where mobile phones are used to supply drugs from large cities to towns and rural areas. County Lines are run by ‘Line Holders’ and the runners, often young and vulnerable children, deliver the drugs. The system of drug distribution leads to serious violence and exploitation.

Police forces across the UK are using the full force of the law, including increased use of modern slavery legislation to charge line holders, for not only drug supply but also human trafficking offences.

This legislation, which can include preventative and restrictive measures, has helped ensure line holders are subject to Court Orders with strict conditions, often for many years after they leave custody.
County lines drug dealing is linked to the most serious violence, demonstrated through the weapons seized across the week, including zombie knives, machetes, firearms and air weapons.

Detective Inspector Lee Newman, County Lines Regional Co-ordinator for the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit (SEROCU), said: “County Lines drug dealing and associated criminality causes immeasurable harm to our communities, putting the most vulnerable in society at risk from exploitation.

“SEROCU works closely with police forces and partnership agencies in the south east to ensure staff have access to the specialist resources and training to target offenders. We work collaboratively to safeguard victims of these offences and to ensure those who exploit them face justice. We also work closely with prisons to disrupt those involved in County Lines activity.”

A vital reason to tackle county lines is the safeguarding of young children and vulnerable adults, often groomed to run drugs from one city to other parts of the country. Grooming is often followed by extreme violence and coercive behaviour.

Police can now bring victimless prosecutions for modern slavery offences, just one of the many ways officers are protecting young people. Victimless prosecutions ensure children and vulnerable adults are spared the ordeal of having to go through the court process and face the violent and abusive individual responsible for their suffering.

This county lines intensification week was again run in partnership with The Children’s Society and their #LookCloser campaign to spot the signs of exploitation in children and young people.

James Simmonds-Read, from The Children’s Society’s Prevention programme, which worked with forces to run its Look Closer campaign alongside the intensification week, said: “It’s vital that professionals spot instances where children have been exploited by criminals, so we are pleased that many vulnerable people - including young people - have been identified as being in need of support.

“The public can also play a crucial role in spotting signs of exploitation and reporting them to the police and Look Closer highlights how everyone from commuters to transport and shop staff can help children to escape horrific exploitation.

“Young people may not ask for help themselves because they have been manipulated into thinking they are making a choice or because they have been subjected to terrifying threats.”

For further information, please see the attached County Lines and Look Closer campaign leaflets.

Message Sent By
Wes Hutchins (Police, Corporate Communications Officer, Hampshire)

Part 2
Young people aged 16-17 can make their appointment via the online booking service or visit a walk-in vaccination centre. For more information:
www.nhs.uk/covidvaccination.
For 12-15 years olds the vaccine will be done at schools. Consent will be needed from a parent or carer before a vaccine is given. At the moment 12-15 yr olds cannot use a vaccination walk-in centre. If your child misses the vaccine at school they will still be offered the jab at a follow-up programme.
Like all adults some children will get side effects from the vaccine – the commonest ones are soreness over the injection site, headaches, generalised aches, and mild fever which can last 2-3 days. And again just like adults, the children will be observed for 15 minutes after their jab to watch for any reactions. Most children with any sort of significant allergy are safe to have the vaccine - if in doubt do talk to your GP or practice nurse.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine does not contain any animal products or eggs and is therefore suitable for vegans, Jews, and Muslims. The British Islamic Medical Association has a useful guide: www.britishima.org
Covid is still running rife in the UK with over 1000 deaths per week. There were over 200,000 children off ill with Covid in the last 7 days. The UK now has one of the highest rates of Covid infection and death rates in Europe. Society seems to have become inured to these facts and figures. We still don’t know the long-term consequences of Covid infection on children. Many are already suffering from Long Covid. In the UK we are only relying on vaccinations – there seem to be no other significant plans in place. In Europe they still have to wear masks in some countries, many are issuing health passports for increased freedom. This is why they have the fraction of cases and deaths that we do. We can only hope it does not get worse here.
The flu season is nowhere so please do get your flu jab if you are eligible. After low levels of the flu virus, last year it's probable that many of us have low immunity against it this year and may suffer quite badly from it. That together with high levels of circulating coronavirus, cooler weather, and spending much more time mixing inside means that many people might get the flu and coronavirus together. Studies show that those infected with both viruses at the same time are twice as likely to die than if they only had coronavirus.
Please protect yourselves and your families – wear masks when you can meet in well-ventilated areas, and get the vaccine (Covid and flu) when it's due. If you become ill please get a Covid test so that you don’t spread it to others.
As well as Covid and flu there are a lot of other viruses going around with children, in particular, is affected:
The COMMON COLD – children will pick these up and other viruses on a regular basis especially if they are starting playschool, nursery, or have an older sibling that brings home the bugs. Doctors often call these ‘URTIs’ – upper respiratory tract infections. This exposure to viruses and bugs is important as this is the way we all become immune eventually. But babies and young children are meeting these bugs for the first time so it's not unusual for some to get 6-12 cold-like viruses a year. Some will last a few days, some a few weeks. Some will cause just a few glands to appear in the neck for a while and the child will be generally well. Most symptoms are often mild including a tickly throat, stuffed nose, sneezing, and fever. Some can develop a slight cough also. Some parents ask what level of fever is dangerous? If a child’s temperature remains above 39C despite Calpol and neurofen then it's best to speak to a Doctor. But a lot depends on how the child is. If they are playing, eating and drinking, ‘peeing and pooing’ normally then they are probably ok. But a child that is not well (eg lethargic, vomiting, diarrhoea, pale, breathing problems) needs to be seen even if their temperature is normal.
CROUP: this causes a typical ‘barking’ cough (a bit like a sea lion or a dog barking) and a rasping sound when the child breathes in. It occurs because the virus causes inflammation and slight narrowing of the upper airways. It's more common in children under 5 years of age as their airways are narrower. It is usually worse at night and lasts about 2-3 days. Humidity and cool air can help. A good trick is to run a hot shower and stay with them in the steam-filled bathroom for 10-20 minutes before bedtime. Giving them some cool air by taking your child outside for a few minutes might ease things up also – wrap them up first! It may also help if they sleep a bit more upright. Severe croup is not common but if it gets worse it can cause breathing difficulties. If you find your child’s skin around the neck or under the ribs gets sucked in when they breathe in then that could be a sign that they are having difficulty and you should seek urgent medical advice.
BRONCHIOLITIS: This is a common lower respiratory tract infection and affects babies and young children under 2 years of age. It affects the smaller airways (bronchioles) whereas bronchitis affects the larger airways in older children and adults (bronchi). Bronchiolitis is usually caused by the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) which is a very common germ which most children have had by the time they reach 2 years. The first symptoms are like any other cold – runny nose, fever, stuffy nose, poor appetite, and cough. The main feature of bronchiolitis though is a wheezy wet cough. If it becomes worse children cough more and more with increased wheezing and shortness of breath. If your child has difficulty breathing, fast breathing at rest, cannot feed because of coughing or wheezing then you need to seek urgent medical help. Fortunately, most cases are mild and resolve with 1-2 weeks without the need for any treatment. Wheeze is common in both asthma and bronchiolitis. In asthma, it’s due to the airways narrowing whereas in bronchiolitis it's due to fluid build up (oedema) in the airway. Children who get recurrent bouts of bronchiolitis seem to get asthma when they get older.
Burnham Vaccination Programme:
We are continuing with our Covid vaccination programme. Our focus is moving onto boosters as many more of our patients will soon be eligible for the booster dose (6 months after their 2nd dose). These will be Pfizer vaccination irrespective of whether you have AZ or Pfizer for your primary course. You will receive a text message from the surgery when you are eligible. We will continue to add more appointments throughout the week. We expect our demand to be high over the coming weeks. If you are unable to get an appointment with Burnham, you are also able to book on the National Booking site to get an appointment at one of the mass vaccination sites such as Salt Hill. The next clinics are:
Saturday 16/10 - morning and afternoon
Saturday 23/10 - afternoon (following flu clinic in the morning)
As many of you may already know Dr. Sanjeev Mata will be retiring from the Burnham Health centre in the middle of November. I am sure he will be missed by many local patients he has helped over his long career in the NHS. We all wish him good health and happiness in whatever he does in the future.
This will be my last weekly update. I will be writing these on a monthly basis from now on. I hope they’ve been useful for many of you over the last 18 months. Thanks for all the feedback.
As always - Keep Safe Everyone
Bye for now
Dr. M Tanvir Jamil
Senior Partner
Burnham Health Centre

The Dr's last weekly update! He will be sending monthly from now in. (I hope I still get sent them). It's a long one but very informative:

Hello Everyone,
The Covid booster programme has now jabbed over 2 million in England so far. People eligible for a booster include those aged 50 and over, front line health and social care staff, and those aged between 16-49 with a significant underlying health condition. Locally in Burnham, we are well ahead and those of you who are due their booster will be getting a text message shortly. If you do not have a mobile then we will call your landline. The booster jabs are being given at least 6 months after a second dose of the Covid vaccine. No matter which first vaccines you have had – Pfizer or Astra-Zeneca – the booster will be the Pfizer jab. It’s best to get the jab as soon as possible after you are called but your immunity does not suddenly fall after 6 months so don’t worry if there is an unexpected delay – eg you are away on holiday. If you become ill from another infection (such as flu) causing fever you may also need to delay the booster. The advice is similar to when you are due a flu jab – if you have a mild illness such as a cold or sinus infection you are ok but if you have a fever or have just started antibiotics then it would be best to delay the jab until you have recovered. All the recent research shows that the booster jabs are safe and will raise your antibody levels back up to those achieved after the second dose. Most side-effects of the booster are similar to those from earlier Covid vaccines including pain at the injection site, fatigue, mild fever, and headaches. You can take paracetamol (2 tablets up to four times daily) for these symptoms together with rest and plenty of fluids. There is usually complete recovery in 2-3 days.

If you are fully vaccinated there is much less chance of you catching the virus and of passing it on. However, a few fully vaccinated people will still get Covid but you will probably just have mild effects. Previously people were getting loss of smell, cough, and fever as their main symptoms. With the change in the variant and vaccination – presenting symptoms have now changed to headache, runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat. Cough and fever seem to be further down the list. These can be difficult to tell from an ordinary cold so it’s best to arrange a Covid test. Most people recover within a couple of weeks but if you find that your breathing becomes worse – such as getting short of breath using the stairs or even at rest then please call the surgery or 111. This is particularly important for people with significant other underlying health conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), severe asthma, and heart failure. At Burnham Health Centre we have set up an Oximetry Service – we can lend you an oximeter which measures the oxygen levels at the tip of your finger. We will also give you instructions on how often to take the readings and the warning signs to look for. The service is being run by a doctor, social prescriber, and pharmacist. So if you get a nasty chest infection and you also have other underlying health conditions that might severely affect your breathing then let us know and we can use the oximetry service to monitor your breathing whilst you are being treated.
Even though its been a little late in coming the vaccination programme for young people has also started nationwide. The logic behind this is that the vaccine will not only protect the young person but the community at large by providing a barrier that stops transmission to other more vulnerable people. This is not a new strategy – the same was done in the past for another highly contagious disease – measles. This is now an extremely uncommon illness in the UK, Europe, and North America. In parts of the world where there are low vaccination rates for measles the disease is still common and causes many childhood deaths especially in the under 5-year-olds.
At the moment most well young people are only being offered just one jab of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. This may change with time and they may be offered a second jab later on as has been recommended by the drug company and researchers in other countries.

(part 2 to follow)

Hello Everyone,

The Delta variant remains the dominant strain of SARS-CoV-2 around the globe. The number of worldwide deaths has now reached 5 million with unvaccinated people being the main victims. In the last week, more attention has been focused on poorer countries where the vast majority of their population has not received even one dose whilst rich nations such as the USA, UK and Europe are already giving booster jabs.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is now pushing its CoVax distribution programme to countries with the lowest levels of coverage whilst the rich nations are contributing more vaccines and money to this cause. But it is not only the poorer nations being affected. The USA has reached 700,000 deaths and the UK is nearly 137,000.

One in 20 secondary school children are infected with the virus and as that figure increases a greater number will be admitted to hospital and some may become very seriously ill. The death of 15 year old Jorja Halliday in Portsmouth last week is a reminder that while Covid is not often serious in young people, it can occasionally be fatal. Jorja died from acute myocarditis – an inflammation of the heart muscle. Mild myocarditis has been recorded as a very rare side effect of the vaccine and usually settles in 3-4 days. The risk of myocarditis is significantly higher from Covid infection and can cause serious heart problems.

The roll-out of vaccination for 12-15 yr olds in England was due on 20th September but it has had a slow start as the vaccine is given in schools and parental consent is needed beforehand. The recommendation is a single shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

Prevention (ie mask-wearing, social distancing) and vaccination have been the mainstays of tackling Covid. But what about other developments that can help when someone actually gets Covid?

Molnupiravir is an antiviral drug that was initially designed to treat flu but recent research has found that it can reduce hospitalisations and death from Covid-19 by 50% if given early on in the disease. If further studies confirm these findings and it is authorised for use then it will be the first oral antiviral medication for Covid. Molnupiravir works by interfering with the processes that the virus uses to replicate so preventing it from spreading inside the body. Scientists think that this should also take this medicine effective in any new variants that may arise in the future. A similar drug to Molnupiravir is Favipiravir – another antiviral agent licensed to treat flu in Japan since 2014. It works in the same way and results from its trials are expected soon.

Pfizer, which is one of the companies that make vaccines, are also developing an antiviral drug they hope will help treat Covid by the same mode of action.

As well as oral drugs some companies are looking at inhaled medications also. Interferons, first used to treat Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are given via a nebuliser as a fine mist. Once it is breathed in it stimulates the lungs’ immune defences.

Budesonide is an inhaled steroid often used to treat asthma and COPD. Although not yet a standard treatment for Covid, initial studies have found that it can help shorten recovery time by 3 days – as long as you are not bad enough to be admitted.

Another steroid made headlines early on in the pandemic. Dexamethasone is over 50 years old, fairly cheap and when given to seriously ill people with Covid in the hospital saved the lives of one in eight people. It works by dampening down the overreaction of the immune system (‘cytokine storm’) to the Covid infection.

Remdesivir is yet another antiviral drug – just like Molnupiravir and Favipiravir. It was given emergency use status by many countries during the covid pandemic but its benefits to patients have not been convincing, it is very expensive and can only be given through the vein.

Sometimes an idea sounds so good and logical that it is given lots of publicity even before it has been thoroughly tried and tested. This was the case with convalescent blood plasma. Basically, it was thought that blood containing antibodies collected from people who had recovered from Covid would have a protective effect. In fact, the USA gave it emergency authorisation and thousands of people both in the US and UK started to donate their plasma once they had recovered from their Covid infection. Unfortunately, a large US study involving 500,000 people hospitalised with Covid infection showed no benefit.

Some people have put off having the vaccine because they have had Covid already and feel that they are therefore immune. What the latest research is telling us is that immunity from vaccination is superior to that acquired from getting an infection. Apparently, Covid infection induces a lot of antibodies that do not attach well to the SARS-CoV-2 – the virus that causes Covid.

So the good news is that we are learning more about Covid-19 and developing effective ways to treat this virus. In the meantime, vaccination and prevention remain our best defence.

Keep Safe Everyone

Bye for now

Dr M Tanvir Jamil

Neighbourhood Watch October Our News Newsletter is Here:

https://www.neighbourhoodalert.co.uk/da/398567