This page is relevant to all villages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nottingham Knockers

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

Operation Grotto - Annual Winter burglary campaign

On the 28th October, Buckinghamshire TVP started their annual winter burglary campaign (Operation Grotto)❄️It will continue into the new year.

This is the response to the seasonal rise in burglaries during the winter months. Nightly patrols with multiple units will be taking place all over Bucks and will be focused on areas most impacted by burglary in order to prevent further offending.

While the main aim of the patrols is to detect and deter burglaries, officers will be keeping an eye out for any criminal activity or anti-social behaviour in hours of darkness. Your local neighbourhood teams will also be working with their communities around crime prevention to ensure everyone is making their homes as secure as possible this winter, while our investigative departments will be working intensively to progress burglary investigations👮

So far officers have:

Attended several burglaries in progress

Carried out reassurance patrols around neighbourhoods that have recently seen a burglary

Seized 3 vehicles and arrested one male in the Burnham area on suspicion of being linked to vehicle crime

Dealt with numerous driving offences such as drink driving, no insurance and driving dangerously.

We will be looking to update you all with more results in the coming months🚔

Please help TVP be robust on burglars and thieves this winter by continuing to report information via 101 or at Home | Thames Valley Police
(Call 999 if a crime is in progress or you are at risk of harm)

Steal this Christmas? Yule regret it.

As the Christmas shopping season begins, we are urging members of the public to think twice before engaging in shoplifting, warning that officers are working closely with retailers to crack down on retail crime.

In October 2025, we saw a 21% increase in charges for shoplifting offences compared to the same period in 2024. During the same timeframe out-of-court resolutions have increased by 10%.

We understand that the festive period can bring financial pressures, and with high-value items on display, the temptation to steal may rise… but don’t ignore the consequences. Shoplifting is a criminal offence, and those caught will be arrested.

Shoplifting affects local businesses and puts retail staff at risk. We’re working with retailers, using CCTV and increasing patrols to identify offenders quickly and effectively.

Let’s keep the season safe, fair, and festive for everyone.

 

 

Residents reminded of upcoming suspension for garden waste subscriptions
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Buckinghamshire Council is reminding subscribers to its garden waste service that collections will soon be suspended for the usual 6-week winter period. This annual suspension takes place during the winter when garden waste is at a minimum.

Garden waste collections are suspended between Monday 15 December 2025 and Friday 23 January 2026, with the service resuming from Monday 26 January 2026 on usual collection days.

To find out which days our Household Recycling Centres are open and further details of what can and cannot be taken to a centre, visit: www.buckinghamshire.gov.uk/waste-and-recycling

Garden waste collected from homes across Buckinghamshire or taken to Household Recycling Centres is processed locally into high-quality compost. Residents can buy Community Compost at all Household Recycling Centres. Proceeds from the sales support good causes in Buckinghamshire.

Council confirms new Connect to Work programme to boost local employment
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Buckinghamshire Council is launching a new ‘Connect to Work programme’ which will commence from April 2026. This transformative initiative is aimed at helping residents overcome barriers to employment and unlock meaningful job opportunities.

As part of this nationally funded scheme, Buckinghamshire Council has secured nearly £7m from Government to support up to 1,640 residents over the next four years, offering tailored assistance to those facing particular challenges getting into work.

Connect to Work is specifically designed to support residents who may have found it hard to find employment due to circumstances such as disability, long-term health conditions, homelessness, or caring responsibilities. Connect to Work links individuals with employers who can support their specific needs, allowing them to access work and build their career.

Connect to Work is a key part of Buckinghamshire’s wider Economic Growth Plan, which includes a significant focus on building skills, boosting productivity, and reducing inequality in Buckinghamshire, to improve access to work for individuals and to support the county’s economic growth as a whole. Connect to Work is one of a number of strands under the council’s ‘skills and employment’ drive which is underpinned by its recently adopted Skills and Employment Strategy.

Recent successes under this theme also include the council’s Skills Bootcamps – which offer free, practical short courses with guaranteed interviews with local employers. Of the most recent cohort, 98% of more than 400 participants completed training with 84% interviewing and 70% now progressing into work, upskilling, or moving into self-employment.


Future-proofing the health and wellbeing of Buckinghamshire residents

Supporting residents to live healthy and happy lives whatever their age or circumstance, both now and in the future, is the focus of the Director of Public Health’s Annual Report (DPHAR) ‘Tomorrow’s World – Health & Wellbeing in Buckinghamshire in 2045’ which was approved by Cabinet today (Tuesday 11 November).

The theme of this year’s report reflects Buckinghamshire’s changing population and the increases we are seeing in many health conditions in the county. It highlights the need for action that is targeted, preventative and partnership focused, to address the challenges and issues this will bring.

Data shows that over the next 20 years Buckinghamshire’s population will grow by 10.8%, more than the national figure of 9.2%. Local housing growth, as outlined in our draft Local Plan, will increase this figure further. The proportion of older people (age 65+) will increase the most (by 33%), meaning an additional 36,000 older people by 2044. In the same time period, the number of those aged 90+ will double, to 12,300. In comparison, the number of young people, (17 and under) will drop by 5.6%, meaning 7,000 fewer children in the local population.

Like many parts of the UK, the number of years that on average people will live in good health is projected to worsen and poor health continues to more negatively impact the lives of residents in some particular parts of our county.

These changes will bring a variety of challenges including increased demands on health and social care services and an increase in residents not in paid work due to ill health. To address these challenges and proactively shape a healthier future for all residents, the report makes a wide range of recommendations and acknowledges that responsibility for delivering them falls across a range of partners. Recognising that promoting good health and preventing illness is something that needs to be addressed at all stages of life, the report focuses on three key components – Start Well, Live Well and Age Well. Each stage comes with its own unique opportunities and challenges which are highlighted in the report with actions and aims set out according to life stage.

 

 

 

 

Be Bright, Be Seen: Stay safe as the darker days set in
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Buckinghamshire Council is reminding residents to ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ as the darker mornings and evenings return.

With reduced daylight and the likelihood of foggy or misty weather, visibility on the roads can be significantly affected. The council is urging everyone – whether walking, wheeling, cycling or driving – to take simple steps to help keep themselves and others stay safe.

Wearing bright, fluorescent clothing during the day and reflective materials at night can make a big difference. Fluorescent fabrics are effective in daylight and at dusk, while reflective materials are essential after dark to ensure visibility in car headlights. Adding reflective tape to bags, jackets or mobility aids is a quick and easy way to improve safety.

Cyclists are reminded to check that their bike lights are clean and working properly. It’s a legal requirement to have a white front light, a red rear light and a red rear reflector when cycling at night.

Drivers also play a vital role in keeping roads safe. Slowing down in poor visibility, being alert to pedestrians and cyclists, and ensuring vehicle lights are functioning correctly are all important ways to help prevent accidents.

More information, including the ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ online game for children and young people, is available on the Think! website.

Residents of all ages can also take part in Glow-vember, a fun and rewarding campaign encouraging people to stay active and visible during the darker months. Find out more a at Glow-vember.

Council continues crackdown on misuse of disabled parking permits
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Buckinghamshire Council has carried out another successful Blue Badge Day of Action, targeting misuse of disabled parking permits across the county.

This latest operation, held on 28 October, saw Parking Enforcement Officers working alongside the Blue Badge Team in Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, and Gerrards Cross. The teams inspected a total of 163 Blue Badges across the three locations.

As a result of the checks, three expired badges were seized. In each case, the badge holder had a valid replacement but had failed to remove the old one, potentially misleading enforcement officers. Five Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were also issued during the day.

The council continues to encourage residents to report suspected misuse of Blue Badges. Reports can be made confidentially via the council’s website: Report the abuse of a Blue Badge

 

 

 

 

 

 

Road Safety Data

We would now like to share our next Quarterly reports of road safety statistics with you. This is Quarter 2, Apr - June 2025

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

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

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

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

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

Reports for the Buckinghamshire Council area here.

TV Police Launches 24/7 British Sign Language (BSL) Access for Non-Emergency Calls

Thames Valley Police is committed to making our services accessible to everyone in our community.

👋Did you know about our partnership with Sign Video, a British Sign Language (BSL) online interpreting service? This free service allows deaf and hearing-impaired residents to contact us using their mobile phone, tablet, or computer for non-emergency matters.

📲Use the Sign Video app or visit Video Relay Service App for BSL Users And Interpreters | SignVideo  You can then contact Sign Video for free, through the Sign Directory by tapping on Thames Valley. For more information, please visit www.signvideo.co.uk.

New Scam Alert:

Protect yourself from payment diversion fraud when buying a new property.

 

City of London Police and Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cyber crime, are urging the public to remain vigilant following a rise in payment diversion fraud - commonly known as conveyancing fraud. This type of fraud often involves criminals impersonating solicitors or estate agents to intercept large financial transfers during property transactions.

 

Between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025, 143 cases of conveyancing fraud were reported to Action Fraud, resulting in £11.7 million in losses. The vast majority involved residential property transactions, accounting for 140 reports and £10.97 million in losses, with an average loss of £78,393 per case.

 

What is conveyancing fraud or payment diversion fraud?

 

Conveyancing fraud, also referred to as lawyer or solicitor impersonation fraud, occurs when criminals gain access to email chains between property buyers, sellers, solicitors, and estate agents. Once inside, they impersonate a trusted party and send convincing messages requesting that funds, such as deposits or final payments, be transferred to bank accounts under their control.

 

These scams are often timed to coincide with the final stages of a transaction, when large sums are expected to be moved quickly. Fraudsters apply pressure, claiming urgency, and convincing victims that delays could jeopardise the deal.

 

This type of fraud isn’t limited to home purchases - it has also been reported in rental agreements and probate transactions, where funds are transferred as part of estate settlements. Fraudsters will often use hacked or spoofed email accounts so that their messages can appear highly authentic. Victims may not realise they’ve been deceived until the money is gone.

 

How to protect yourself from conveyancing fraud:

 

• Receiving bank details securely: always get your solicitor’s bank details in-person or over the phone at the start of the conveyancing process, and request that any changes to these details be communicated with you in-person, by phone call, or by letter.
• Email or texts asking you to change bank details: if you receive a message that feels suspicious, such as a request from your solicitor asking you to amend payment information, STOP! Think fraud. Contact your solicitor directly, over the phone or in-person, and verify that the request was genuine. 
• Prioritise your email security: you should use three random words to create a strong and separate password for your email account. Enable two-step verification to add an extra level of security.

 

What to do if you are a victim of conveyancing fraud:

 

• If you have made a payment: inform your bank as soon as possible, they can help you prevent any further losses. 
• Report: if you become the victim of conveyancing fraud, call your bank immediately using the number on the back of your bank card and report it to Action Fraud online at http://actionfraud.police.uk or by calling 0300 123 2040. If you're in Scotland, you can report it to Police Scotland on 101.
• You could be targeted again: fraudsters sometimes re-establish contact with previous victims claiming that they can help them recover lost money, this is just a secondary scam. Hang up on any callers that claim they can get your money back for you.

 

Do you want to learn more about payment diversion fraud? Check out the City of London press release here.

 

 

NW Nottingham Knockers/Fake stickers and QR Codes

 

I thought I would explain further about Nottingham Knockers:

 

Their name may be associated with the city of Nottingham, but this group can still target anywhere across the country.

 

They take the form of young men who descend on an area together in a car or a van. They normally arrive with a large bag of cleaning or sometimes gardening products each and a plan to go door to door in search of cash sales. Whilst selling at the doorstep - although not illegal but they should have a pedlar's licence but are known for their aggressive behaviour and premium price tags of poor quality.

 

They often claim they are ex- offenders trying to make a living and may carry a mocked up ID Card. Remember if they are uninvited you do not need to answer the door, if you do answer then make sure ( if you have one) put the door chain on if not say you are not interested and firmly close the door. If they do become aggressive you can inform them, you are calling the police. They seem to make a quick exit!

 

Fake Stickers and QR Codes.

 

There has been recently some fake stickers and QR codes being placed over contactless card readers on ticket machine in car parks. When drivers tap to pay for parking, the machine shows “card declined” but by then the card details may already be compromised.

 

The scam causes several issues for victims as they end up giving their money  to scammers and giving them their card details.

 

It can also lead to parking fines as victims fail to pay the correct parking fare via the correct channels.

 

Three signs to note it is a genuine parking notice:

 

• Real parking fines will include the vehicle registration.
• Real Parking will show the time and date of the offence.
• Real Parking will show the location where the alleged offence took place.

 

A genuine parking fine will always come in writing and be left on your windscreen, or handed to you in person, or arrive in the post.

 

There are three types of fines you may receive:

 

1. A penalty charge notice issued by the council.

 

2. A fixed penalty notice issued by the police usually linked to an offence such a speeding.

 

3. A parking charge notice issued by a private company.

 

It is worth remembering that parking charge notices " are not technically fines they are invoices for breaking paring rules.

 

See the post at the top of this page to sign up to notifications of NK in your area. Set up by the Ed. It's free and runs from Whatsapp.

 

 

Be Bright, Be Seen: Stay safe as the darker days set in
​

Buckinghamshire Council is reminding residents to ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ as the darker mornings and evenings return.

With reduced daylight and the likelihood of foggy or misty weather, visibility on the roads can be significantly affected. The council is urging everyone – whether walking, wheeling, cycling or driving – to take simple steps to help keep themselves and others stay safe.

Wearing bright, fluorescent clothing during the day and reflective materials at night can make a big difference. Fluorescent fabrics are effective in daylight and at dusk, while reflective materials are essential after dark to ensure visibility in car headlights. Adding reflective tape to bags, jackets or mobility aids is a quick and easy way to improve safety.

Cyclists are reminded to check that their bike lights are clean and working properly. It’s a legal requirement to have a white front light, a red rear light and a red rear reflector when cycling at night.

Drivers also play a vital role in keeping roads safe. Slowing down in poor visibility, being alert to pedestrians and cyclists, and ensuring vehicle lights are functioning correctly are all important ways to help prevent accidents.

More information, including the ‘Be Bright, Be Seen’ online game for children and young people, is available on the Think! website.

Residents of all ages can also take part in Glow-vember, a fun and rewarding campaign encouraging people to stay active and visible during the darker months. Find out more a at Glow-vember.

Council continues crackdown on misuse of disabled parking permits
​

Buckinghamshire Council has carried out another successful Blue Badge Day of Action, targeting misuse of disabled parking permits across the county.

This latest operation, held on 28 October, saw Parking Enforcement Officers working alongside the Blue Badge Team in Aylesbury, Beaconsfield, and Gerrards Cross. The teams inspected a total of 163 Blue Badges across the three locations.

As a result of the checks, three expired badges were seized. In each case, the badge holder had a valid replacement but had failed to remove the old one, potentially misleading enforcement officers. Five Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) were also issued during the day.

The council continues to encourage residents to report suspected misuse of Blue Badges. Reports can be made confidentially via the council’s website: Report the abuse of a Blue Badge