This page is relevant to all villages.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overnight burglaries resulting in car theft

 

Over the last two weeks there has been an increase in overnight burglaries where vehicles have been stolen. The offences have been in in Wooburn Green, Marlow, Taplow and Chalfont St Peter. We are sending this to all TV alert subscribers across South Bucks as an FYI as others areas could be targeted.

 

Offenders have been entering the properties through insecure front and rear doors, when inside they target car keys, wallets and handbags. They have then gone on to steal high powered German vehicles such as a BMW and Mercedes Benz.

 

TVP continue to work to target and decrease domestic burglaries and car thefts, but as a reminder of some basic security procedures:

 

• Keep your doors locked at all times
• Use window locks
• Lock your gate to stop people having free access to the rear or side of your home
• Keep car keys and valuables well out of view and away from the front door
• Consider additional physical security for your vehicle such as steering wheel locks
• We have heard feedback while circulating crime prevention advice that some members of public have garages yet opt out of using them, if you do have a garage and can keep your car locked away, this will greatly prevent vehicle theft.
• Consider CCTV for driveway if you have not done so already.

 

Social media summary

Click here for PDF

 

 

 

£6.7 million lost to Ticket Fraud in 2023

New data released today by Action Fraud reveals £6.7 million was lost to ticket fraud last year. Website

 

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

 

How to protect yourself from ticket fraud:

 

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

 

 

Report ticket fraud

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

Please complete our Insights Survey 2024!

It's that time of year, when we ask for your time to fill in our annual Insights Survey 2024 and share your anonymous feedback with us. The survey should take no longer than 15 minutes to complete, and will be invaluable in helping us understand what our supporters, members and volunteers enjoy about being part of Neighbourhood Watch, and how we can continue to improve the way we support our members and volunteers.

 

This survey is anonymous, and so we encourage your honest and constructive feedback. At the end, you can opt-in to a prize draw to win one of four £25 Amazon vouchers, if you wish.

 

Click here to complete the Insights Survey 2024.

 

The Insights Survey will close on Friday 3rd May 2024. Thank you in advance for your helpful feedback!

 

 

Please park considerately on the school run

As schools return after the Easter holidays, parents and carers dropping children off by car are being given a timely reminder to #Beconsiderate about how and where they park or stop, to help keep everyone safe.

 

Buckinghamshire Council is relaunching its #Beconsiderate campaign which seeks to remind those who hop in the car to do the school run, to think about the safety of pedestrians and other road users when they stop to drop their children off.

 

Many children are taken to and from school by car every day. Sometimes in the rush to get there on time, it can be tempting to pull onto the kerb or part way onto a driveway, stop on zig zag lines or even pull into a bus stop.  While it may seem like a harmless thing to do, vehicles blocking pavements and footpaths, even if just for a short time, often means pedestrians, which can include young children, those with limited mobility and older people, are forced to go into the road to get past, which can be extremely dangerous. Similarly, part blocking a private driveway or lowered kerb can prevent larger vehicles including emergency ambulances and fire engines from getting through and parking in or near a bus stop can lead to unnecessary traffic queues.  It is also important not to block the visibility for school crossing patrollers when they are assisting families on their way to school safely.

 

Steven Broadbent, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Transport said: “We know that the majority of drivers do consider pedestrians and other road users when they park, but we want to say to all motorists - Have you thought about the impact to others when you pull up onto the kerb? You could be forcing a wheelchair user, a parent with a buggy or anyone walking on the pavement to have to step into the road because you are blocking their pathway. We know most people don’t deliberately try to cause issues, but inconsiderate parking can be dangerous for everyone, so we are asking people to think carefully about where they stop and to try and avoid blocking access for all other road users and pedestrians.

 

Steven added: "It is also worth being aware, anyone caught infringing parking restrictions in this way risks receiving a fixed penalty notice from our civil enforcement officers, so could also find themselves financially out of pocket."

 

Buckinghamshire Council’s School’s Sustainable Transport Team works with schools to encourage using other methods of transport to get to and from school, including walking, cycling or wheeling. Not only does save money on fuel, it avoids the stress of parking, keeps children active and is better for the environment. If parents must drive, parking away from the school and walking rest of the way can also ease congestion that often takes place directly outside the school.

 

For more information on School Travel Plans and Parking visit the council website.

 

Council unveils ambitious Housing Strategy for 2024-2029

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Buckinghamshire Council has unveiled a comprehensive Housing Strategy for 2024-2029. The strategy sets out the council’s vision, priorities and actions to meet the current and future housing needs and challenges in the county.

 

The Housing Strategy has been developed with the input and support of a wide range of partners, including housing associations, developers, community groups and other public sector organisations.

 

To achieve the strategy, the council has created three key priorities:

 

• A strong housing offer: The vision is to provide affordable, accessible, sustainable, and suitable housing choices for all life stages. Recognising that a safe and secure home is fundamental to quality of life, public health, and economic prosperity.
• Better homes: The council is dedicated to improving the quality and sustainability of existing homes. Through targeted investments, it aims to enhance living conditions and create vibrant communities.
• New homes: The strategy emphasises the importance of affordable, accessible, and appropriate new housing. By collaborating with housing associations, developers, and community groups, Buckinghamshire Council will ensure that residents find homes that meet their needs and aspirations.

 

Each priority includes:

 

• What the council will do to achieve it
• The challenges Buckinghamshire faces
• Actions the council is taking now
• Proposed actions up to 2029

 

 

Visit the council’s website to view the full Housing Strategy document.

 

 

Social media summary

Appeal regarding assault on bus: Image released following assault – Gerrards Cross | Thames Valley Police

 

Please see linked the weekly summary from our social media page.

 

 

 

Transform your street into a Play Street!

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Communities across Buckinghamshire are being invited to take advantage of a scheme which highlights the importance of outdoor play and encourages neighbours to spend time socialising together, promoting the benefits for health and wellbeing in all ages.

 

Play Streets invites residents from communities across the county to apply for permission, free of charge, to close their road for a few hours at a time so that they can come together outside their homes to socialise, reduce social isolation and play safely. The scheme is part of the national Playing Out initiative and has been running successfully in Buckinghamshire for several years. Roads are closed to traffic for the duration, but pedestrian access is allowed, and residents can enjoy spending time together outside their homes. 

 

Play Streets is particularly beneficial to children and young people in terms of their health and wellbeing and for reducing social isolation for adults. Figures for Buckinghamshire show:

 

• Only 48% of children and young people are reaching recommended activity levels of 60 minutes of activity per day.*
• Over 30% of children aged 10-11 years old are above a healthy weight.*
• Children's play is vital for happiness, physical and emotional development and social learning.
• Levels of loneliness rose more in Buckinghamshire than the national average during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly one quarter (24%) of adults felt lonely at least some of the time in 2021.

 

Many communities in Buckinghamshire have run Play Streets sessions previously and have found it to be both popular and beneficial. One resident commented: “The sense of community is definitely the best thing about it.” A child who took part voiced the simple pleasure that can be had by running an event. They said that the best part of the session for them was, “riding my bike with no cars around.”

 

With summer months approaching, communities are being encouraged to start applying now, to allow time for planning and paperwork to be completed. For more information visit the website

 

This project is part of the Opportunity Bucks programme, helping to improve outcomes for people in Buckinghamshire.