What is Neighbourhood Watch?
The Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) scheme in the United Kingdom is a partnership where people come together to make their communities safer. It involves the Police, Community Safety departments of local authorities, other voluntary organisations and, above all, individuals and families who want to make their neighbourhoods better places to live.
It aims to help people protect themselves and their properties and to reduce the fear of crime by means of improved home security, greater vigilance, accurate reporting of suspicious incidents to the police and by fostering a community spirit.
It relies on unpaid volnteers at all levels of the organisation and is always looking for more volunteers to fill the many gaps, particularly at local level. If you are interested in helping, please <more>

History
The UK's first Neighbourhood Watch was set up in Mollington in Cheshire in 1982 following the success of a similar scheme in Chicago in the United States. Many more schemes followed throughout the UK, and 10 million people are now claimed to be members.
Bromley Neighbourhood Watch covers large parts of Bromley and has over 700 coordinators serving the local community.

Bromley Neighbourhood Watch objectives are;
- To help prevent crime by improving security, increasing vigilance, creating and maintaining a caring community and reducing opportunities for crime by increasing crime prevention awareness.
- To assist the police in detecting crime by promoting effective communication and the prompt reporting of suspicious and criminal activity.
- To reduce undue fear of crime by providing accurate information about risks and by promoting a sense of security and community spirit, particularly amongst the more vulnerable members of the community.
- To improve police/community liaison by providing effective communications through Neighbourhood Watch messaging systems which warn Co-coordinators of local crime trends which they can disseminate to their scheme members, and by members informing the police of incidents when they occur.

PUBLIC LIABILITY INSURANCE for Neighbourhood Watch & Home Watch schemes in 2012-13; Free Public Liability Insurance has been undertaken to provide relevant cover for all schemes and Neighbourhood and Home Watch (NHW) volunteers to carry out their roles without fear of personal loss across England and Wales. The policy startED on the 1st April 2012 and will run until the 31st March 2013. Towergate Insurance is the broker and Aviva is the insurer. <more>

Accredited Tradesmen:
Are you looking for a reliable tradesman to do some work for you? If so, follow this link

NEWS

Watch Out, Watch Out - PickPockets about - more details here

Bromley Area is being hit by burglars with one burglary every day in the BR5 and BR6 areas. Bromley police urge householders to be aware of crime prevention measures you can take to secure your property. If you see anything suspicious in your neighbourhood inform the police.
1. PVC and aluminium doors should have multi-locking systems which must be activated by lifting the handle and then locking with a key. It is not secure if you only lift the handle.
2. Always engage your mortice lock on wooden doors. It is not secure if you only activate a yale lock
3. Do not leave any windows open either on the ground or upper floors
4. Most burglars are looking for opportunities so lock gates to your garden and do not leave garages or sheds open.
<more>

Card Fraud Telephone Scam
The UK Cards Association is advising customers to be aware of a new variation on an old style scam that involves people being telephoned by fraudsters and duped into handing over their debit or credit card, and revealing their PIN.(Posted March 2012) Details here

The digital television switch over is coming soon. Please be aware of unscrupulous people trying to gain money from residents. There is a digital television help scheme available to qualifying residents. If residents qualify they will be sent a letter from Digital UK explaining what can be done to help them. Official help can be sought regarding the digital switch over and about the Help scheme by calling 08456 50 50 50 or by going to www.digitaluk.co.uk or http://www.helpscheme.co.uk
Do not let people into your home if you are unsure who the person is, and always check identification

Bromley Borough Commanders Newsletter: Bromley Borough Commander Steph Roberts' newsletter for June 2012 is now available, giving details of local crime initiatives and criminal convictions. (Posted February 2012).Click here for the newsletter.

Energy Saving Scam: Trading Standards Institute is warning of dangerous energy saving scams targeting the elderly. They are urging consumers to be aware of rogue telephone cold callers offering energy saving devices after receiving hundreds of complaints.up and down the country. People are claiming to be their energy supplier or working in partnership with them, offering a plug in device which they say can save 40 per cent off their energy bills. Trading Standards have had a number of the items tested which not only failed to satisfy electrical safety standards but do not deliver any tangible energy savings. (Posted December 2011) <more>

Purse Bells: Bromley Borough are still experiencing high demand for purse bells. In order to get them out to the broadest audience possible they are delivering 200 purse bells to every charity shop in the borough by Saturday 17th December.
The idea of the purse bell is for one to be attached to a purse, wallet or hand bag to draw attention should anyone try to interfere with it. We particularly encourage vulnerable shoppers who may be targeted by pick pockets (without alarming them) to use them.

UPVC Doors
There has been an increase in residential burglaries in Bromley. Thieves are targeting properties with uPVC doors and police are urging residents to pay extra attention to their home security. <more>
(Posted December 2011)

Thefts of Cars from Drives
The Bromley police have asked us to draw attention to the rise in thefts of cars from domestic drives. As has been widely reported in the press, the preferred method has been by breaking into the house, or fishing through the letter box, to steal car keys and drive the car away - seldom to be recovered. Usually the keys taken include house keys so security of the property is also at risk. See <more>
(Posted 13 October 2011)

Thefts of car number plates
A local coordinator has reported that "A neighbour told me this morning that a number of cars in Foxgrove Road had their number plates pulled off in the night. Number plates that were screwed on were not taken. I haven't been able to verify this, except for one car, but thought it might be useful to tell car owners to have their number plates screwed on rather than glued. Also, to explain that their number plates could be used on another car to appear as if it were their car for tax or even to commit a crime.
(Posted 17 October 2011)

Dangerous emails:
Most people have heard of the danger of giving out personal details. A recent example of the danger is a series of emails from a whole variety of banks, etc., in which you the assumed customer are requested to verify your account details. Click here for examples. Banks etc have assured us that they will never request personal account details by email.

Don't let strangers in:
Please warn your neighbours (particularly elderly ones living alone) not to let strangers into their home.
A resident in Hillcrest Road, Orpington, recently had a very unpleasant experience when a man followed her home from Orpington High Street and as she went up her drive, he spoke to her saying he desperately needed the toilet and could he borrow hers.
Being a nice kind person she said yes, but while he was in the house he stole her purse.
She is understandably very shaken and upset and we would hate it to happen to anyone else.

Bogus Number Plates:
Click here for report
(Posted 1 Jul 2011)

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