Hello Neighbours,

April is the ‘cruellest month’ according to opening of the famous poem The Wasteland. But we disagree, our news this April is actually very exciting. We’re sharing insights into the new plans for police reform, a minute of mayhem on Radio 4, and celebrating some fantastic volunteers.

Highlights this month: 

• The Neighbourhood Watch podcast – coming soon!
• Watch the Safer High Streets webinar
• Blog: what will the new police reforms mean in practice?
• Local volunteer spotlights on Greenwich and Gloucestershire.
• New Online Crime Centre launched to crack down on fraud
• Sign up to our special Stephen Lawrence Day event on knife crime.

The Neighbourhood Watch Podcast – coming soon! 

Neighbourhood Watch is set to launch a brand-new podcast this May. The format brings together well-known faces to share their experiences of crime and community. The podcast, hosted by former police officer turned comedian Alfie Moore, best known for his popular BBC Radio 4 series It’s a Fair Cop, will see celebrities open up about the communities where they grew up and how crime has touched their lives. Find out more.

Safety on our High Streets 

Huge thanks to Sgt Matt Coe for presenting a fascinating online webinar on creating safer high streets.  The webinar was part of our Neighbourhood Safety Training offer for business owners and managers who want to keep their staff safe. You can watch the full webinar online here. If you own or run a business or you know someone who does, you can sign up to the free training here.

Secure your garden for Summer

As the days get longer and we spend more time outdoors, it’s easy to forget that our gardens can also become a target for opportunistic thieves. From furniture and tools to bikes and side access points, a few simple steps can make a big difference in keeping your outdoor space secure, especially when paired with smart security that keeps an eye on things for you. Read SimpliSafe’s check list for what you can do to keep your belongings secure. Read the full list and find the security system that’s right for you at SimpliSafe UK with 50% off at checkout.

Just a minute

Could you talk about your neighbourhood watch group for a minute, without hesitation, repetition or deviation? Just a Minute is a BBC Radio 4 game hosted by comedian Sue Perkins. Each panellist must try to talk on a given topic for sixty seconds.  Guests Paul Merton, Zoe Lyons, Chris Cantrill, Lucy Porter, were given the subject of ‘my Neighbourhood Watch group’. Have a listen here (scroll to 25 minutes into the show if you don’t want to listen to the whole thing).

Stephen Lawrence day webinar

Stephen Lawrence Day is on 22 April. It marks the anniversary of Stephen’s murder in 1993. This year, Neighbourhood Watch is marking the occasion by hosting a special webinar on knife crime, delivered in partnership with the Ben Kinsella Trust, one of the UK’s leading charities dedicated to knife crime prevention and education. Join us at 10.30 on 22 April to learn what you can do to keep young people safe. This event is free and online.  Register for the webinar.

Volunteer spotlight: Gloucestershire 

Phil Sullivan and Gloucestershire Neighbourhood Watch Association have been helping local people prepare for medical emergencies. The ‘Message in a bottle’ initiative is a simple but effective way for people to keep basic personal and medical details where they can be found in an emergency – in the fridge. The scheme is run by the Lions Club, and Gloucestershire NWA has given out 1000s of bottles to vulnerable people in the community. Find out more about the ‘Message in a bottle’ initiative here.

Save 20%* off the UK’s favourite travel insurance

Neighbourhood Watch helps protect what matters most – at home and away. That’s why we’ve partnered with Staysure, the UK’s favourite travel insurance provider with more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider. Where will your next adventure take you? Get 20%* off with code NBHW20.

*Offer Ends 15.05.2026. Discount excludes medical screening costs and add-ons. New policies only. Full T&Cs apply.

Police reform

The Government recently published its white paper on police reform, which if implemented in full, would be the most significant reform of policing in over 60 years, if not ever. There is little doubt that major police reform is required as the nature of crime and criminality has changed massively with the internet. Chief Executive of Neighbourhood Watch Network has shared his insights into what these changes might mean in practice and where the pitfalls lie. Read John’s blog here.

Volunteer spotlight: Rashmee

This month we’re celebrating the wonderful Rashmee Roshan Lall. Rashmee is one of our volunteers in Greenwich, London. She was recently celebrated at the ‘Spirit of the borough’ Civic Awards for her work uniting residents through local events and clean ups.  You may also recognise her as one of the stars in our strategy video! This award is so deserved, and we are incredibly grateful for the work she does, congratulations Rashmee!

Protect your belongings with AlarmID

AlarmID is a portable security alarm designed to protect bags, laptops, and luggage from opportunistic theft. Loop it around your things or attach to your laptop. If someone tries to unplug, or cut the cable, a loud siren sounds instantly. Compact, easy to use, for everyday protection wherever you go. Get yours today.

New fraud disruption unit launched 

Launching in April, the new Online Crime Centre will bring together specialists from the government, police, intelligence agencies, banks, mobile networks and major tech firms to drive coordinated action against fraud. It forms part of a new and expanded Fraud Strategy. Police and companies that hold vital intelligence on scams will work side-by-side, share data and build a single picture of global fraud networks. Find out more on our website.

Lottery update 

Congratulations to one of our lucky supporters who won £300.24 in the draw last month. You too can support Neighbourhood Watch and be in with a chance to win up to £25,000 a week. The lottery generates a steady source of income for us to support our volunteers better, build national projects, and make more of an impact. Play One Lottery here.

Global taskforce launched to hunt down overseas scammers

A new taskforce has been launched to dismantle transnational fraud networks targeting victims worldwide. It will combine the intelligence powers of INTERPOL’s 196 member countries to tackle online scams. Jointly developed by the UK and INTERPOL, the unit will target the scam compounds driving global fraud, with an initial focus on dismantling criminal operations across South East Asia. Read the full story here.

Cybercrime survey

Our fifth cybercrime survey published with the support of Avast is now online. The results demonstrate how keeping safe from online crime has become something of an everyday chore for us, with ever more sophisticated scams catching us out. Read the full survey report here.

If you’d like on online version of this newsletter to share with friends or neighbours, you can find it here.  And finally, don’t forget that we have a date that we want you to put in your calendars! 1-7 June will be Neighbourhood Watch Week – the theme this year will be ‘Communi-tea’ – a mixture of community and tea party, and who doesn’t love a tea party? Find out more here.

I hope you have a very happy and safe month – see you in May!

Best wishes

Charmian

OFFICE OF COUNCILLOR – HARVINGTON PARISH COUNCIL

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a casual vacancy has arisen in the Office of Councillor for the Parish Council following the
resignation of Richard Baugh.

If by 5 May, 2026 (14 days excluding Dies Non, after the date of this notice) a request for an election to fill said vacancy is made in writing to the Returning Officer at the address below by TEN electors for the said Parish, an election will be held to fill the said vacancy, otherwise the vacancy will be filled by co-option.

If an election is called, it will take place not later than 8 July, 2026.

Dated 14 April, 2026
Vic Allison
Returning Officer
Civic Centre
Queen Elizabeth Drive
Pershore
Worcs
WR10 1PT

Your monthly update direct from West Mercia Police on the latest scams and frauds

COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTES
Over the last few weeks there has been an upsurge of payments made with counterfeit banknotes. These have been mainly in £20 denominations and have appeared not only in the West Mercia Policing area, but nationally as well.

Also, this has not just affected mainstream retailers but also private sellers online as well who are using such sites as Facebook Marketplace and eBay, so everyone should be aware.

Remember that if you receive any counterfeit notes, you cannot be reimbursed so you will carry the loss on that transaction. If you do receive a fake note, then hand it in to your local police station and make a report of the incident.

How do you check if a bank note is genuine?
• Check the holographic window – inside you should see an image of King Charles III or Queen Elizabeth II and the value of the note around the edge, as well as the wording “Bank of England”
• Check the foil – if you tilt the note the words change between the value of the note and the word “Pounds”
• Raised Print – you should be able to feel the print such as the words “Bank of England” in the bottom right-hand corner
• Detection Pens – these were designed for paper notes so are not safe to use on the new polymer notes
• Compare with a genuine note – small differences in colour, print clarity and the overall feel of the note should be obvious

If you are unsure, then do not accept the note, and ask for an alternative method of payment such as a bank transfer.

For fuller details download the Bank of England guide by clicking on the following link:

https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/-/media/boe/files/banknotes/take-a-closer-look.pdf

Please feel free to share these messages with any vulnerable friends, relatives or neighbours
——————————————————————————————-
If you have fallen for a fraud, Report it to Report Fraud (formerly known as ACTION FRAUD) on 0300 123 2040 or via
reportfraud.police.uk

Scam Text messages can be forwarded to 7726 to help phone providers take prompt action and block numbers that generate spam on their networks. You can also report Scam mobile calls by texting 7726 with the word “Call” followed by the fraudulent caller’s phone number.

Forward Fake Emails received to

If you think your bank account or personal banking details have been used fraudulently, then use the short phone number – 159 – to contact the Fraud Prevention Department of most major UK banks.

INVITATION TO A SPECIAL EVENT: An opportunity to come and have your say and discuss with the Parish Council – Harvington Village Hall on:

Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 7.45pm, and Sunday 29 March 2026 at 2pm.

 

Residents of Harvington – we need your support!

Our newsletter aims to provide you, the residents of Harvington, with details of the current housing situation in our village and how, with your support, the Parish Council plans to move forward. Action is needed to ensure future unwanted, unsuitable or speculative development is reasonably controlled.

Current situation:

Harvington has recently seen two housing developments approved, resulting in 64 houses to be built across two sites, both of which are outside our current Neighbourhood Plan boundary. For more background on these planning decisions see this short clip by Cllr Craig Reeves – https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ff7cb83MJ/?mibextid=wwXIfr.

Furthermore, despite the Parish Council recently winning a judicial review, initially overturning one of these housing developments, the application was simply resubmitted and approved once again by Wychavon planning.

Designating housing land sites within local development plans can help protect against such developments. Where no housing land is identified, planning decisions are heavily weighted towards approval of housing developments (due to a principle in planning legislation known as ‘tilted balance’ – explained overleaf). This is currently the case for Harvington (and much of Wychavon):

• Wychavon District Council (WDC) is currently unable to demonstrate a 5-year housing land supply – as required by the government. This position will not change until publication of the new South Worcestershire Development Plan (SWDP). Even when published and adopted (estimated April 2026), the new SDWP will need to be revised further to accommodate new government housing plans.
• Harvington Neighbourhood Plan (adopted in 2019, revised and updated in 2025) no longer has any designated housing land sites since the original allocations have been built out.

If we take no action, we risk developers taking advantage of the situation and submitting planning applications for further, potentially large scale developments around the village. Additionally, the Government plan to build 1.5 million homes in England by 2030 seems likely to increase the rate of planning applications still further.

What do we need to do?

Review and update the Harvington Neighbourhood Plan (HNP) – The review will ensure that the HNP remains up-to-date, accounts for current legislation and ensures that our voice carries weight in planning decisions. It will also influence the mix of housing available in Harvington and help protect our local environment.

The new HNP will need to include at least one designated housing development site if it is to provide any protection or influence around planning decisions and housing developments.

Conduct a housing needs survey – Information on future housing needs for residents in the village is a major requirement in any neighbourhood plan. Whilst development of a new HNP will take some time, collecting up-to-date housing needs data can be achieved relatively quickly. This data could potentially be used as evidence to contest significant housing developments.

How will we achieve this?

A major review of our neighbourhood plan will involve significant work over an extended period by the Parish Council. We plan to use dedicated funding from Wychavon District Council to employ a planning consultant to guide us and to write our plan’s policies.

The Parish Council are currently making arrangements to have a housing needs survey conducted on our behalf – fully funded. The survey will be arriving soon and your input will help to influence and form the HNP, so please take some time to respond.

How can you get involved and have your say?

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS: Developing a neighbourhood plan is a significant undertaking involving a wide range of skills including:

• Planning knowledge or neighbourhood development experience.
• Knowledge and experience in environmental aspects of planning, sustainable transport, agricultural sustainability and local services and facilities.

If you can help, please contact the Harvington Neighbourhood Plan (HNP) working group using the QR code or email:

INVITATION TO A SPECIAL EVENT: An opportunity to come and have your say and discuss with the Parish Council – Harvington Village Hall on:

Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 7.45pm, and Sunday 29 March 2026 at 2pm.

 

Planning legislation background:

The Government requires a 5-year housing land supply to be shown, but Wychavon District Council can only show a 1-year land supply. For those interested in the legislation governing planning decisions, here are some key extracts from the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF – December 2024):

‘Plans and decisions should be considered in the context of the presumption in favour of sustainable development. Relevant policies for the supply of housing should not be considered up to date if the local planning authority cannot demonstrate a 5-year supply of deliverable housing sites.’

‘If there is no 5-year land supply, then Paragraph 14 of the National Policy Planning Framework (NPPF) is engaged. Paragraph 14 provides for what is commonly called, the ‘tilted balance’ which is in favour of granting planning permission. Namely, the presumption that planning permission should be granted unless adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits, when assessed against NPPF’s policies.’

This means that WDC planning decisions are currently weighted as follows:

‘approving development proposals that accord with the development plan without delay’

‘granting permission where the development plan is absent, silent or relevant policies are out-of-date, unless there are significant and demonstrable adverse impacts or where specific policies indicate development should be restricted.’

 

We will continue to communicate the next steps of our plan and how you can get involved.

 

Produced on behalf of Harvington Parish Council, supported by Wychavon District Council.

March 2026

Our News – March 2026

Hello Neighbours!  A belated Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus (or Happy St David’s day) everyone, but especially our 52,000 members in Wales. St David was a 6th century monk, born in Pembrokeshire who famously advised: “Do the little things in life.” I love that advice, it chimes so well with what Neighbourhood Watch members do all the time. Through small actions every day, we make our streets better, safer and friendlier places to live.  We have a date that we want you to put in your calendars. 1-7 June will be Neighbourhood Watch Week – the theme this year will be “communi-tea”. Yes, you read that correctly, it’s a mixture of community and tea party, and who doesn’t love a tea party? Find out more about what we have planned here  Highlights this month Our impact report shows the difference we’ve made across England and Wales Spotlight on Hawthorn and Rosegrove groups Watch our webinar on reducing violence against women and girls in our communities Our Chair Ian Bretman blogs on the plans shaping Neighbourhood Watch until 2030 Download our latest impact report We are so proud to share our latest impact report, showcasing the amazing work of our members. From fitting 200 video doorbells for domestic abuse survivors to smart marking over 1,500 bikes, and supporting vulnerable people through the digital switch over, our volunteers make a difference where it matters most. These stories highlight how local actions create national impact. Download and read our latest impact report here Our chair, Ian Bretman, blogs on the three pillars of our new strategy The new Neighbourhood Watch strategy is based on three pillars. Alongside the familiar Neighbourhood Watch, which builds on our traditional crime prevention activity and continues to be our over-arching identity, we will have Neighbourhood Connect (helping people to connect with their neighbours) and Neighbourhood Act (enabling everyone to join practical activities to improve their neighbourhoods). Read Ian’s blog here. Home security experts ERA sponsor Neighbourhood Safety Training  ERA is delighted to be the official sponsor of Neighbourhood Watch’s latest initiative, Neighbourhood Safety Training; a free teaching module created for business owners to upskill their workforce and help keep businesses safer. Learn more here Spotlight: Hawthorn Neighbourhood Watch Cathy from Hawthorn village near Pontypridd has been in touch to share some local success in South Wales. Not only does the active Neighbourhood Watch group do regular litter picks and community events, but they’ve also been reducing the problem of abandoned trollies, reporting them through Trolleywise. It is a free tool for iOS and Android that allows users to report abandoned shopping trolleys across the UK, find out more here. As the weather gets warmer, remember to secure your doors with Patlock Patlocks are suitable for double French or conservatory doors with 2 horizontal handles. Designed to deter and stop would-be intruders, it provides extra security, a visual deterrent and instant peace of mind. Neighbourhood Watch members can purchase Patlock at the exclusive discounted price of £42.50 by clicking here. – AD 8 March is International Women’s Day (IWD)  And with over 50% of our membership being women, of course we are supporting it. The theme for IWD 2026 is ‘Give To Gain’ encouraging generosity and collaboration – and that is basically what good neighbours do all the time. If you’d like to host an event or get some inspiration check out the IWD resources page here Help women in your community – ending violence against women and girls. We hosted an online webinar on how to help women in your community. It was hosted by the brilliant Naomi Smith, Chief Executive of the Her Centre, a women’s advice and advocacy service. The session examined what domestic abuse is, the barriers women face in accessing support, and what we can all do to help. You can watch the full event here Watch. Connect. Act. What does it mean to us?  Thank you so much to all the wonderful community members who contributed to this video about our new strategy. We asked people to share what they liked most about the new strategy, what it means for them and the difference it will make. Watch the video and learn more about our new strategy here Have you been targeted online? Free expert help is available Worried about online scams, harassment or hacked accounts? The Cyber Helpline provides free, confidential support to help you stay safe online. Whether you’ve been targeted or want to protect yourself, their expert advisors and resources are here to help. Find out more here Neighbourhood Watch lottery Did you know you can support Neighbourhood Watch while also having the chance to win up to £25,000 a week? The lottery generates a steady source of income to deliver core work across England and Wales. These funds enable us to do more as a charity – support our volunteers better, build national projects, and make more of an impact. Play One Lottery here Help the planet, and each other, with Olio Olio is an app that helps you find what you need and share what you don’t. It’s a great way to connect with your neighbours, reduce waste and help the planet. We’ve been asking people on Olio to think about setting up Neighbourhood Watch groups. Find out more about how Olio can help build connections and support in your street. Spotlight: Rosegrove Neighbourhood Watch wants people to “Raise the Roof”  The fantastic team at Rosegrove wanted to share their latest fundraising campaign, which aims to expand their Youth and Community Hub. The target is £10,000 to purchase a new container unit and create additional space for youth activities, wellbeing programmes and community events. It will allow them to grow their work with young people and families, providing safe, positive activities and opportunities that benefit the wider neighbourhood. Find out more on their Facebook page. 60 new Community Grants awarded for 2026 Every year, Neighbourhood Watch Network awards community grants to support local projects that help keep neighbourhoods safe. Now the funding round has closed and we are delighted to have supported dozens of inspiring projects across England and Wales. Find out more about the successful projects here. High streets to receive £150 million to restore community pride A multi-million-pound package has been announced to support high streets, targeted in places most in need. More details on the High Streets Strategy, including how funding will be allocated to specific places, will be announced in the coming months, read more on the announcement and the plan here. Have you heard about the switch to digital landlines? Landlines are changing, and the UK’s telephone network is going digital by January 2027. If you have loved ones with additional needs such as elderly relatives or someone who uses a telecare device or pendant alarm, BT’s Connected Together initiative encourages you to take a few simple steps to support them through the switch. BT’s Connected Together website is where customers, can access all the guidance and support they need. Start the conversation today. – AD Thanks for reading. I really want to keep sharing information that is useful and relevant, so let me know how this format can be improved. A few of you requested a landing page with all the stories in one place so I’ve done that for you here.   Hope you have a lovely March!  Warm wishes Charmian

Message Sent By Charmian Walker-Smith (Neighbourhood Watch Network, Head of Comms & Digital, England & Wales)