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. – Ad.

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. – Ad.

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 atthe '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. – Ad.

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

Chairman