Maidstone’s night-time and day-time economy continues to strengthen as Strategic Command Licensing leads the way in promoting safer, higher-quality licensed premises across the borough. In a significant milestone, 24 venues have now signed up to the nationally recognised Best Bar None scheme, demonstrating a united commitment to excellence, safety, and community-focused hospitality.

The Best Bar None initiative, a Home Office-backed accreditation programme, recognises venues that meet high standards in areas such as staff training, customer care, safety, and responsible alcohol retailing. Through proactive engagement and partnership working, Strategic Command Licensing has successfully encouraged local businesses to adopt the scheme, helping to enhance the overall experience for residents and visitors alike.

Empty properties can quickly attract anti-social behaviour (ASB), affecting not just the building but the wider neighbourhood. Evidence across the UK shows that vacant, poorly managed buildings are more likely to experience vandalism, fly-tipping, trespassing and other nuisance activity. Even one neglected property can increase local complaints and reduce how safe residents feel.

Empty buildings also signal neglect, which can encourage further disorder — often referred to as the “broken windows” effect. In contrast, occupied and well-maintained properties act as a deterrent, helping to prevent problems before they start.

One effective solution is Property Guardianship. Carefully vetted individuals live or work in vacant buildings under temporary agreements, keeping them secure, occupied and maintained. Their presence provides natural surveillance, helping to reduce unauthorised access and ASB.

How you can help

Through Neighbourhood Watch’s partnership with Ad Hoc Property Management, members can now raise concerns about empty properties in their area. Reporting a vacant building is a simple step that can help:

· Reduce anti-social behaviour and nuisance activity

· Prevent vandalism, arson and illegal occupation

· Improve community safety and confidence

· Support faster action from property owners

If you notice a vacant building that may be causing issues, you can complete a short form on the Neighbourhood Watch website.

Report an empty building in your area | Neighbourhood Watch Network

Where appropriate, the property owner will be contacted to explore options for securing and managing the building — helping to create safer, more settled neighbourhoods for everyone.

Any income received by Neighbourhood Watch through this partnership will be used to support our work tackling the impact of anti-social behaviour across England and Wales.

Empty properties can quickly attract anti-social behaviour (ASB), affecting not just the building but the wider neighbourhood. Evidence across the UK shows that vacant, poorly managed buildings are more likely to experience vandalism, fly-tipping, trespassing and other nuisance activity. Even one neglected property can increase local complaints and reduce how safe residents feel.

Empty buildings also signal neglect, which can encourage further disorder — often referred to as the “broken windows” effect. In contrast, occupied and well-maintained properties act as a deterrent, helping to prevent problems before they start.

One effective solution is Property Guardianship. Carefully vetted individuals live or work in vacant buildings under temporary agreements, keeping them secure, occupied and maintained. Their presence provides natural surveillance, helping to reduce unauthorised access and ASB.

How you can help

Through Neighbourhood Watch’s partnership with Ad Hoc Property Management, members can now raise concerns about empty properties in their area. Reporting a vacant building is a simple step that can help:

· Reduce anti-social behaviour and nuisance activity

· Prevent vandalism, arson and illegal occupation

· Improve community safety and confidence

· Support faster action from property owners

If you notice a vacant building that may be causing issues, you can complete a short form on the Neighbourhood Watch website.

Report an empty building in your area | Neighbourhood Watch Network

Where appropriate, the property owner will be contacted to explore options for securing and managing the building — helping to create safer, more settled neighbourhoods for everyone.

Any income received by Neighbourhood Watch through this partnership will be used to support our work tackling the impact of anti-social behaviour across England and Wales.

Please find attached 5 KFAS fraud alerts for your attention.

Feel free to share with family and friends and via your social media etc.

Attachments

14052026 - Updated Kent Fraud Alert System.pdf

Hello Neighbours,

We have another bumper crop of interesting news from the network to share this month. We are cramming so much in, I’m genuinely considering going to a fortnightly format. I wonder if shorter newsletters every other week, might be easier to read. If you have strong views either to keep this monthly, or to move to fortnightly updates, please let me know in this very basic straw poll.

Highlights this month include

· The police have new powers to tackle antisocial behaviour

· New guidance advises using passkeys rather than passwords online

· Get a sneak peek of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast – coming soon!

· NW updates from Blackpool and Suffolk

· Learn how community grants are being used in Nuneaton

· Catch up on our knife crime webinar

Crime and Policing Bill receives Royal Assent, giving police new powers

The Crime and Policing Acthas over 70 measures including tougher police powers to crackdown on antisocial behaviour and retail crime by introducing Respect Orders so police can ban repeat offenders from town centres and other locations. Other measures include new legislation on the sale of knives and introducing an offence for assaulting a retail worker with a possible sentence of six months in prison. Find out more on our website.

National Cyber Security Centre: leave passwords in the past

Overhauling decades of security practice, the National Cyber Security Centre, a part of GCHQ, has taken the decision to no longer recommend individuals use passwords where passkeys are available because passwords lack the relative resilience to modern cyber threats. We’re working with experts on updating our guidance at Neighbourhood Watch but you can find out more from NCSC here.

Get a sneak peek at the Neighbourhood Watch podcast

We’ve finished recording the first four episodes of the Neighbourhood Watch podcast, hosted by BBC Radio 4’s Alfie Moore. It’s shaping up to be a fascinating series, talking to a range of celebrities about the communities they grew up in and their experiences of crime. Get a sneak peek of Andy Bush talking about how his parents were scammed online, here.

Fundraise while you shop online

Did you know that when you buy things online, you could be raising free donations for Neighbourhood Watch Network? 8,000 retailers, including eBay, Argos, John Lewis & Partners, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S, are ready to donate, and it won’t cost you a penny! Each time you shop online, visit the easyfundraising site first, to find the retailer you want. After you’ve checked out, they will donate to Neighbourhood Watch Network at no extra cost to you. Go to Easyfundraising and join for free.

Summer is coming – make sure you are covered before you travel

We’ve partnered with Staysure, the UK’s favourite travel insurance provider with over 20 years’ experience and more 5-star Trustpilot reviews than any other provider. Their cover includes options to suit different trips, with 24/7 emergency medical assistance and cover for pre-existing medical conditions. Having the right protection in place can help you travel with confidence. Find out more. - Ad

Neighbourhood Watch Community Grant update

Nuneaton Neighbourhood Watch helped raise funds for bleed kits so they could be placed around the area to help someone in need. Chris Ellis, who lost his son Tom in a knife attack in 2024, presented bleed kits to the local community in a bid to save others' lives. Brian Stansfield from Neighbourhood Watch said the kits will be given to local businesses and schools. He added: “We all know the terrible incident that happened in Nuneaton town centre and are making it our mission to prevent further needless loss of life.” Read the BBC news story here.

Heading off on a long weekend trip this bank holiday?

It’s important to remember to properly protect your home while you’re away. Sumier Foster-Shah, Customer Service Manager at ERA, shares the simple steps that you can take to make sure you have peace of mind while you’re away from your property, and enjoy your holiday, read more here – Ad.

Say it with flowers!

Want to say a big thank you to a local hero, friend, neighbour, or community champion? We've partnered with Flower Station to celebrate the spirit of community with a stunning Neighbourhood Watch bouquet, perfectly reflecting our iconic brand colours. Flower Station will donate 10% of the sale proceeds to supporting community grants. Check out the Neighbourhood Watch shop to find out more.

Knife Crime awareness webinar

We were very grateful to Anoushka Dunic from the Ben Kinsella Trust for hosting a webinar on knife crime to mark Stephen Lawrence Day on 22 April. The session covers sensitive topics but it’s a very practical insight into the drivers of knife crime and violence, how to support young people and where to go for support. Catch up with the webinar here.

Neighbourhood Watch Lottery update

Last month one of our lucky NW lottery players won £224.16, congratulations! The lottery generates a steady source of income for us to deliver national projects, support our volunteers and make more of an impact. You too can support Neighbourhood Watch and be in with a chance to win up to £25,000 a week. Play One Lottery here.

Tougher measures targeting antisocial behaviour become law

The Crime and Policing Act has now received Royal Assent. This means that people who wreak havoc on local communities face tough new restrictions under new laws. New measures include Respect Orders that will let police and councils crack down on persistent adult offenders. Police are also being handed tougher powers to seize vehicles linked to anti-social behaviour. Find out more.

Volunteer spotlight - Blackpool

Nathan Burrell, a Coordinator from Blackpool, took part in a local community outreach event to celebrate the Muslim festival of Eid. It was held at the Bispham community centre and brought together a whole community to support each other and celebrate. Nathan also helped organise a crime prevention event at Barclays in Blackpool, with police and staff promoting scam awareness to local bank customers.

Association spotlight - Suffolk

Tony Spall and Nick King recently shared the incredible work being done by Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk. For over 30 years, Neighbourhood Watch in Suffolk was run by the local police, but it’s been successfully managed by volunteers since 2016. They are currently running two funded projects: ‘Working for a Safer Suffolk’ and ‘Suffolk Connected’.Find out more about their impact on the Suffolk Neighbourhood Watch Association website.

Learn about online grooming in children and young people

Breck Bednar was just 14 when he was groomed online. After being manipulated for a year, he was lured to a flat, where he was murdered by his online groomer. Breck’s mother, Lorin, founded the Breck Foundation so no other family should suffer the same fate. They provide information and education on how to spot the signs of grooming and keep young people safe. Find out more about the Breck Bednar foundation.

Neighbourhood Watch Week

Is just a month away, and we’ll be offering Communi-Tea event packs in our shop soon. We got the whole team involved in packing, look at this teamwork! Each pack will include event posters, invitations, balloons, stickers, leaflets and tea. They will be available in the Neighbourhood Watch shop soon, watch out for updates in your inbox.

And that is all for this month. If you’d prefer to have an online version of the newsletter to print, you can find that here. As ever, I love to know what you think, what could be better. It's always so helpful to have feedback.

Good morning,

Please see attached recent publication of WatchOut: a Neighbourhood Watch newsletter, carefully curated by a Kent Police Support Volunteer to provide updates to West Kent Neighbourhood Watch schemes.

Should you wish for a physical copy to be sent, please do make contact.

Warm regards.

Attachments

Watchout Spring newsletter.pdf

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

Thank you for taking the local priority survey recently, your ongoing feedback about local issues of concern is vital in order to enable us to target resources effectively. Although you did not raise Cycle theft as a concern in your last feedback, this issue has been raised by other members of your local area so we thought you would also like to receive this update.

The Maidstone Police Neighbourhood Team will be holding a Bike Marking Event at:
Tesco Superstore, Grove Green, Grovewood Drive North, Kent, ME14 5TQ
10:00am – 3:00pm
Bring your bicycle along for free police bike marking and registration with BikeRegister – the National Cycle Database.
Marking your bike helps deter thieves and increases the chances of reuniting stolen bikes with their owners.
We look forward to seeing you there!

General information if you have a bike that we hope is useful:

Report theft of cycles immediately on discovery to police.  Delay in doing so can mean missed opportunities to recover your cycle and prosecute the offender.

If you ever experience this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools at https://www.kent.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

Please keep your views updated by taking a few minutes to update our priority survey. You can do it from the button below and we send it out regularly so you can influence what our priorities are. You can also change which issues we update you about by clicking the settings button below.

Please click here to complete the survey

You may also want to rate this message to let us know if this information was useful or not or use the system to change which issues we update you about. You can do these things quickly and easily using the buttons below.

Thank you for taking the local priority survey recently, we note that you highlighted Vehicle crime (theft from or theft of) in the survey so we wanted to provide you with an update on this local matter.

We've seen a number of motorbike thefts reported across Maidstone, and we're asking owners to take a few simple steps to help keep their bikes secure and reduce the risk of further incidents.

Tips to help keep your motorbike safe:

Use a high quality disc lock or chain when leaving your bike attended
Lock your bike to a fixed, immovable object wherever possible
Consider using a tracking device or alarm system
Park in well-lit, secure areas covered by CCTV
Cover your motorbike to make it visible to opportunistic thieves
Keep keys secure and out of sight at home

We're actively patrolling hotspot areas, reviewing CCTV, and working with partners to identify those responsible. Your information also plays a vital role - please report any suspicious behaviour around parked motorbikes or sightings of abandoned bikes.

Report via 101, online or anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

Always dial 999 in an emergency

Many thanks for your support

We hope the information above is useful and addresses to some degree the concerns that you have raised. If you have experienced this issue or have information regarding an incident, please report it using our online reporting tools athttps://www.kent.police.uk, speak to an operator in our Force Communications Room via our online web chat or call the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively, you can stay 100 per cent anonymous by contacting the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their untraceable online form at crimestoppers-uk.org.

We will continue to provide you with updates regarding this and any other issues you raise in the local priority survey. The feedback you provide influences the priorities we focus on and enables updates you receive to be more relevant. Please look out for our periodic survey remindersto update your issues and priorities, it really helps.

You may also want to rate this message to let us know if this information was useful or not or use the system to change which issues we update you about. You can do these things quickly and easily by logging in or keep an eye out for the periodic survey reminders.

Please find attached the latest KFAS Fraud alerts.

Feel free to share with family and friends and via social media etc.

Attachments

19022026 - Updated Kent Fraud Alert System.pdf

Please find attached 5 fraud alerts.

Feel free to share with family, friends and via your social media.

Attachments

10022026 - Updated Kent Fraud Alert System.pdf