Latest Community Safety news
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The Community Safety Newsletter aims to keep Buckinghamshire residents, businesses and partner agencies informed about what the Community Safety Team has recently been involved in, crime prevention advice, information on awareness–raising campaigns and upcoming events.
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Newsletter Content:
- Community Payback Scheme launched
- Recent events
- Follow Us Campaign
- Free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing support for young people
- #BeAMate – Don’t Drink & Drown Campaign
- Bucks Neighbourhood Watch
- Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy
- Free Training – Multiagency DA & VAWG Catalogue
- No Blame No Shame campaign
- Anti-Slavery Day 2024
- Halloween
- Fireworks safety
- Aylesbury Friday Night Football Project
- Community Action Days
- Thames Valley Police
- Social Media
- Useful Contacts
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Community Payback Scheme launched
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HWBIDCo, High Wycombe Business Improvement District have launched a new Community Payback scheme in the Town Centre, taking action to clean up problem areas needing a much-needed facelift.
The scheme is being headed up by HWBIDCo in conjunction with Buckinghamshire Council’s Community Safety team, the police and representatives from Eden Sopping Centre, with funding received from the Community Board.
Community Pay Back is a sentencing measure applied by courts for offences that do not warrant imprisonment, typically as part of a broader community order. This involved 40 – 300 hours of unpaid work, depending on the offence severity, with typical projects including graffiti removal, clearing wasteland and litter picking.
For further information email – info@hwbidco.co.uk
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The Community Payback team have also been busy assisting our Street Scene team in Aylesbury parks with activities such as – weeding, edging, mulching and litter picking in Vale Park. Works are currently being planned for further parks.
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Recent events
Our Community Safety Officers do various tasks, including engaging with our local communities. Here are some of the events we went to in June and July.
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If you would like a member of the team to attend an upcoming event, to provide crime prevention advice, information on our schemes and initiatives, such as Safe Places, email us – communitysafety@buckinghamshire.gov.uk
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At the beginning of September our team ran a ‘Follow Us’ campaign to show what we do in Community Safety and to encourage Bucks residents to follow our social media accounts.
Throughout the year we support a variety of campaigns on our socials, provide crime prevention advice relevant to local crime trends, signpost to local and national support services, provide details of upcoming events our team are involved in and much more!
X @Bucks_Safety
Instagram @bucks_safety
Facebook @BucksCommunitySafety
Newsletter Sign up – Community Safety Quarterly Newsletter
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Free, safe and anonymous mental wellbeing support for young people
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Kooth plc is available to young people aged 11-18 in Buckinghamshire.
The service provides a free, safe and non-judgmental place for people to connect with others and know they are not alone.
They have instant access to self-help materials, moderated discussion forums and tools such as online journals and goal trackers. Young people can also contribute written pieces of work reflecting their own experiences, as well as accessing drop-in or booked text-based counselling sessions with professional counsellors from 12pm- 10pm during the week, and 6pm- 10pm at weekends.
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#BeAMate – Don’t Drink & Drown Campaign
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Don’t Drink and Drown is the Royal Life Saving Society UK’s (RLSS UK) national campaign that warns anyone that has been drinking alcohol to steer clear of walking by or entering water.
Statistics show that 29% of accidental drowning fatalities occur when a victim has alcohol and/or drugs in their bloodstream. Many of those who lost their life did so because they walked home alone and fell in the water.
The campaign, which was launched following a string of tragic student drownings in 2014, has two targeted time frames throughout the year when drownings linked to intoxication are particularly high – September and December.
If you are heading to College or University this September, #BeAMate and look after one another on your journey home. Plan a safe route away from water and stick together.
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Bucks Neighbourhood Watch
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Did you know Neighbourhood Watch (NHW) has over 2.3 million members across England and Wales?
Neighbourhood Watch is the largest volunteer-led crime prevention charity in the country, working in communities to support them in being safer, more resilient places to live. They provide resources, projects and networks that support volunteers and communities to work together to prevent crime, raise awareness around safety initiatives and community resilience, and connect neighbourhoods.
Across Buckinghamshire we have over 920 schemes – to see if your area has an active scheme visit Neighbourhood Watch Network – ourwatch.org.uk
If you are interested in setting up a scheme but unsure where to start, we have great NHW contacts across Bucks. Get in contact today and they will help you get started and guide you along the way:
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Update from Val McPherson, Prince Risborough & District Neighbourhood Watch Association
Since taking over as Chair last year I increased the committee, to seven which includes a Vice Chair, Treasurer and Co-ordinators across the area.
We have set up three new schemes in and around the town, and two in Longwick, but we still need to increase NHW across the town and surrounding villages, making people aware of the benefits on being part of a community to prevent crime and the fear of crime.
On 21 September we will have a NHW stand at the North West Chilterns Community Board’s Health & Wellbeing Fayre at Longwick Playing Fields, 1.00pm – 4.30pm.
Aylesbury Vale Neighbourhood Watch
Over the last year and half, I have set up and approved over 20 new schemes, some of which have been on the new housing estates.
I attended the Community Action Day run by the Community Safety team at Meadowcroft, where I set up a couple of new schemes.
For further information email – valpranddnhwatch@aol.com
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Domestic Abuse and Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) Strategy
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The Domestic Abuse & VAWG Strategy 2024-2027 and delivery plan was approved by Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet in July.
The priorities have been informed by the views of victims and professionals. Throughout December 2023 – February 2024, the Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Board conducted face to face meetings and focus groups with a range of individuals and groups. This included consulting the Buckinghamshire Lived Experience Forum and clients from our commissioned specialised services (which included male and female clients as well as children and young people) and professionals within the field. The feedback has been included in the development of this strategy to ensure that service user views and experiences are represented and heard.
The strategy has 3 key priorities:
1. Challenge the systems that prevent victims of DA & VAWG getting the help they need, the way they want.
2. Perpetrators of DA and VAWG offences are prevented from causing further harm.
3. DA and VAWG is tackled at the first opportunity or stopped before it starts.
Progress on the delivery plan will be reported to the Buckinghamshire Domestic Abuse Board by each of the 3 operational groups on a quarterly basis.
To view the strategy visit – Domestic Abuse Strategy 2024-2027 – bucksdap.org.uk
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Free Training – Multiagency DA & VAWG Catalogue
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Demonstrative of our ongoing commitment, the third edition of the Buckinghamshire Tackling and Preventing Domestic Abuse Training Catalogue for 2024/25 is now available.
Over the last two years there have been over 1200 attendances to the training, and we’re keen to see this grow. The offer continues to be entirely free of charge to encourage as many individuals as possible to upskill or refresh their knowledge around domestic abuse. It is not exclusively for professionals who work with vulnerable or at-risk audiences, and instead offers anyone the chance to increase their confidence in identifying the signs of abuse and give appropriate support and signposting to victims.
The new training offer runs from September 2024 to March 2025 and comprises of 18 different courses. It has expanded to reflect the intricacies and linkages within the family of domestic abuse, the toxic culture we wish to change and learning lessons locally. These new courses are:
- Domestic abuse and child neglect
- Incels and extreme misogyny
- Local learning from homicides
- Spiritual abuse
Please share this offer with colleagues and partners to ensure this training has an impact and improves practice.
To view the catalogue and details of how to register for the courses, please visit the following page: Bucks Training Catalogue – bucksdap.org.uk
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No Blame No Shame Campaign
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Fraud is the most experienced crime in the UK. Victims can face devastating financial, emotional and psychological harm. Society has often shamed the victims of fraud and scams into thinking it’s their fault. But victims are not ‘fools’ who ‘fell for it’; rather targets of sophisticated, often multinational crime. We want to change the conversation around fraud and scams to place the onus and fault on criminals, highlight how prevalent it is and underline how essential a collective response is.
The perpetrators of fraud and scams are criminals. They use sophisticated techniques to target, manipulate and often coerce and control victims.
Fraud and scams are very prevalent. The Home Office estimates that over 2.3 million people were victim of fraud in 2023.
Victims are not stupid. We often unintentionally make victims feel stupid or unheard by using terms like ‘fall for’, ‘fooled’ or ‘duped’. We should take care to use positive, supportive and non-judgmental language.
Victims need support. Victims may be going through some sort of trauma. Realising you are a victim of fraud and scam can be devastating. Equally, victims may still be in denial. Indeed, victims may have been coerced or controlled by criminals.
Reporting is critical. Fraud and scams are massively underreported. We urge victims or those supporting victims to report instances of fraud and scams so that they can be investigated and addressed.
Fraud and scam victims need to be prioritised in law enforcement. How we communicate with, and support victims is crucial.
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Friday 18 October marks Anti-Slavery Day, an opportunity to raise awareness of human trafficking and modern slavery. Unfortunately, slavery is still widely prevalent in our society and could be happening in your street or neighbourhood. It’s a hidden crime happening in plain sight across the UK. The Global Slavery Index estimates that there are over 120,000 people living in Modern Slavery in the UK.
Modern Slavery has many forms, from being forced to carry out manual tasks such as domestic work or labouring for little or no money, to criminal and sexual exploitation. Many victims are often trafficked and are forced to live in fear in squalid conditions under the constant threat of violence and intimidation.
You could be closer to Modern Slavery than you think! Download the Unseen UK App today to play your part in ending modern slavery. The app provides a simple guide to recognising the signs and you can easily pinpoint the suspected locations and connect to the Modern Slavery Helpline.
Report a modern slavery emergency If you have spotted a modern slavery situation that may become heated or violent, you should:
- telephone the police on 999
- contact 18000 if you are a textphone user
- text the police on 999 (but you must be registered for the emergency SMS service)
If you suspect a case of modern slavery, but the situation is not an emergency:
- Contact Thames Valley Police on 101
- If you are worried about a child who may be a victim of modern slavery, call our first response team on 01296 383 962, or 0800 999 7677 outside working hours
- If you are concerned about an adult who may be a victim of modern slavery, call our Safeguarding Adults team on 0800 137 915, or 0800 999 7677 outside working hours
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In preparation for Halloween, we have created a downloadable poster which you can display in your window to say that you do not welcome trick or treaters.
Halloween is a night of innocent fun for many youngsters, but for elderly and vulnerable residents having an unexpected caller can be distressing and frightening.
Download your poster here – helping everyone to have a fun and safe Halloween
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Over the next few months, we will see an increase in firework displays. If you are planning to have fireworks in your garden, please follow the advice below and visit Bucks Fire & Rescue for further guidance.
Please also be considerate and let your neighbours know. Not everyone enjoys fireworks, and unexpected loud bangs can cause great distress to both animals and humans.
To find out further information on the law around using fireworks, staying safe and how to report those using fireworks in a dangerous or threatening way, visit Thames Valley Police – Fireworks
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Aylesbury Friday Night Football Project
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Buckinghamshire Council is joining forces with local partners to help tackle your Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) concerns.
Our Community Action Days are being delivered under the council’s flagship ‘Opportunity Bucks’ programme, which aims to ensure that all Buckinghamshire residents have opportunities to succeed and flourish.
For future event dates visit – Community Action Days | Buckinghamshire Council
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The Thames Valley Police website is full of lots of information, such as how to report a crime and crime reduction advice. The website also provides local area information – you can explore the latest crime statistics, see your Neighbourhood Policing Team and find out what’s being done to tackle crime.
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Social media
Follow us on our social media channels to keep up to date with the latest key messages and crime reduction advice:
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Below is a list of useful contact details for local and national services:
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To keep up to date with the latest
news from Buckinghamshire Council, please follow us on social media:
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