The aim of Neighbourhood Watch is to help us reduce crime by being well informed and watching out and caring for our neighbours.

York Place's Neighbourhood Watch was relaunched in July 2022, in line with new local and national guidelines.

If you'd like to know more, please contact Neil Woolford, the scheme coordinator, at 27 York Place or by email, nw@neilwoolford.co.uk

We are fortunate to live in an area with a relatively low level of crime, though car door handle trying is sometimes reported - for example on the night of the 28th to 29th April 2024. Nothing seemed to have been taken, but unlocked cars were certainly opened.

More seriously, on the afternoon of Friday 5th July 2024 a purse and keys were stolen from a car parked on Albany Terrace. The police have appealed for information, under crime number 00364_i_05072024.

Scams are still a concern, with an alarming story in a recent Guardian about a vulnerable person being used to set up a fraudulent loan...

One form of crime which is on the increase is fraud, especially online. Passwords are not the only defensive layer against this but they are an important one especially as many passwords are surprisingly easy to 'crack'. Would people be interested in learning more about how to select and use secure passwords?

You are very welcome to join the scheme online. The first step is to join the national scheme at https://members.ourwatchmember.org.uk/Join. Once you have done that, then search by postcode at https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/get-involved/find-my-local-scheme to find and join the York Place and Windmill Close scheme. Residents of nearby streets are also welcome to join if they wish!

New interim signage; as of the first of April 2024 many of the lamp-posts in York Place and Windmill Close are now decorated with a more traditional Neighbourhood Watch image. Neil is trying to get funding for more permanent signage - especially as the interim ones have faded badly in just three months! It should also be possible to get updated window stickers.