Welcome back to Watchnotes – a roundup of Community Safety focused news and information, created with Neighbourhood Watch Groups in mind, but hopefully of general interest too. It is targeted for North East Lincolnshire and please share it with your group or network if you can.
As always, all the previous editions are online here if you missed something. And if you’re sharing this (or receiving it from someone else) then there is a new signup form here.
Any thoughts or feedback or information to share, please contact me: Karl Elliott, karl@nelwatch.org.uk.
Neighbourhood Watch
OurWatch have a new guide to understanding and recording Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB). Worth a read for any Neighbourhood Watch Group or communuity groups. The guide is here.
The new Neighbourhood Watch Podcast from Ourwatch now has 3 episodes out. Details and list of all 6 episodes here with details on how to listen.
OurWatch provides free Neighbourhood Safety Training for businesses and groups. This can be provided to Neighbourhood Watch Groups or community groups too. Overview here. Modules currently include: Harassment / ASB / Personal safety / Retail crime. Sign up on the info page.
An interesting new tool/service talked about by OurWatch. “Is Everything Safe” is a way to track all your services/possessions and more. It’s not a free service, but might be of interest to some households to help ‘keep everything safe’. Check it out here: www.iseverythingsafe.com/
Community Safety
VANEL have produced a new, printed postcard to highlight all the Community Safety information and resources that are available to residents. This will sit alongside our online resources page (at www.nelwatch.org.uk/communitysafety). Find out about the postcard here. Download it here. Watch out for the postcards in community venues across North East Lincolnshire.
“Not in our Community” is a campaign providing resources co-produced with young people in the Humber area to help children and young people stay safe. Follow on Facebook here. The website is www.notinourcommunity.org/ The Humberside PCC’s office has announced the launch of a new Parents and Carers hub which needs to be shared with families.
“I’ve got my life back”: Police and Council work together to tackle crime in Cleethorpes. Council story about Operation Snap and activity to tackle Anti-Social Behaviour.
“Neighbourhood officers have increased by 22.2%” – news from OurWatch.
Bit of good news: “More than 15,000 knives surrendered as knife crime falls to 30-year low” – again, from OurWatch
A reminder that there are lots of guides and resources about staying safe available on the Secured by Design website here.
“lookcloser to protect children from exploitation”. Tough video on YouTube from The Children’s Society. Find out more about their #lookcloser campaign here.
Some locally delivered community safety related training days. Tough problems, so important local training for those who engage with the community:
AntiSemitism Awareness Sessions: 28th Sept; 3rd Nov; 20th Nov in Grimsby. Details here.
NEL Prevent Conference 2026: 12th Nov in Melton. Details here.
Scams and Fraud
“Council and Police teaming up to help stop rogue traders in area”. Proactive work to help protect residents from Rogue Traders. More advice at Citizens Advice. The Council has a useful information page too.
There’s a new way to look at passwords – called passkeys. Start to understand what these are and how to use them to protect yourself from scams. Read: “NCSC: Leave passwords in the past – passkeys are the future” from the National Cyber Security Centre.
If you’ve not downloaded the Friends Against Scams app yet – why not? Available on iPhone or android. Useful quizzes, training and alerts to keep you up to date on scams advice. Download here. Information here on the Friends Against Scams website.
Friends Against Scams have also published a new CyberCrime Factsheet.
Policing
“Operation Coastline returns for Summer”
Cleethorpes GRIP Shop Watch radios result in shop thief arrest
A day in the life of our Neighbourhood Policing team Grimsby
Follow Humberside Police updates on HumberBeatNEL Facebook page.
Humberside Police and Crime Commissioner’s Survey 2026. Closes soon – on 17th Aug. Direct link to survey here.
New Road Safety Measures grant scheme launched by PCC. Closes 28th Sept. Local Parish Councils and communities should take a look.
Fire
With wildfires a risk at the moment, read this update from HFRS. “Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Services Unite Behind #BeMoorAware Wildfire Campaign”
Ever wonder what HFRS do in the community apart from tackling fires? Read about their community work here.
Perhaps you didn’t know that Fire Stations are offered as Safe Spaces? Do you know where the 4 stations in North East Lincolnshire are? See here.
Local news
Coming soon:
NeeNaw day is back. This weekend. Sat 8th Aug, 10am. At Cromwell Road Police Station, Grimsby DN31 2BN. Poster is here. More info.
Cleethorpes 999 day returns. Sat 15th Aug, 10-4 on Kings Parade, Cleethorpes. Poster here.
VANEL led Community Safety/Police drop-ins continue monthly in Sidney Sussex Ward at 82 Grimsby Road community hub. Next Tue 1st September, 11am-12 noon.
In South Ward/Nunsthorpe, the successful “Together for Tomorrow” community safety focused event is returning to Sutcliffe Avenue Recreation Ground on Fri 21st August. 10-2pm. Poster here.
Footnotes
WatchNotes 28 7th August 2026
By Karl Elliott, VANEL, NELwatch, HumberWatch
www.nelwatch.org.uk
www.vanel.org.uk
www.nelwatch.org.uk/neighbourstogether
part of Humber Watch Association
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