Just a quick Watchnotes update this week in advance of National Neighbourhood Watch Week next week (1-7th June). Please share anything you read here with your networks.
Remember previous issues are online here and there is a signup form too.
Community safety
Now the summer heat has started arriving (early) share good advice on staying safe in the heat with those who might be vulnerable.
Scams and Fraud
A Fraudwatch trigger alert #39 has been issued for May. Celebrity Befriending Fraud. Victims across the Humberside area are being impacted financially and emotionally by fraudsters pretending to be celebrities online. Read the alert here and download the useful resources.
VANEL have a small supply of “Fraud Awareness Packs” produced recently by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for the Cyber Conference. Ask VANEL for a pack if you’re interested. Notes about them here.
Two of the most serious frauds across Humberside currently are Investment and Romance Fraud. Whilst less common than obvious phishing scams, both of these scams have enormous financial and personal impacts on victims. Make sure you’re aware about how these frauds work and how to avoid them. Advice here.
This week’s featured Community Safety tip: Little Book of Big Scams
The Metropolitan Police produced what might be the most useful free download you’ll ever grab — The Little Book of Big Scams. It walks through every major scam type with real examples, and the “little guides” series covers specific frauds in even more depth. Scams cost UK consumers billions every year, and most victims never suspected they’d fall for one. Find links to this and more on our Community Safety page.
Neighbourhood Watch
Next week is National Neighbourhood Watch Week 2026 (1st – 7th June). Organised nationally via OurWatch any group can get involved. June is also Month of Community and the first week of June is also National Volunteers Week. As almost everyone involved with Neighbourhood Watch is a volunteer it’s double the reasons to make the most of the first week of June.
If your Neighbourhood Watch scheme in North East Lincolnshire has something planned for the week, please let me know. If you’re looking for ideas please contact me or check out this list from Ourwatch from a previous Neighbourhood Watch week.
Watch the NELwatch blog next week for updates from us. And follow Ourwatch for their own news during the week.
Ourwatch (National Neighbourhood Watch Network) has a partnership with IsEverythingSafe – a tech tool to help bring your important documents together. The partnership offers a discount and you can read about this on the Ourwatch blog here. Now this tool is very new (and looks impressive) but I’ve not personally read any reviews and of course there are other tools and ways to do this, but you might be interested in the product/offer, so have a look. The general principle of keeping your information safe (avoiding identity theft and fraud) and of preparing for emergencies is of course vital. So maybe take a look at this product/offer to think more carefully about how you manage your information.
We (VANEL) have started up a fresh campaign to encourage new Neighbourhood Watch Groups across North East Lincolnshire. Read more here where you can see our new promotional postcards. Watch out for these on noticeboards near you. Do you look after a noticeboard we could pin one to? Let me know.
Local news
Sidney Sussex: Community Safety/Police drop-ins continue at the VANEL community hub (82 Grimsby Road). Timetable is here and the next session is Tue 9th June, 11-12noon with a session focusing on Neighbourhood Watch. All welcome.
Watch out for Police drop-ins or engagement events in your own ward. Visit https://www.humberside.police.uk/area/your-area/ to follow your local Neighbourhood Policing Team.
South Ward: date for your diary if you live in South Ward. “Together for Tomorrow” event returns on Friday 21st August 2026 10am-2pm in Sutcliffe Avenue Recreation Ground where there will be lots of stands from partners talking about community safety.
FOOTNOTES
WatchNotes 25 29th May 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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