Online Watch Link

https://www.owl.co.uk/herts/

 

 

Message 12/13/2021

Trading Standards have issued a warning, after receiving reports from victims who claim to have been contacted by someone purporting to be from the authority, and acting on behalf of the Office of National Statistics.

The caller suggested that the individual’s Census form was completed incorrectly, and they had to pay a fine. The caller asked for basic identification details, which they said was to confirm the Census record, and the individual’s bank details, so they could process the fine.

The Office of National Statistics are aware of similar scams in other parts of the country where money has been taken from an individual’s bank account. The Office of National Statistics have warned that they would never ask for this type of personal information.

You will only be contacted about the Census by letter – never text or phone.

When filling in the Census you will be asked for personal information such as your date of birth, your occupation and where you live. You will never be asked to provide your national insurance number or financial details.

If you wish to report attempted Scams go to www.actionfraud.police.uk 

Message 09/11/2020

_*Neighbourhood Watch launches PROTECT YOUR Pa$$W0rD campaign with 3
quick and easy steps*_

As we spend more time at home and on our online devices, over one third
(34%) of people say that they’re more concerned about cybercrime than
physical crime and a startling 1 in 5 people are a victim of
cybercrime!* You could be more at risk than you might think.

If strengthening your passwords is something you keep putting off, or
you feel overwhelmed by the sea of online security information, you’re
not alone.

As part of our Cyberhood Watch initiative, launched in 2019 in
partnership with Avast, we have launched a*PROTECT YOUR Pa$$W0Rd*
campaign that targets both the overwhelmed and complacent, providing
everyone with 3 easy steps to be more secure online.

*PROTECT YOUR Pa$$W0Rd in 3 easy steps*

1. Create a separate password for your email account
2. Use 3 random words
3. Turn on two-factor authentication (2FA)

To find out more about how to do each step visit our Password Protection
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/passwords> page on our website .

But we won’t stop there!  Whilst taking those *3 easy steps *will go a
long way to protecting yourself online, we want to protect not just you
but *your whole community*! To do this, we are asking you to spread the
word and help protect your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours by
*sharing these 3 easy steps with 3 others*.

To share with others you can forward this email to at least 3 of your
friends, share the information from ourPassword Protection
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/passwords> page in your local newsletter,
or share our campaign on your social media channels using our Protect
your Pa$$W0Rd Campaign Pack
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/NW%20Passwords%20Social%20Media%20Pack_2.pptx>,

_*More about the campaign*_
Our campaign will run on social media for 4 weeks from 9th November
2020. We are targeting both Neighbourhood Watch members and non-members
alike with two different attitudes to online security.

For those that are unsure and overwhelmed by an abundance of advice, we
want to cut though the noise and*simplify the confusion*, so they feel
empowered to take action.

And for those that think ‘it won’t happen to me’ we want to shock them
into action, so that they realise how prevalent the problem is, *even
amongst young people.*

We have created social media animated and still graphics targeted to
both those audiences, supported by further information detailing how and
why to take each step on our dedicated *Password Protection
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/passwords>* page.

Download our *Protect your Pa$$W0Rd Campaign Pack
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/NW%20Passwords%20Social%20Media%20Pack_2.pptx>*
to share the campaign across your networks using email, whatsapp,
Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and in newsletters.

Why not go one step further and share our*Protect your Pa$$W0Rd Press
Release
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/sites/default/files/documents/2020-11/NW%20Press%20Release%2005112020.pdf>*
locally and don’t forget to let us know about any local press you are
able to generate.

*Visit our Protect your PA$$word
<https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/get-involved/support-campaign/protect-your-paw0rd>
campaign page to find out more.*

*Perceptions of cybercrime in the UK report produced in partnership with
Avast, surveyed over 14,000 Neighbourhood Watch members:
https://press.avast.com/hubfs/media-materials/kits/Avast%20Cyberhood%20Watch/Avast_CyberHood_Watch_Report%20FINAL.pdf?hsLang=en

For more information contact Deborah Waller on
deborah.waller@ourwatch.org.uk
<mailto:deborah.waller@ourwatch.org.uk?subject=Protect%20your%20Pa%24%24word%20campaign>.

Message 21/10/2020

A message from the Police We are asking people not to give food or money to beggars on the street or leave food out for them in any public place.

Begging is a criminal offence and giving to beggars on the street often continues the cycle of homelessness for those caught up in it.

Please be assured that we work closely with many different agencies to offer help and accommodation to every person we find sleeping rough.

If you want to help, please donate instead to an alternative giving scheme, where funds are channelled directly towards projects to help the homeless and those sleeping rough. As you know we support Feed up Warm up in our parish and your donations can help them also.

To find out how you can help or if you need help yourself please call Haven First on 01462 435835.

If you want to help connect an individual rough sleeper with local help please call Streetlink on 0300 500 0914.

Message 13/7/2020

Message 24/4/2020

The National Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) team have told us that their third #OnlineSafetyAtHome pack is now available with new activities for parents and carers to use at home.

To support parents during COVID-19 and the closure of schools, CEOP we will be releasing new home activity packs each fortnight with simple, age appropriate, 15 minute activities you can do with your child to support their online safety at a time when they will spending more time online at home.

The activity packs can be accessed here:

https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/parents/Support-tools/home-activity-worksheets/

Professionals and parents and carers have reported that children are using video-chatting apps and sites to access learning and keep in touch with friends and family.

Two new Parent Information articles look at some of the things parents and carers should think about to ensure their child’s experience of video chat is safe and fun:

Video chatting: a guide for parents and carers of primary school-age children

Video chatting: a guide for parents and carers of secondary school-age children

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Message 17/4/2020

Update from Hertfordshire County Council
Dear Watch Member,

Closure of Household Waste Recycling Centres [HWRCs] due to COVID-19

The link below takes you to the relevant press release concerning closure of the HWRCs:

https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/about-the-council/news/news-archive/hwrc-coronavirus-closures

In essence, journeys to your local household waste recycling centre are not currently classed as an essential journey and therefore no residents should be trying to access the HWRCs.

Fly Tipping

Attached is the Hertfordshire County Council “Lets S.C.R.A.P. fly tipping” leaflet.  It contains useful information and advice on how to reduce fly tipping.

Fly Tips should be reported to your local district council.

The link www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/flytipping provides various ways you can report fly tipping in your local district, including online reporting, email and telephone numbers.

Skips

Skips are still in operation and this is a secure way of depositing waste. An invoice from the skip company fulfils the obligation for a householder’s duty of care. Please check with the skip company as some are happy to drop the skip but it could take two to three weeks to collect.

The following link will help you identify approved carriers:

https://environment.data.gov.uk/public-register/view/search-waste-carriers-brokers

Burning of Waste

With regards to burning waste, this is a NO, as what it is being burnt could be harmful to the atmosphere. However, a bit of common sense means that if you burn garden waste and wood then this is a normal bonfire.  On days where the weather is good, please consider your neighbours who may hang out washing or have open windows.

Here is the official Government Bonfire Guidelines.  Breaches should be reported to your local Council.

https://www.gov.uk/garden-bonfires-rules

Download Associated Documents
Documents accompanying this message are linked below. Click to download and open a file which use the popular PDF format. If you experience problems downloading or viewing a file please visit this help page.

• Lets S.C.R.A.P fly tipping (3677 KB)

If you need to reply regarding this message, tap on this email address: wlo@herts.pnn.police.uk

Regards,
Terry Morris
Watch Liaison Officer
Email: wlo@herts.pnn.police.uk
Tel: 01707 355815

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About IDAS   https://www.idas.org.uk/

IDAS is the largest specialist charity in Yorkshire supporting people affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence.

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