Neighbourhood Watch
The Scheme
The Weston on the Green Neighbourhood Watch Scheme aims to give home and neighbourhood safety advice and to help to deter crime in the village.
Membership
The scheme has members from up and down the village. Membership is free.
We hope that more villagers will join us by emailing:wotg.nhw@gmail.com
The scheme is in the process of being developed for a re-launch, further information will be available shortly.
The Neighbourhood Watch website has lots of useful crime prevention information including a Home Security Checklist
Villagers are also encouraged to sign up for Thames Valley Alert (https://www.thamesvalleyalert.co.uk/) which will send out geographically relevant alerts via phone, text or email. If these methods are not appropriate, in most cases their street coordinator will pass on relevant messages in some other way.
Marking Items
The scheme can also lend a pen to invisibly mark your valuables with house number and postcode, which could help to reunite you with your possessions, should they be recovered following a burglary.
For smaller items, “SmartWater” is available - this is a liquid solution which can be used to protect your valuables within the home from criminals.
Each bottle of SmartWater contains a different mix of chemical ingredients. Once dry it is virtually impossible to remove from your valuables and it will glow under ultra-violet light. Each bottle of SmartWater is registered to its owner and their details are kept on a National Security Register.
You can also register your valuable belongings, such as mobile phones, jewellery and games consoles at The UK National Property Register.
Thames Valley Police Contact Information
Please be vigilant in the village and if you wish to report a crime or have any concerns that do not require an emergency response please contact the Thames Valley Police's non-emergency number on 101 or via their website www.thamesvalley.police.uk
If you don't want to speak directly to the Police you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
Please call 999 for immediate assistance if it is an emergency such as:
- a serious offence is in progress or has just been committed
- someone is in immediate danger or harm
- property is in danger of being damaged
- a serious disruption to the public is likely
Police App
A new app called #PoliceUK has been launched to make it as easy as possible for you to contact the police. This will allow you to report a range of services online in the same way you would as if you called 101. These include reporting anti-social behaviour, domestic abuse, or road traffic incidents and means you can do it whenever suits you without having to make a phone call.
Please note that if it is an emergency, you should always call 999.
Home Safety Advice
For more advice on how to keep your home safe please visit the Thames Valley Police website.
Further information can also be found via Thames Valley Police's 'HomeSecurity Guide' and 'Home Security Advice Leaflet'.
Handy checklist from Thames Valley Police to help keep you and your home safe: 
Please see the following link for a crime prevention advice notice regarding Catalytic Converters.
Preventing car and vehicle theft advice.
If you feel particularly vulnerable the Community Police are able to undertake a home crime prevention visit - please contact the clerk for the contact information.
Lighting Up Time
With darker evenings, a house with no lights showing could alert a criminal to an empty property. Below is advice sent out by Thames Valley Police with further information.
No Cold Caller Zone
In recent times there have been a number of reports regarding cold callers in the village, if you at all concerned please contact the Police's non-emergency number on 101.
Cold Calling or Doorstep Trading is defined as traders who call but have no previous contact with the resident.
The Neighbourhood Watch and Parish Council have declared the village a No Cold Caller Zone so that villagers can easily turn away anyone who tries to sell at the door. These traders are often scammers intending to sell goods and services of poor quality at inflated prices, or to return later with intent to burgle.
What if a Cold Caller does Ring or Knock?
If a trader you are not expecting does call, villagers should turn them away. The signs at the entrances of the village and door stickers mean traders should not ring or knock. If one does, residents should tell them to leave, after which returning is a crime.
IF YOU FEEL THREATENED:
Close the door on the caller and call 999
If you think a Rogue Trader has called at a door in Weston on the Green, report it immediately by calling the police on 101 if they are still in the area, or Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133.
Please contact the clerk if you wish to obtain a No Cold Calling leaflet and sticker for your door.
Oxfordshire Trading Standards and Thames Valley Police poster which you can also place in your window to help prevent cold callers.
Utility Companies have Priority Services Registers for eligible groups including those of pensionable age. To get on the register, contact your energy supplier.
Details are on your energy bill.
Callers from the company will then use identification and a password when they visit.
Accredited tradespeople will have appropriate photo ID. Always use the chain on your door.
Always check IDs, but look up the company phone number - do not trust the number on the ID, it may be bogus.
Trading Standards also has some useful information about doorstep crime.
Here are some top tips from Oxfordshire County Council’s trading standards team:
- If it is out of the blue, it’s not for you! Don’t agree to work from an unsolicited, cold call.
- Be aware of ‘alarm bell’ tactics, claims such as – ‘I was working in the area and saw that your garden/roof needed urgent attention’; ‘we are working at one of your neighbours’ and we have some material left over’; ‘I can take you to the bank/cashpoint to get the money’.
- Take five to stop fraud. Taking a moment to stop and think before parting with your money or information could keep you safe. Trust your instincts.
- If you want some work undertaken, get a number of detailed quotes in writing, including full contact details and a detailed breakdown of exactly what work will be done.
- Be cautious about any requests for large deposits. For larger work, agree when staged payments will be paid and what work should be completed before any money is handed over. And stick to what is agreed.
- Check with friends and family for trusted recommendations and consider a trading standards’ approved trader, from the Buy with Confidence scheme.
- Consider learning more about how scams work and how you can protect yourself and others, by becoming a Friend Against Scams.
For more advice on consumer rights, or to report to trading standards, contact the Citizens Advice national consumer helpline on 0808 223 1133 or by visiting its website www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Scams Advice
STOP, HANG UP CALL 159
If you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details - stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank
How it works:
159 works in the same way as 101 for the police or 111 for the NHS. It’s the number you can trust to get you through to your bank safely and securely, every time. So if you think someone is trying to trick you into handing over money or personal details - stop, hang up and call 159 to speak directly to your bank.
For more information visit: 159 — Stop Scams UK
Report internet scams and phishing
Report misleading websites, emails, phone numbers, phone calls or text messages you think may be suspicious.
Do not give out private information (such as bank details or passwords), reply to text messages, download attachments or click on any links in emails if you’re not sure they’re genuine.
Emails
Forward suspicious emails to report@phishing.gov.uk. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) will investigate it.
Text messages
Forward suspicious text messages to 7726 - it’s free. This will report the message to your mobile phone provider.
Stop! Think Fraud Government Advice
Scams, doorstep crime and courier fraud awareness webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kRQXgPhCBQ
East Cherwell Rural Community Forum
The East Cherwell Rural Community Forum meets with the police twice a year to raise issues of concern, develop local community projects, give advice and raise awareness through sharing information. If you have any issues you wish raising please contcat either the Neighbourhood Watch (wotg.nhw@gmail.com) or Parish Council.
Bicester and Kidlington Neighbourhood Police Update 2023
Thames Valley Police Advice Guides
Thames Valley Police and Trading Standards provide some useful information and guides on a variety of subjects to help keep you safe and informed. These are often circulated via Thames Valley Alert:
Scam Marshal Newsletter - October 2024
Scam Marshal Newsletter - July 2024
How to Avoid Investment Fraud - May 2024
Scam Marshal Newsletter - March 2024
Neighbourhood Watch 2024 Crime Prevention Webinars: covered topics including burglary trends and home security, heritage crimes, protecting your car from vehicle crime, the role loneliness and isolation plays in scams, and stalking and female personal safety.