The latest July 7th Neighbourhood Watch newsletter is available at https://castlehedingham-pc.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/simple-file-list/Neighbourhood-Watch/Neighbourhood-Watch-2026/nw-newsletter-jul-07-2026.pdf
This message from Clive Stewart, the Chairman of Braintree District Neighbourhood Watch is on page 1 of the newsletter:
You may wonder why this statement is at the beginning and that I am advising you that this is a weekly Neighbourhood Watch newsletter in its seventeenth year and that it only publishes information from reliable sources i.e. Essex Police, Crimestoppers and the contents also have to abide by Neighbourhood Watch Code of Ethics as we must do our best to reduce the fear of crime as well as the opportunity of crime.
So why am I saying this when we all know about that don’t we? Well often I see thefts of motor vehicles that have been reported on Facebook by members of the public but we cannot publish that information unless we are informed of the theft by Essex Police. Now you all know for over thirty years we received detailed information from Essex Police of all local crimes but when the Essex Watch Liaison Officers left last year that specific detail was not available.
Essex Police HQ then created a new weekly “Crime report” and the details with a part postal code you know as they are published each week in this newsletter.. BUT of course it is very minimal..
Since that time I have had many conversations with Essex Police HQ and our new main contact is a Superintendent and he has listened to all NW requests for more information e.g. If there is a dwelling house burglary which road/street did it occur, if a motor vehicle was stolen what was its make, model, colour and part registration number ( we used to see that detail often ) also if items were stolen from a motor vehicle what were they so we can look out for them at car boot sales. So we could continue to be the eyes and ears for Essex Police in our local communities..
We were promised changes in the current reports so I am delighted to advise you of one update so far:- Essex Police have advised Neighbourhood Watch “Work is progressing well on our side, and we anticipate being able to implement the new data set showing street level details on Monday 20th July ”