Welcome to this months’ newsletter from Bolton Neighbourhood Watch. This newsletter is the first one in the new format where we have also produced it as a downloadable PDF document, following your feedback where you have asked how to share the email with our offline community or to place on websites.

As well as the downloadable copy, you can share the newsletter directly from your Neighbourhood Alert account by following the link at the bottom of the email where you will find links to popular social media sites as well as the option to share a direct link to the message.

Why Rating Matters

Feedback for Relevance

When you rate a message, you’re telling the system whether the alert was useful or not. This helps police, councils, and Neighbourhood Watch coordinators understand what kind of information residents value most.

Improves Future Alerts

High‑rated messages guide administrators to send more of that type (e.g., crime prevention tips, local updates). Low‑rated messages highlight areas to adjust (e.g., too much detail, not locally relevant).

Community Engagement

Ratings show that people are reading and interacting with alerts. This encourages senders to keep messages clear, timely, and community‑focused.

System Learning

The platform uses ratings to refine how messages are targeted — ensuring you get alerts that matter to your area and interests.

🎄 Holiday Crime Prevention: Keep Your Christmas Presents Safe

The festive season is a time of joy, generosity, and celebration—but unfortunately, it can also be a time when opportunistic thieves are on the lookout. Protecting your home and keeping your Christmas gifts out of sight is one of the simplest yet most effective ways to prevent crime during the holidays.

🏠 Home Security Tips

• Keep gifts away from windows: Presents stacked under the tree can be tempting for burglars if they’re visible from outside. Position your tree away from street-facing windows or draw the curtains when you’re not home.

• Lock doors and windows: It sounds obvious, but many break-ins happen because of unlocked entry points. Double-check before leaving the house.
• Use timers for lights: A well-lit home gives the impression that someone is inside. Timers can automatically switch lights on and off to deter intruders.
• Secure deliveries: Porch thefts rise during December. Arrange for parcels to be delivered to a trusted neighbour, workplace, or use secure lockers.

🎁 Gift Safety

• Don’t advertise purchases: Avoid posting expensive gifts on social media before they’re unwrapped.
• Dispose of packaging carefully: Boxes for electronics or luxury items left outside can signal what’s inside your home. Break down packaging and recycle discreetly.

• Store gifts smartly: If you’re keeping presents in the car or garage, make sure they’re locked away and not visible.

🚓 Community Awareness

• Look out for neighbours: A watchful community is a safer community. Report suspicious activity and keep an eye on each other’s homes.
• Join or support local initiatives: Neighbourhood Watch groups often share seasonal crime prevention advice—get involved to stay informed.

By taking a few simple precautions, you can enjoy the holidays with peace of mind, knowing your gifts and home are safe.

Let’s make this Christmas about joy, not worry.

Take part in the 2025 Crime & Community Survey

Our annual Crime & Community Survey is now live, and we want to hear from you. Your experiences, concerns, and insights help shape the work we do and ensure our efforts reflect the needs of the community.  The survey takes around 10 minutes to complete, and every response makes a real difference. Your voice helps influence our priorities and contributes directly to the report we publish on our website.

The survey is open until 1st December 2025

👉 Share your views today: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9NYQ8DH

Thank you for taking the time to help make our community safer and stronger.

Kind regards

CENTRAL SUPPORT TEAM | Neighbourhood Watch Network

Stay Vigilant: The Power of Reporting Crime and Suspicious Activity

As the festive season approaches, communities across the UK are preparing to celebrate with joy and togetherness. But while we decorate our homes and gather with loved ones, it's vital to remember that crime doesn’t take a holiday. From theft and fraud to antisocial behaviour, criminal activity can spike during busy periods—and the most powerful tool we have to combat it is you.

Why Reporting Matters

Every piece of information—no matter how small—can help the police prevent crime, protect victims, and bring offenders to justice. Reporting suspicious behaviour, unusual activity, or even gut feelings can:

• Help police identify patterns and hotspots
• Prevent crimes before they happen
• Support investigations with crucial evidence
• Strengthen community safety and trust

Whether it's an unfamiliar vehicle circling your street, a neighbour acting out of character, or a package left in an odd location, reporting what you see could make all the difference.

Understanding Legal Standards: Balance of Probability vs. Reasonable Doubt

When crimes are investigated and prosecuted, two key legal standards come into play—each with a different threshold of proof:

In simple terms, balance of probability is like tipping the scales slightly in favour of one side. If it's more likely than not that something happened, the case is proven. This is the standard used in civil matters like property disputes or negligence claims.

Reasonable doubt, on the other hand, is a much higher bar. In criminal trials, the prosecution must prove the defendant's guilt so convincingly that there's no logical reason to question it. This protects individuals from wrongful conviction and ensures fairness in the justice system.

What This Means for You

When you report suspicious activity, you're not expected to prove guilt or know the law. You're simply providing information that could help authorities investigate further. Your report might contribute to a case that meets the balance of probability in a civil matter—or help build evidence that removes reasonable doubt in a criminal trial.

📞 How to Report

• Call 101 for non-emergencies

• Use Crimestoppers (0800 555 111) to report anonymously

• Dial 999 in emergencies or if a crime is in progress

To access your account and change your interests, log into your Neighbourhood Alert and follow the instructions above