The weather may still feel warm, and winter might seem a long way off, but now is a good time to make sure you are ready for the colder months ahead.
Taking a few simple steps now can help keep you, your family and your home safe this winter. From checking smoke alarms and electrical appliances to knowing what support is available if you need it, being prepared can make a big difference when colder weather arrives.
Below is practical advice from Neighbourhood Watch WIDE(N) to help you protect your home, belongings, and community.
Home Security & The "Darker Nights" Campaign
As the autumn equinox approaches and the clocks prepare to change, days grow shorter and nights lengthen — and opportunistic burglars use that extra cover of darkness to target homes that appear empty. Now is the ideal time to join our "Leave a Light On" campaign and review your home security habits:
Leave a Light On: Use 24-hour segment timer switches or smart bulbs so lights turn on automatically before dusk. A lit home looks occupied and deters intruders at a glance.
Lock Everything, Every Time: Get into the routine of locking all doors, windows, and gates — even when you are inside the house or just stepping out for a few minutes. Many burglaries happen through unlocked doors and windows.
Secure Your Perimeter: Put away garden tools, ladders, and equipment that thieves could use to break into your home. Store them securely out of sight so they cannot be used against you.
Garden, Shed & Outbuilding Security
As you pack away summer furniture, garden gear, and leisure items for winter, don’t forget to lock them down. Sheds, garages, and outbuildings are prime targets right now — burglars actively seek out high-value items such as bikes, lawnmowers, and power tools, often stored in buildings with flimsy or outdated locks.
Take these simple defensive steps: Upgrade to heavy-duty, hardened-steel padlocks for all outbuilding doors.
Install low-cost, battery-powered shed alarms — they are loud, affordable, and highly effective at scaring intruders away.
Plant thorny shrubs along fences and boundaries to make climbing and unobserved access far more difficult.
Mark valuable items with your postcode and register them on recognised property databases like Immobilise to aid recovery if stolen.
Vehicle Security & Tool Theft
Darker streets and longer nights mean parked vehicles become easier targets. Help protect your car and livelihood with advice from Neighbourhood Watch WIDE(N) Vehicle Security Guidance:
"Clear Out Your Car": Remove all bags, coats, electronics, and loose change — if nothing is visible through the windows, there is nothing to tempt a break-in.
Trade Van Owners — Take Extra Care: Tool theft is a major national issue. Wherever possible, remove valuable tools from your vehicle overnight. If you must keep them in the van, lock them inside a secure, bolted cage.
Register your gear: Record serial numbers and register all tools, equipment, and valuables on recognised tracking databases like Immobilise — property that is marked and registered is far more likely to be recovered and returned to you.
Early Preparation for Halloween & Bonfire Night — Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Warning
While these celebrations fall later in October and November, late September is when preparations begin and anti-social behaviour typically starts to rise. Now is the time to get ahead:
Secure your bins: Bring wheelie bins indoors or lock them away securely — they are frequently targeted for arson around Bonfire Night.
Report concerns early: If you see suspicious activity, groups gathering fireworks, or early signs of ASB in your neighbourhood, report it early using your local police’s online reporting tools. Early reports help prevent issues from escalating.
Keep gardens, gateways, and boundaries lit and tidy to discourage gatherings and mischief-making.
For more advice, resources, and to keep up with local safety updates, please visit Neighbourhood Watch WIDE(N) — where you’ll find full guidance on vehicle security, home protection, property registration, and much more.
A few simple steps taken today can make a huge difference this season. Look out for your neighbours, secure your home, and stay safe together.
The Neighbourhood Watch Podcast
Join former police officer turned award-winning comedian Alfie Moore as he speaks to special guests about the neighbourhoods where they grew up, followed by their experiences as victims of crime, or the experiences of close friends or relatives.
Alfie and his guest are joined by an expert who’ll provide advice and information about what you should do if you find yourself impacted by crime, and how to prevent it.
Introducing the Bolton Hate Crime Action Plan (2026–2029)
Bolton Council, Bolton CVS alongside Greater Manchester Police and local partners, such as Bolton Neighbourhood Watch, has launched the Bolton Hate Crime Action Plan 2026–2029 (attached to the bottom of this pdf copy) to reaffirm a zero-tolerance stance on hatred and build a safer, more inclusive borough. Under the slogan "No Place for Hate," the strategy outlines a coordinated approach to tackling hostility and supporting victims across the community.
Key Focus Areas & Strategic Priorities
Aligned with the broader Greater Manchester Hate Crime Plan, the strategy focuses on six core priorities:
Raising Awareness: Delivering unified public campaigns (such as "Too Great for Hate"), holding briefings, and utilizing high-footfall channels to clarify what constitutes a hate crime and how to report it.
Improving Victim Support: Embedding trauma-informed responses across support pathways, working with providers like Catch22, and tailoring assistance to meet individual needs, including neurodiversity.
Increasing Reporting Confidence: Expanding and promoting local reporting routes, which currently feature over 100 Hate Crime Ambassadors and 15 Third-Party Reporting Centres across Bolton.
Proactive Prevention: Monitoring local sentiment, using neighbourhood hotspot mapping to address emerging tensions early, and enhancing safety across public transport and the nighttime economy.
Education & Digital Safety: Partnering with youth groups, schools, and colleges to co-design educational programs, expanding Active Bystander training, and tackling online hostility.
Community Cohesion: Working directly with voluntary, faith, and community organizations (such as Bolton CVS and the Bolton Faith Network) to support targeted groups, bridge cultural divides, and build resilience.
Addressing Underreported Hostility The plan responds directly to local data showing that race remains the most targeted characteristic, while addressing severe underreporting among vulnerable groups—including Muslim residents, disabled individuals, transgender people, and youth. Through stronger partner collaboration, accessible reporting in multiple languages, and oversight from the Independent Advisory Group (IAG), the plan aims to ensure every victim is believed, protected, and supported.
Anyone can be a victim of hate crime
How Hate Crimes Work
Perception matters: A hate crime is any criminal offence felt or perceived to be caused by hostility or prejudice.
No membership needed: You do not have to belong to a specific minority or targeted group to be a victim.
Mistaken identity: If an attacker believes you have a certain protected characteristic—even if they are wrong—it still counts as a hate crime.
Example: A person who is straight can be a victim of a hate crime if an attacker targets them while using a homophobic slur.
The Nine Protected Characteristics
There are nine characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010 in Great Britain:
Age: Protection applies to people of all ages, whether young or old.
Disability: A physical or mental impairment with a long-term, substantial effect on daily life.
Gender reassignment: The process of transitioning from one gender to another.
Marriage and civil partnership: Being legally married or in a civil partnership.
Pregnancy and maternity: Being pregnant or on maternity leave (including breastfeeding).
Race: Includes colour, nationality, ethnic, or national origins.
Religion or belief: Any religious, philosophical, or lack of belief.
Sex: Being male or female.
Sexual orientation: Attraction to the same sex, opposite sex, or both.
Where You Are Protected
The law stops unfair treatment in everyday situations:
30 Days 30 Ways – Supporting Preparedness This Month
This month, we’re proud to be supporting #30Days30WaysUK, an evidence-based campaign encouraging individuals, families and communities to be better prepared for emergencies and everyday challenges.
Throughout September, we’ve been sharing helpful tips, advice and ideas to build resilience, improve preparedness and help our community look out for one another.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who took the time to submit nominations for this year’s National Neighbourhood Watch Awards. It means so much to see the recognition for all the hard work our volunteers do across our communities.
We are absolutely delighted to share that our very own Area Leads, Chris and Clair, have been selected as finalists in the Crime Prevention category! Congratulations both – this is thoroughly well-deserved.
We wish you the very best of luck as the winners are announced at the National Neighbourhood Watch Conference on 8th October. We’re all rooting for you!
Opening of Queens Park Sensory Garden: A Special Space for All
We were delighted to join the Friends of Queens Park recently for the official opening of their beautiful new sensory garden. Filled with colour, scent, texture, sound and taste makes this an engaging space for everyone. If you are planning on visiting the sensory garden, we have attached a short guide to which plants are in each section
The group runs a truly unique Neighbourhood Watch scheme here in Bolton – Park Watch. Unlike most schemes, this one has no residential neighbours; it is made up entirely of people who love and value this wonderful green space. At its heart is a simple belief: Queens Park belongs to everyone, and all should feel safe, welcome and able to enjoy its natural beauty.
It was wonderful to celebrate the new garden, though it was with great disappointment we learned plants were stolen from the site recently, with some thefts taking place on the night before the opening. We were pleased to hear that CCTV is being installed in the park to make it a safer and more secure place for its users.
We want to remind anyone who witnesses crime or anti-social behaviour in the park to please report it to the police, to help keep this special place protected.
Joining Park Watch brings many benefits: you’ll be the first to hear about park events, connect with like-minded volunteers, and help care for and safeguard our open spaces. To join, simply search postcode BL1 4RU on the official Neighbourhood Watch scheme finder, or visit the scheme page here
We hope to launch more Park Watch schemes across Bolton in the coming months. If you would be interested in coordinating a scheme for your own local park, please do get in touch with us.
We were delighted to join the Friends of Queens Park recently for the official opening of their beautiful new sensory garden. Filled with colour, scent, texture, sound and taste makes this an engaging space for everyone. If you are planning on visiting the sensory garden, we have attached a short guide to which plants are in each section
