Sutton Neighbourhood Watch - October 2026 Newsletter

Dear Resident,

Welcome to the October edition of the Sutton Neighbourhood Watch (SNHW) newsletter. As Autumn settles in and the evenings grow darker, thank you, as always, for your continued support in helping keep Sutton a safe, resilient and connected community. Every concern you report and every conversation you have with a neighbour helps our local police teams focus on the issues that matter most.

In this edition, we share the latest update from the Sutton Neighbourhood Policing Team, including encouraging reductions in burglary; robbery and anti-social behaviour; along with results from a Live Facial Recognition operation on Sutton High Street and two significant drugs operations in Hackbridge and on Beddington Lane. We also highlight a spate of shed burglaries in Wallington North; a new fraud guide for university students; a report that there are a record number of knives being surrendered nationally; and local action against illegally modified e-bikes. Finally, we round up the latest scam alerts, from a new investment fraud video to fake RingGo parking texts and spoofed police calls, so that you can stay informed and help protect those around you.

Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who attended our AGM on 16 September. It was wonderful to see so many of you there, and we hope you enjoyed the evening as much as we did. The next newsletter will include a report on the AGM. In the meantime, please get in touch if you have any questions. Looking ahead, SNHW is changing as we adapt to a new communications system that is not an exact fit for our needs. We would therefore welcome members who are interested in helping to shape our future decisions. We currently need someone to take on Membership Administration, someone with IT knowledge to support our social media work, and volunteers to help with a range of committee tasks. I would be happy to provide further information about any of these vacant roles and to meet with you to discuss how you could contribute.

Stonecot NHW and Community Meeting Reminder

The Stonecot Community Meeting will be held on 15 October at 7.30 p.m. in St Bede’s Room at St Raphael’s Hospice. These engaging meetings provide an opportunity to hear updates from local police and councillors, as well as a guest speaker. Tea and coffee will be available from 7.00 p.m. - and there is also the promise of cake!

Sutton Neighbourhood Policing Team Update

We have continued our close partnership with the police and were pleased to receive thanks to members and residents from our local Neighbourhood Policing Team for our continued support, stressing that the information and concerns we share play a vital role in keeping Sutton safe. Compared with the previous four-week period, it is encouraging to receive the latest team reports:

• Anti-social behaviour: high-visibility patrols in Royston Park, Rosehill Park, St Helier Park, Overton Park and Roundshaw Downs led to arrests, an illegal e-bike seizure and a 40% reduction in anti-social behaviour in priority open spaces.
• Persistent concerns: Sutton Central officers successfully secured a civil injunction against an address linked to ongoing anti-social behaviour and suspected drug activity.
• Burglary: targeted overnight patrols cut burglaries by 27% (and by 23% in the financial year-to-date).
• Vehicle crime: theft of motor vehicles fell by 16% and theft from motor vehicles by 12%.
• Robbery: uniformed and plain-clothes deployments reduced robbery by 45%.

All this work, and the participation of our members and residents have been instrumental in these successes and we are encouraged to stay in touch with our local team through Met Engage.

Below are further reports on the action our police are taking to keep us all safe.

Live Facial Recognition Operation on Sutton High Street

On 25 September, a Live Facial Recognition (LFR) operation on Sutton High Street helped officers identify people wanted for serious or violent offences or potential breaches of court orders. Two men were arrested: one wanted for burglary, and another for breaching a Domestic Violence Prevention Order and affray, who was further arrested for possessing a bladed article and cannabis. Officers also gathered significant intelligence and dealt with four shoplifting incidents.

More information about LFR can be found here.

Tackling Drugs in Sutton

On 17 September, officers from the Sutton Neighbourhood Policing Team, supported by the Territorial Support Group, executed a warrant at an address on Spencer Road, Hackbridge, following concerns raised by residents about anti-social behaviour and criminal activity. Officers recovered a significant quantity of suspected Class A and Class B drugs, along with cash and items linked to drug supply. Police arrested three people and returned the property, believed to have been stolen by criminals, to its lawful owners.

Police have also released details of an operation on Beddington Lane in late August that, because of operational requirements, had been confidential until now. While responding to a reported burglary, officers discovered a sophisticated cannabis factory with 632 plants, worth an estimated £565,710, removing drugs from circulation and disrupting an organised crime group.

You can contact police on 101, or report anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please remain especially vigilant as the nights draw in and darkness falls earlier, giving opportunists more cover in which to operate.

Local Burglary Update: Shed Burglaries

Several shed burglaries have been reported in Wallington North Ward, which borders Carshalton Central and Beddington, with offenders targeting e-bikes, bicycles and other valuables stored in gardens and outbuildings. Please secure sheds, garages, and side gates with good-quality locks; chain or anchor bikes and tools; consider security lighting, CCTV, or shed alarms; and keep gates and fences in good repair. Report suspicious activity via 101 or call 999 if a crime is in progress.

More information about home security can be found here.

Record Number of Knives Taken Off Streets

Nearly 60,000 knives have been removed from streets in England and Wales, including 7,512 weapons handed in ahead of Ronan's Law, which bans ninja swords and introduces strict checks. The law is named after Ronan, who was killed with a ninja sword bought online after his mother, Pooja Kanda, led a successful campaign for it. Knife homicides have fallen by almost 20%, and knife crime overall by 5%.  Whilst this is encouraging news it is important to remain vigilant and to report to police anyone you know who may be carrying such a knife.

More information can be found here.

Local Action on Illegally Modified E-bikes

Local officers, working with Trading Standards and the Vehicle and Roadside Enforcement Squad, inspected a local e-bike store and found around 20% of its bikes illegally modified to boost speed by nearly 50%. The owner has been served with withdrawal and recall notices and must provide details of all customers, with further visits planned. This should help tackle erratic riding on pavements. It follows the Met's expansion of its own crime-fighting e-bike fleet from five to 25. Report dangerous driving here.

More information on the Met's e-bike fleet is available here.

Fraud Guide for University Students

It’s that time of year when our youngsters head off to university or college; a time of excitement and adventure for them but also an important time to take care and keep safe.  The Report Fraud booklet below helps university students, particularly international students, protect themselves from cybercrime and fraud. Common scams include:

• Fake Student Loans Company messages
• Tuition fee "discount" offers
• UCAS impersonation emails
• Visa and immigration fraud
• Email and social media hacking
• Rental fraud
• Recruitment fraud
• Money muling
• Police impersonation

If a message doesn't feel right, STOP: break the contact and check with the organisation directly. Please share this with any students among your family and neighbours.

More information can be found here.

Scam Alerts: Stay Vigilant

Scams keep evolving, from investment fraud to fake texts and spoofed phone calls. Please stay alert and share these warnings with family and neighbours.

New Investment Fraud Video

Fraud accounts for about 41% of all crime in the UK. The National Crime Agency has released a new video, part of its Fraud Explained campaign, highlighting the warning signs of investment fraud, where criminals promote fake opportunities promising high returns with little or no risk.  Watch the video here.

£51 Million Stolen from Pensioners by Those They Trust

One of the most upsetting incidents of fraud is theft of your belongings from those you love and trust. Report Fraud data shows, however, that £93.8 million was stolen through fraud by abuse of position in 2025/26, with over-70s losing over £51 million, often to relatives, friends, carers or attorneys. Check statements regularly and watch for unpaid bills, missing possessions or unexpected will changes. Call Report Fraud on 0300 123 2040.

More information can be found here.

Scam Calls Posing as Surrey Police

Scammers are using "spoofing" software to make calls appear to come from Surrey Police's 101 number, then urging people to Google the number to confirm it is genuine. A police officer will never call unexpectedly asking for bank details or ask you to withdraw money. If unsure, call 101 directly.

More information can be found here.

Fake RingGo Parking Texts

Fake texts claiming you owe RingGo parking charges threaten enforcement to make people click a link to a convincing clone website designed to steal card details. Never click the link or reply, even with one letter. Check your parking history in the official app, and forward suspicious texts to 7726.

More information can be found here.

Our Committee & Ward Coordinators

View a full list of our Committee and Ward Coordinators, including current vacancies, here.

Help Us Grow

As our effectiveness in making Sutton a better place to live by combatting crime and antisocial behaviour is proportionate to our membership, please encourage your friends and neighbours to join. They can easily register here. 

Thank you.