Our News, September 2026 - knife crime, 'snapping' and our online conference.

Hello Neighbours, 

Tackling knife crime requires a whole-of-society approach, with government, communities, charities and local partners working together. This September we’ve got some great news about knife crime figures. This change has come thanks to a coordinated and collaborative effort from campaigners, charities, government and the police. Thanks so much to all our members who shared information about the knife amnesty in person and online. These statistics show that working together, we can make a real difference. 

Other highlights this month: 

Record number of knives taken off streets as knife murders plummet

Nearly 60,000 knives have been removed from streets in England and Wales through new knife surrender schemes and police operations. The figures come as knife homicides have fallen by almost 20% and knife crime overall has fallen for the first time in 4 years, dropping by 5%. The latest admissions data for NHS hospitals in England and Wales also show a 10% fall in admissions for knife assaults. Read the full story on our website. 

The UK's traditional landline network is due to close in January 2027

BT customers need to switch to Digital Voice well before that date to avoid any disruption to services. If you receive information from BT about your switch, please respond and confirm any appointments offered, don’t forget to provide any additional information requested. If you have not yet booked an appointment, do that as soon as possible. 

Need help? BT customers can contact customer services teams on 0330 1234 150 or by calling 150 from their landline. If you have questions, but are not a BT customer, contact your phone provider directly for advice and support. You can find out more on the BT website. (Ad) 

The Neighbourhood Watch online conference – save the date!

This year it will be taking place online on 8 October. Join members from across the country for our annual community conversation. The event is free and you’ll get updates on crime prevention and community building projects across the country. Our partner ERA Home Security will also offer expert advice on how to conduct a home security audit and a short interactive quiz. More details and registration information coming soon.

Podcast series – we want your feedback! 

Wow, we knew it was good, but we’re overwhelmed with the response we’ve had to our podcast. The Neighbourhood Watch podcast is officially a hit – the launch downloads figures showed that it is in the top 2% of podcasts globally! We’re so grateful to everyone that has listened and reviewed it. You can listen to all six episodes on our website. If you have any feedback you’d like to share, tell us what you think here.

International Day of Charity

We’re celebrating the small actions that can make a big difference in our communities, from checking in on a neighbour to sharing home security advice. Discover how you can help create a safer, more connected neighbourhood with support from our partner ERA Home Security. Read more here. 

20 September is World Cleanup Day

Many Neighbourhood Watch groups do regular litter picks. It’s a brilliant way to bring people together and make a tangible difference to your street. The mission at World Cleanup Day UK is to ‘Strive for 5’: to involve 5% of the population in September cleanups – so why not get involved! Find out more and register your clean-up here. 

The simple solution for securing your French doors is PATLOCK

No keys. No combination lock. Just quick and easy-to-fit security with ratchet locking bars that secure your doors in seconds. For instant protection and peace of mind, it’s as easy as: Push, Click, Secure. Neighbourhood Watch members can purchase PATLOCK at the exclusive discounted price of £42.50 by clicking here. (Ad)

Snapping is the dangerous craze you should know about

A new antisocial behaviour trend called ‘snapping’ involves people doing wheelies on bikes and e-bikes. They ride directly into the path of pedestrians and oncoming cars, before swerving at the very last minute. The Metro newspaper interviewed our Head of Membership, Cheryl Spruce, about how the issue is impacting our members. Read the full story here. 

The Neighbourhood Watch lottery results are in!

The winning numbers last week were 160745, and one of our supporters has won £327 in the draw. Congratulations to that lucky person. Remember to check your emails to see if you’ve won. If you haven't signed up yet, visit our lottery here and get involved! 50% of proceeds from all tickets sold from our page go to our charity. The remainder is spent on the prizes and the administration of the lottery.

Community spotlight: Aldeburgh & Fearon Streets 

Thanks to generous members of the community down in a little patch of east Greenwich, the Neighbourhood Watch's Little Free Library is bursting with books. It’s a resource where neighbours can donate and borrow books. There are some great ones there for children (of all ages!). Find out more about the Little Free Library programme here.

That is it for this month. If you have a story from a local NW group that you’d like to celebrate – remember to tag us on social media so we can like and share your posts. You can find us on Instagram | LinkedIn | Threads | YouTube Facebook | Bluesky. 

See you next month. 
Best wishes

Charmian