Neighbourhood Watch

(Page last updated: 13.12.2024 – the lastest information can be found below the Mendip West NPT Update)

The Parish operates a Neighbourhood Watch scheme co-ordinated by Lynne Mitchell who can be contacted on 07773 345092 or lydfordnhw@gmail.com.  Lynne is supported by a number of volunteers who look after specific areas and they are there to offer help and advice.  Your local contact should get in touch with you soon after you move in, and details are printed in the Parish Magazine.  Incident reports will be posted on the village and shop noticeboards and in addition residents are welcome to email Lynne with their email address so that the information can be delivered promptly.  Emails will be sent out as bcc’s to ensure that addresses remain anonymous.  Please help to keep Lydford safe and crime free by reporting any crime or suspicious activities you become aware of.  If in doubt ask us for advice.


To register for the Lydford Neighbourhood Watch please download and complete this form:

The GDPR can be downloaded here:


Contacting the Police

Call 999 for emergencies or crime/incidents in progress
Call 101 for non-urgent or historical crime reporting
Update your crime – Update to an existing crime report | Avon and Somerset Police
Report a new crime – Report | Avon and Somerset Police
Police Stations – Police Stations | Avon and Somerset Police
www.avonandsomerset.police.uk | Follow us on Twitter/X and Facebook

Crimestoppers

To give information anonymously call 0800 555 111 or use this link:
Giving information anonymously | Crimestoppers (crimestoppers-uk.org)


Below you can view and download the Mendip West Update for August 2024, created by your (NPT) Neighbourhood Police Team:




Avon and Somerset Police are warning the public of a phishing text circulating recently which encourages recipients to click on a link to pay a fictitious parking fine. The link leads to a convincing looking fraudulent
website which looks like the official government website. You will then be asked to enter your email address, vehicle registration number, and your card details to make a payment, usually of £20.
If you receive a text message like this, do not click on the link, as fraudsters can steal your personal and financial data to commit
identity fraud and take your money. Even by clicking the link and not entering any information could result in malware being downloaded onto your device.
Phishing messages can be reported by forwarding to 7726, which spells ‘SPAM’ on your keypad. If you have become a victim of a phishing text scam, report this to your bank immediately, which can be done by calling 159, and report to Action Fraud.

  • As the nights are starting to draw-in, the most important thing to prevent burglary is to make the home look as if it’s occupied. The use of lights on timer switches is recommended, and if you can also put one on a radio tuned to a talk station that will also make it sound like someone is in, and having a conversation. Fake TV lights are now available, which gives the impression that someone is watching television, and these can work really well if you have them in an upstairs bedroom.
  • Ensure that all doors and windows are closed and properly locked – use a key, don’t just lift the door handle. Take the keys out of the door when it’s locked and put them somewhere out of sight and reach, but make sure all the residents know where they are kept in case of emergency.
  • Sheds, garages and outbuildings are popular targets for burglars, so increase the security to these whenever possible. Check that the contents of these places are included on our home and contents insurance.
  • Register your belongings on the Immobilise property register. If anything lost or stolen is handed to the police you have a good chance of getting your property returned.
  • Restrict access to the rear of your property wherever possible – lock any side gates leading to the rear – as the back or patio doors are the most popular site of forced entry. Think about growing some thorny bushes along the garden fencing.
  • Lock away ladders or any tools that could help a burglar, and secure any garden furniture or wheelie bins that can be moved to help gain access to an extension or first floor window.
  • If you’re taking the car with you, ask a neighbour to use your driveway while you are away to make the home look occupied.
  • Cut the lawn and keep the garden tidy. Long grass suggests that the house is empty or the occupant is unable to look after the garden.
  • Consider installing a burglar alarm – they are a real deterrent – but get an approved or recommended model, as the cheap ones aren’t really that reliable and if the alarm keeps going off your neighbours will soon lose interest and may ignore a real activation.
  • Don’t forget to cancel any milk or newspaper deliveries, and postpone ordering anything that may arrive while you’re away.







Bath and North East Somerset Trading Standards have been made aware of three residents being contacted by suspected fraudsters who are claiming to be from “Bath Council”, “Safe and Secure” or “Protect Your Home UK”.

The caller say that they are contacting people aged between 50 and 70 to offer home security systems. One resident was offered an ID wrist band for £1, along with a quote for floor sensors which would alert the wristband if there was a flood or fire. The other resident was offered free security equipment, £1 for installation and ongoing maintenance costs to be agreed. Both residents say the caller was extremely convincing. The caller guaranteed that police, ambulance or fire would attend an incident. The telephone number provided to residents does not work and it’s believed that this is a scam.

This may be an attempt to get people’s bank details or to sign residents up to an expensive monthly subscription.

If you have been affected by a similar telephone call, the advice from Trading Standards is to call the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06 or report it online at https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-
us/consumer-service/




Click the button to find out how to protect yourselves from Cyber Crime: