CogNW

Welcome to Coggeshall Neighbourhood Watch! We're a local community group working in close partnership with Essex Police to help make our village a safer and better place to live.

The UK's first Neighbourhood Watch was set up in Mollington in Cheshire in 1982 following the success of a similar scheme in Chicago in the United States. Many more schemes followed throughout the UK, and 10 million people are now thought to be members.

We'll publish the latest information about crime in the village on this site. So if, for example, there's a sudden increase in burglaries or a door-to-door- scam running, we'll make sure you know about it straight away.

You can also email us with any questions. And, of course, we'd love you to be involved too. Take a look at how you can support the Scheme in lots of practical ways.

VICTIM SUPPORT/MY SUPPORT SPACE

In the current climate some may feel at a loss as to who to turn to in times of stress if a victim of criminal acts. The following may be of help:-

My Support Space is an online resource designed to help you manage the impact that crime has had on you.

It is a free, safe, secure and confidential space where you can choose how you want to be supported after crime.

It’s easy to create an account

Registering for an account with My Support Space is quick and easy. We don’t need many details from you. Sign up at mysupportspace.org.uk/MoJ

You can access My Support Space from any computer, tablet or smartphone with internet access.

How can it help me?

Once you’ve created your account you can access a range of tools to help you cope and move forward after crime.

You can work through a series of interactive guides which address your specific needs. The guides feature videos, techniques, activities and tips, and can be completed at your own pace. You can save your progress and revisit where you left off at any time.

You can also create an online diary, find useful resources and request direct support.

Who is it suitable for?

My Support Space is for people aged 16 and over who have been affected by crime and traumatic events and feel able to cope but who may need help to move forward.

 

 

mysupportspace.org.uk/MoJ

March 2020 | P2601 © 2020 Victim Support

PROTECT AGAINST HACKERS

10 ways to protect against hackers
Hackers (of the criminal variety) are a scary bunch—whether working as part of an organized unit or an idealist with a political agenda, they’ve got the knowledge and the power to access your most precious data. If hackers want to target a particular company, for example, they can find vast amounts of information on that company just by searching the web. They can then use that info to exploit weaknesses in the company’s security, which in turn puts the data you’ve entrusted to that company in jeopardy.
Think of your home computer as a company. What can you do to protect it against cybercriminals? Instead of sitting back and waiting to get infected, why not arm yourself and fight back?
Bad guys, beware. We’ve got 10 ways to beat you.
1. Update your OS and other software frequently, if not automatically. This keeps hackers from accessing your computer through vulnerabilities in outdated programs (which can be exploited by malware). For extra protection, enable Microsoft product updates so that the Office Suite will be updated at the same time. Consider retiring particularly susceptible software such as Java or Flash, especially as many sites and services continue to move away from them.
2. Download up-to-date security programs, including anti-malware software with 
multiple technologies for protecting against spyware, ransomware, and exploits, as well as a firewall, if your OS didn’t come pre-packaged with it. (You’ll want to check if your OS has both firewall and antivirus built in and enabled by default, and whether those programs are compatible with additional cybersecurity software.)
3. Destroy all traces of your personal info on hardware you plan on selling. Consider using d-ban to erase your hard drive. For those looking to pillage your recycled devices, this makes information much more difficult to recover. If the information you’d like to protect is critical enough, removing the platters where the information is stored then destroying them is the way to go.
4. Do not use open Wi-Fi on your router; it makes it too easy for threat actors to steal your connection and download illegal files. Protect your Wi-Fi with an encrypted password and consider refreshing your equipment every few years. Some routers have vulnerabilities that are never patched. Newer routers allow you to provide guests with segregated wireless access. Plus, they make frequent password changes easier.
5. Speaking of passwords: password protect all of your devices, including your desktop, laptop, phone, smartwatch, tablet, camera, lawnmower...you get the idea. The ubiquity of mobile devices makes them especially vulnerable. Lock your phone and make the timeout fairly short. Use fingerprint lock for the iPhone and passkey or swipe for Android. “It’s easy to forget that mobile devices are essentially small computers that just happen to fit in your pocket and can be used as a phone,” says Jean-Philippe Taggart, Senior Security Researcher at Malwarebytes. “Your mobile device contains a veritable treasure trove of personal information and once unlocked, can lead to devastating consequences.”
6. Sensing a pattern here? Create difficult passwords, and never use the same ones across multiple services. If that’s as painful as a stake to a vampire’s heart, use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password. For extra hacker protection, ask about two-step authentication. Several services have only recently started to offer 2FA, and they require the user to initiate the process. Trust us, the extra friction is worth it. Two-factor authentication makes taking over an account that much more difficult, and on the flip side, much easier to reclaim should the worst happen.
7. Come up with creative answers for your security questions. People can now figure out your mother’s maiden name or where you went to school or college with a simple Google search. Consider answering like a crazy person. If a Bank asks, “What was the name of your first boyfriend/girlfriend?” reply, “Your mum.” Just don’t forget that’s how you answered when they ask you again.
8. Practice smart emailing. Phishing campaigns still exist, but cybercriminals have become much cleverer than that Nigerian prince who needs your money. Hover over links to see their actual URLs (as opposed to just seeing words in hyperlink text). Also, check to see if the email is really from the person or company claiming to have sent it. If you’re not sure, pay attention to awkward sentence construction and formatting. If something still seems fishy, do a quick search on the Internet for the subject line. Others may have been scammed and posted about it online.
9. Some websites will ask you to sign in with a specific service to access features or post a comment. Ensure the login option isn’t a sneaky phish, and if you’re giving permission to an app to perform a task, ensure you know how to revoke access once you no longer need it. Old, abandoned connections from service to service are an easy way to see your main account compromised by spam.
10 Keep sensitive data off the cloud. “No matter which way you cut it, data stored on the cloud doesn’t belong to you,” says Taggart. “There are very few cloud storage solutions that offer encryption for ‘data at rest.’ Use the cloud accordingly. If it’s important, don’t.”
Honourable mentions: Alarmist webpages announcing that there are “critical errors” on your computer are lies. Microsoft will never contact you in person to remove threats. These messages come from scammers, and if you allow them to remotely connect to your computer, they could try to steal your information and your money. If that’s not a Nightmare, then we don’t know what is.
Shared on social media by malwarebytes.com
More information can be found at: - https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/what-we-do/crime-threats/cyber-crime

LEGALITY OF E SCOOTERS

E Scooters in the news again, and again, and again.
The Daily mail has a two page article in their edition dated Saturday 3rd October, entitled: New Plague on our Pavements. It highlights the true facts about: Broken bones, Skull Fractures, Brain Haemorrhages, Even Fatalities. (See link on next page).
Some MPs say E-Scooters should be legalised, one wonders if those who think this way are either truly blinkered or blatantly unaware of the very important safety concerns?
I am alarmed at the number of these lethal gadgets that are slowly creeping onto our pavements, footpaths and pedestrian precincts.
As I have said before, currently, they are only legal to use oiden private land, unless, they are part of a government approved trial, whereby they can be hired by anyone over the age of 18 who holds a provisional or full driving licence. There has already been a large number of complaints in the areas where their use is being trialled, as it appears that many users think that the law in respect of pavements, footpaths and pedestrian precincts, does not apply to them.
Whilst walking through the Harvey Centre in Harlow recently, I was incensed to see a man enter the centre, and for a short distance, get onto his E Scooter and ride and blazenly ride it, albeit for a short distance! Obvious, he fell into the category of being‘Cocky and stupid.’
The latest update is that new electric scooters that automatically turn off, once they mount the pavement, have been approved for use in Britain. The American designed E Scooters use sensors tocut power when entering prohibited zones such as footpaths and shopping centres. They are disabled within seconds of leaving a road, cycle lane or private land. (As the law currently stands the only place that they can legally be used outside of a trial area is on private land). These scooters use mapping data that is downloaded directly onto the scooter, which means it doesn’t have to use GPS. Apparently, it is hoped that the new devices made by a US firm called Link, will curb anti-social behaviour associated with the use of E Scooters in Britain. (I know that I am sceptical, and that I shouldn’t laugh, but .........
According to this latest report, E Scooters in the UK, take as long as thirty seconds to deactivate when entering prohibited territory. If that is the case, every E Scooter that I have seen recently, must have something to override this, as it doesn’t seem
to stop them, on pavements, footpaths, pedestrian precincts, cycle paths or roads in areas where such use is still illegal. Read the Daily Mail article at: -
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8800145/Rising-injuries-e-scooters- Britains-streets.html

THEFT OF METALS

Theft of Metals - A crime that affects us all?

You may well think “theft of metal” how does that affect me? Just look around you, your car has a very desirable catalytic convertor on its exhaust system, a roof has lead if not for the whole roof then it’s there in places, in the ground there is cabling for utilities such as telecommunications and many other examples where around us there are valuable metals. It does not then take a lot then to see that the loss of a catalytic convertor means a trader cannot work resulting in a loss of income to him and your delivery or work delayed or the trip you were taking is cancelled as vehicle cannot be used, the theft of lead from a roof and its resultant water damage catastrophic to a heritage building and potentially also causing the cancellation of a wedding or other function, theft of utility or telecommunication cabling can effectively cut off a village or whole area causing a loss of business or connectivity for the vulnerable, these just but a few of the results of metal theft.
So, what can be done? We can make it more difficult to steal and we can make it more difficult to dispose of.
Making it more difficult to steal or dispose of: -
• Report any suspicious activity: i.e. the unmarked van or other vehicle parked with activity around a manhole or sub-station etc, an unknown person working under a car late at night/early hours of the morning, activity around a church, heritage or other building when it’s not normal especially on a roof. Protect your neighbourhood by setting up a Neighbourhood Watch, Heritage Watch or Business Watch if you have not got one, the signage deters, and many eyes are better than one pair. NB – If you have planned building work let your neighbours/parishioners/employees know including who they are and what hours they will be there.
• Make it harder to steal: i.e. where your vehicle is parked – choose an area where people can see it or put it “under lock and key”, in a yard park vehicles with high ground clearance parked between those with low ground clearance, look at security devices with a vehicle it could be a protective cage, reduce access make them walk further and into public view especially when protecting buildings and their roofs, remove aids to the thief i.e. tools to do the job and climbing aids or something to carry their ill-gotten gains away, consider an alarm, with lead from roofs especially try and make access difficult subject to certain conditions you could use a spiky topping around downpipes fencing and roofs.
• Making it harder to dispose of: to start off with if its less attractive its less likely to be stolen so property marking and signage of this and other security devices may deter. Property marking makes it harder to dispose of, and there is something for almost everything from historic artefacts on the seabed to catalytic convertor to roofing material to your day to day property. An unmarked piece of property can be anonymous when stolen, in most cases we don’t know where it came from and therefore any prosecution is that much more difficult. A thief will know this and therefore anything that ties it back to the owner presents a risk not only to the thief but also to the handler, if the handler will not take it or it causes difficult questions at a boot fair or other then it’s not worth stealing it in the first place.
For further advice on crime prevention of crime prevention products see:
www.essex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/ or www.securedbydesign.com/member-companies/accredited-product-search
Earlier this year, Network Rail and the British Transport Police (BTP) also began visiting scrap yards as a part of efforts to tackle the trading of stolen metal following recent figures revealing that over 400 incidents of metal theft on the railway between London Euston and Carlisle have occurred in the last 12 months. The result of metal theft on Britain’s railways include significant delays to passengers and costing the UK taxpayer an estimated £1.4 million in Network Rail’s railway network.
The efforts to discourage metal theft and stolen metal trading include surprise scrap dealer site visits, including reminding traders of their obligations under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013. If it is not an emergency and you want to report a crime on the National Rail, London Underground, TFL Rail, London Overground, Docklands Light Railway, Midland Metro tram system, Croydon Tramlink, Sunderland Metro and the Glasgow Subway, call us on 0800 40 50 40 or text 61016.

COVID SAFE HALLOWE'EN

COVID SAFE HALLOWE’EN

First and Foremost, it is important that you check the latest advice, guidance and law regarding Covid 19 restrictions in your area, especially the rule of 6, before you plan to take part in Halloween celebrations.
Many traditional Halloween activities can be high-risk for spreading viruses. There are several safer, alternative ways to participate in Halloween. If you may have COVID-19 or you may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you should not participate in in-person Halloween festivities and should not give out candy to trick-or-treaters.
Lower risk activities
These lower risk activities can be safe alternatives:
• Carving or decorating pumpkins with members of your household and displaying them
• Carving or decorating pumpkins outside, at a safe distance, with neighbours or friends
• Decorating your house, apartment, or living space
• Doing a Halloween scavenger hunt where children are given lists of 
Halloween-themed things to look for while they walk outdoors from house to 
house admiring Halloween decorations at a distance
• Having a virtual Halloween costume contest
• Having a Halloween movie night with people you live with
• Having a scavenger hunt-style trick-or-treat search with your household 
members in or around your home rather than going house to house 
Moderate risk activities
• Participating in one-way trick-or-treating where individually wrapped goodie bags are lined up for families to grab and go while continuing to social distance (such as at the end of a driveway or at the edge of a yard)
o If you are preparing goodie bags, wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 second before and after preparing the bags.
• Having a small group, outdoor, open-air costume parade where people are distanced more than 6 feet apart, if this is allowed under Covid rules at the time).
• Attending a costume party held outdoors where protective masks are used and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
o A costume mask (such as for Halloween) is not a substitute for a cloth mask. A costume mask should not be used unless it is made of two or more layers of breathable fabric that covers the mouth and nose and doesn’t leave gaps around the face.
o Do not wear a costume mask over a protective cloth mask because it can be dangerous if the costume mask makes it hard to breathe. Instead, consider using a Halloween-themed cloth mask.
• Going to an open-air, one-way, walk-through haunted forest where appropriate mask use is enforced, and people can remain more than 6 feet apart
o If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
• Visiting pumpkin patches or orchards where people use hand sanitizer before touching pumpkins or picking apples, wearing masks is encouraged or enforced, and people are able to maintain social distancing
• Having an outdoor Halloween movie night with local family friends with people spaced at least 6 feet apart (check the current rules before you do so).
o If screaming will likely occur, greater distancing is advised. The greater the distance, the lower the risk of spreading a respiratory virus.
o Lower your risk by following the UK Government and, or devolved governments recommendations and laws on hosting gatherings or cook- outs.
Higher risk activities and legal restrictions
Avoid these higher risk activities to help prevent the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19:
• Participating in traditional trick-or-treating where treats are handed to children who go door to door
• Having trunk-or-treat where treats are handed out from trunks of cars lined up in large parking lots
• Attending crowded costume parties held indoors (remember the current rules).
• Going to an indoor haunted house where people may be crowded together 
and screaming
• Going on hayrides or tractor rides with people who are not in your household
• Using alcohol or drugs, which can cloud judgement and increase risky 
behaviours
• Travelling to a rural Halloween festival that is either in or outside of your 
community if you live in an area with community spread of COVID-19 and, or, if current rules or regulations forbid it. 
A spokesperson for the PM confirmed that Parents, Guardians or carers, will be fined £200 if they let their children go trick or treating in large groups. Children living within local lockdown areas will not be able to go knocking door-to-door at all, because households cannot mix. 
For those who need further clarification, Police can fine individuals £200 for ANY social gatherings of more than 6 people, the sum is doubled for second offences up to a maximum of £3,200. 
For those of you who may be, or have watched ‘Once upon a Time,’ on Netflix, you will know that ‘Magic comes at a price!’ 
Sadly, as I write this, there are currently no magic answers or cures for Covid 19, and the price that we may have to pay, is the loss of many more lives, unless EVERYONE, yes, I mean EVERYONE, conforms and plays their part in protecting themselves and others against the spread of the pandemic. 
Many young people and, unfortunately some not so young, think that they may come off lightly should they contract the decease. 
Many of them may well be carriers, spreading the virus, like locusts destroying crops as they pass. 
Don’t be a Covid Locust!

ESSEX POLICE BIG BOOK OF SCAMS

Not exactly bed time reading but full of helpful advice on dealing with, and hopefully avoiding, being caught out by some of the sophisticated scams currently doing the rounds. 

It is too long to show here so if you wish to view this booklet please do contact us and we will ensure a copy is sent to you via email.

TIPS FOR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Yes I know it seems far too early to be thinking about Christmas but in these strange times we have to adapt to thinking in a different way. For those who still wish to purchase from a real shop then one must consider whether we might, hopefully not, go into another lockdown which of course means getting out whilst we can.

Wise words penned by our District Crime Prevention Tactical Advisor:-

TWELVE TIPS FOR CHRISTMAS AND AFTER

With Christmas rapidly approaching here are a few tips to help keep you safe at home, shopping, visiting (whilst Covid compliant), and after Christmas too:

1:If you must store Christmas food and drink, presents and other goodies within garages and outbuildings, ensure that they are out of sight and that it’s securely locked with good quality well fitted locks. Treat your shed to a shed alarm.

2:Avoid tempting window shopping burglars; don’t leave presents and valuables on full view in front of a window.

3:Ensure that your windows and doors are closed and locked before leaving the house (remember your face covering). Don’t attract burglars to your home by leaving it in darkness; leave lights on timers, perhaps treat yourself to a TV simulator too.

4:Lock gates to keep unwanted visitors from getting to the rear of your home.

5:Whether an evening out or Christmas shopping keep your bags, handbags, wallets and mobile safe. Busy places make it easier for the sneak thief, so be alert at all times.

6:Park safely; look for a Parkmark accredited car park www.parkmark.co.uk/car-park-finder Check that your car is locked before you leave it and don’t leave valuables and gifts on display in your car.

7:When you go to leave the house and find that your car is all iced up, don’t leave it unattended with the engine running to de-ice it. It only takes a second to steal your car and it would invalidate any insurance claim.

8:A small Christmas get together – make sure that you have considered how you are getting home in advanced and avoid using unlicensed taxi’s. Ensure you drink responsible, social distance and are aware of your surroundings, whilst keeping your drink and belongings safe. www.suzylamplugh.org/Pages/FAQs/Category/personal-safety

9:Watch what you put on social media; check your settings to ensure that you are not broadcasting when you are not at home and the lovely gifts you may have received.

10:After Christmas don’t advertise your nice gifts to the thieves by putting the empty boxes out for collection, disguise them, fold them up inside out or put them inside another nondescript box.

11:Record your new property free on www.immobilise.com  install tracking and security apps on relevant electrical and computer products.

12:Have a Great Christmas and New Year!! For further crime prevention advice see: www.essex.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/

SAS071020rev

Finally, when out shopping do not leave parcels or personal belongings in view, either on the passenger seat or rear seats, thereby offering an open invitation for some one to steal your items.

HOW TO SPOT THE SCAM MESSAGE

Received a message from your bank that asks you to provide a PIN or full password? ⚠️STOP... it's a scam!

Could you spot the tell tale signs of a phish? 🎣 Find out more here: https://www.actionfraud.police.uk/mulletover #MulletOver

 

FRAUD INITIATIVES

Bank branch staff stopped £19 million of fraud in the first half of 2020 through the Banking Protocol, a scheme that alerts local police to suspected scams.

• The scheme has prevented victims from losing £116 million of fraud and led to 744 arrests since it was introduced three years ago.

• A range of scams that trick elderly and vulnerable customers into withdrawing cash from their branch have been prevented, including courier scams, romance fraud and rogue traders.

• Customers helped through the initiative are typically aged 65 or above, with some over 100 years old.

• The Banking Protocol scheme is now being expanded to telephone and online banking.

The Banking Protocol is a UK-wide scheme that enables bank branch staff to alert their local police force when they suspect a customer is being scammed. Police will then visit the branch to investigate the suspected fraud and arrest any suspects still on the scene.

£19.3 million of fraud was prevented and over 100 arrests were made through the scheme between January and June 2020. The latest figures mean the scheme has prevented victims losing a total of £116 million of fraud and led to 744 arrests since it was first introduced three years ago by UK Finance, National Trading Standards and local police forces.

The scheme is often used to prevent impersonation scams, in which criminals imitate police or bank staff and convince people to visit their bank and withdraw or transfer large sums of money. These can include courier scams, where those targeted are persuaded to take out a large sum of cash and hand it over to a fraudster posing as a courier. They can also include safe account scams, where the victims are told their money isn’t safe in the account it’s currently in and needs to be transferred to another account.

The initiative has also been used to prevent romance fraud, in which fraudsters use fake online dating profiles to trick victims into transferring money, and to catch rogue traders who prey on the elderly by demanding cash for unnecessary work on their property. UK Finance has today published top tips from the Take Five to Stop Fraud campaign on how to stay safe from these scam types.

Branch staff are trained to spot the warning signs that suggest someone may have fallen for one of these scams and make an emergency call to the police. 3,250 calls have been made in the first six months of this year through the scheme, including 637 in June. Data provided by police forces shows that customers helped through the Banking Protocol are typically aged over 65 while some were over 100 years old, demonstrating how these scams are often targeted towards the elderly and vulnerable. Katy Worobec, Managing Director of Economic Crime, UK Finance, commented: It is sickening that criminals are preying on elderly and vulnerable victims during this difficult time. Bank branch staff on the frontline are doing a heroic job in stopping these cruel scams and helping bring those responsible to justice.

“The banking industry is now working with police forces to expand this scheme to telephone and online banking, with a focus on protecting vulnerable customers.

“It’s vital that people always follow the advice of the Take Five to Stop
Fraud campaign, and remember that a bank or the police will never ask you to transfer funds to another account or to withdraw cash to hand over to them for safe- keeping.

T/Commander Clinton Blackburn, from the City of London Police, the lead force for fraud, said: Banks are often the first point of contact when someone is about to fall victim to fraud, so the banking protocol is a vital way of protecting vulnerable victims and preventing criminals from taking advantage of them.

“Having a system in place where an immediate police response can be generated to a suspected fraud, allows officers to gain vital evidence and increases our chances of catching the criminal in person, or following the money trail right to their door.

Those assisted by the scheme are offered ongoing support to help prevent them falling victim to scams in future, including through referrals to social services, expert fraud prevention advice and additional checks on future transactions. In the first six months of this year, 1,149 potentially vulnerable adults were identified after bank branch staff alerted the police to suspected scams through the scheme.

To build on the success of the scheme, discussions are currently underway with local police forces over expanding it to cover attempted bank transfers made by customers through telephone and online banking. This would enable bank staff at call centres to notify police when certain attempted bank transfers are being made which they believe may be the result of a scam, in situations where the customer is unable to visit their local branch to enable further checks.

https://takefive-stopfraud.org.uk/

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