Leek News Letter. Please make sure you log into the NW site to complete registration.

Leek News Letter. Please make sure you log into the NW site to complete registration.

Leek Neighbourhood Watch News Letter             24 /9/2026

Hello to all the members of Leek Watches. I am doing a news letter to keep you all updated on what’s happening in Leek and how things have progressed over recent months.

I am Angie and am the area coordinator for Leek. This covers the council wards of North, South, East and West and we are really lucky in our area that councillors at all levels – (Leek Town, SMDC and County) have all shown support for Neighbourhood watch growing. We are also lucky to have a Local Police Team who are supportive of NW having a greater presence and influence on crime in our area. I have also recently met with a Your Housing representative who again is supportive and recognises the need for antisocial behaviour to be tackled collectively.

Recently we have seen problems with electric scooters and illegal bike usage on our roads and pavements. We are encouraging these to be reported to the police – 101 if you can report where the bikes are being kept and are able to provide a statement that you have seen them being ridden. Ring 999 if there is any danger or risks being posed by them being ridden in public areas. You can also report to crime stoppers anonymously which provides police with useful intelligence.

If your child or relative has an electric scooter or modified bike please let them know that technically the vehicle isn’t illegal. Riding one in a public space without a licence, without insurance or registration are driving offences. Not only can the vehicle be seized but the driver can attract 6 penalty points and a fine. For children with no licence the points can be held by the DVLA on a ‘ghost’ licence. When the child applies for a provisional licence, the points will transfer and effectively the child will be banned before they learn to drive – insurance will be implicated also.

Parcel thefts have been an issue over summer it would appear the same people are responsible for most of these instances, but what is clear is that camera footage has been extremely useful in determining who has been taking our property. Its also worthy of mention here that you can register your door cameras and CCTV with the police at Staffordshire Police CCTV Registry.  This means they can access your footage if needed (saving them doing door to door requests). They do not access the footage without your consent for each occasion.

There have been a recent spate of attempted house burglaries which is very distressing also thefts from cars and theft of motor vehicles – again camera footage has been very useful evidence. If you don’t have a camera it may be worth putting one on your Xmas list 😊

Leek now has around 450 NW members and we have 13 watch areas covering around 70 streets / roads. We want to have all of Leek covered so we have an effective communication network regarding crime and antisocial behaviour. Offenders need to know that as a community we will be watching and will be reporting and gathering evidence on behaviour that impacts on us all. 

We won’t be organising street patrols or vigilante action but enough is enough and we won’t be silently accepting it or just moaning about it anymore. Please do your best to get people talking about what's happening and encourage people to join us ( even if there isn't a street Watch set up locally people can join as individuals and will be added to schemes when they are approved. To be really effective we need active members talking to each other.

If you want to help to set up a street watch where you live or be a co-ordinator please get in touch. I am trying to make it as easy as I can for you to get them up and running. I will do the admin side of things in the set ups but need help in promoting the watch in the area by leaflet drops and managing ongoing communication of local issues between residents and the wider NW community. We are hoping to have meetings every couple of months or so where themes can be brought together and can be taken to police/ councils/ housing providers as community issues rather than people feeling alone with recurring problems.

I have finally navigated the red tape for putting up neighbourhood watch signage and am awaiting approval for some watches. I’ll be out later getting the lamp post numbers for the next round of applications to EON. We have secured funding so far for 250 signs thanks to Leek Town Council, Sonny Edwards (County Councillor) and Leek Lands Trust. We still need around £2000 to cover all of Leek as a rough estimate – ill be doing more applications as and when the opportunities arise.

Please keep eyes and ears open and report anything suspicious. Stay in touch with your neighbours and look out for each other. The funding for authorities is so tight we all have to do what we can to support them in tackling crime and antisocial behaviour.

Take care,

Angie.