Look out for your neighbours

Looking out for those living around you, making sure they are safe and not being taken advantage of, is one of the signs of a good neighbour.

Here’s some advice to help you to support your neighbours and create a place where everyone feels safe.

Have you seen your neighbour recently?

Perhaps you go to a regular event, such as a craft or coffee morning, and haven’t seen one of your friends for a few weeks. Or you may not have seen one of your neighbours out and about for a while.

If you’re concerned for a neighbour, try checking in on them or speak to our housing staff. If you’re still worried, you can call 101 and ask for a welfare check.

Look out for unfamiliar faces 

Have you seen unusual or suspicious people going in and out of a neighbour’s home? Perhaps those visitors are creating a noise or nuisance. If you’re concerned that a vulnerable neighbour is being taken advantage of, this could be a sign of cuckooing.

Cuckooing is a term where criminals take over a vulnerable person’s home for illegal activities such as drugs, sexual exploitation, hiding stolen goods or financial exploitation.

Raising your concerns

If you have a serious concern about the welfare of a neighbour, these are some of the steps you can take:

call the police on 101 if you suspect a neighbour is being abused or their home is being used for criminal activities, such as, “cuckooing”

call 999 in an emergency, if a person is in immediate danger

to report information anonymously, call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111

if you, or someone you know, is experiencing domestic abuse or sexual violence, you can call the Live Fear Free Helpline, a confidential, 24-hour helpline on 0808 80 10 800 or text 07860077333 or email info@livefearfreehelpline.wales

call 0800 052 2526 and speak to our Housing Support Team if you are worried about one of your neighbours