IW Council Services over the Christmas and New Year

COUNCIL SERVICES THIS CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

Most of the council’s operations will remain open until 4.30pm, Monday 24 December.

After closing for Christmas Day and Boxing Day, many services will reopen on Thursday 27 December through to Friday 28 December and Monday 31 December.

After closing for New Year’s Day, services will reopen as normal on Wednesday 2 January.

For special arrangements for certain services, please see the information below.

Adult social care

Offices close at 4.30pm on Monday 24 December and reopen at 8.30am on Thursday 27 December. They then close again at 4.30pm on Monday 31 December and reopen at 8.30am on Wednesday 2 January.

Outside of these times urgent calls should be directed to Wightcare, tel: 821105.

If you are worried about a vulnerable adult, please contact: Wightcare, tel: 821105 (24 hours).

You do not need to know everything about a vulnerable adult and what is happening before you contact us.

IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999.

Bereavement Services

Crematorium Grounds and Book of Remembrance:

·         Friday 21 December (9am to 4.30pm).

·         Saturday 22 December (10am to 2pm).

·         Sunday 23 December (10am to 2pm).

·         Christmas Eve (9am to 4.30pm).

·         Christmas Day (closed).

·         Boxing Day (closed).

·         Thursday 27 December (9am to 4.30pm).

·         Friday 28 December (9am to 4.30pm).

·         Saturday 29 December (10am to 2pm).

·         New Year’s Eve (10am to 2pm).

·         New Year’s Day (10am to 12 noon).

The grounds can be accessed at any time, but if the gates are closed, please park in the road outside and use the pedestrian gate.

Office hours are as above for weekdays, except for bank holidays, when the office is closed.

All cremation documentation, burial forms and music should be delivered at least three clear office working days prior to each service, especially over this period.

Children’s Services

Offices close at 4.30pm, Monday 24 December and reopen Thursday 27 December at 8.30am.

If you are worried about a child or young person, please contact: Isle of Wight Children’s Services: 0300 300 0117 (24 hours).

You do not need to know everything about the child or young person and what is happening before you contact us.

IN AN EMERGENCY CONTACT THE POLICE BY DIALLING 999.

Contact Centre and help centres

The Contact Centre closes at 4.30pm on Monday 24 December. It will then reopen at 8.30am and until 5pm on Thursday 27 December, 8.30am until 4.30pm on Friday 28 December and 9am until 1pm on Saturday 29 December. On New Year’s Eve, the centre will be open from 8.30am until 4.30pm and then reopen at 8am on Wednesday 2 January.

Newport Help Centre will operate the same hours of opening as above, but will not be open on Saturday 29 December.

Ryde Help Centre, at Ryde Library, will close at 4.30pm on Christmas Eve and will reopen at 9am and until 4.30pm on Friday 28 December. On New Year's Eve, the centre will open from 9am until 4.30pm and then reopen at 8am on Wednesday 2 January.

Coroner’s office

The coroner’s office closes at 4pm on Monday 24 December. It is open Thursday 27 December, Friday 28 December and Monday 31 December between 9am and 4pm. It reopens as normal on Wednesday 2 January.

Council buildings or land

For emergencies involving council-owned buildings, please contact Wightcare, tel: 821105.

Floating bridge Christmas and New Year operating schedule

·         Christmas Eve – 5.15am to 12.30am (next day).

·         Christmas Day - 7am to 12.30am (next day) with a suspension of the service between 4.25pm and 6.25pm owing to tidal issues.

·         Boxing Day - 7am to 12.30am (next day).

·         27 December - 5am to 12.30am (next day).

·         28 December - 5am to 12.30am (next day).

·         29 December - 5am to 12.30am (next day).

·         30 December - 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).

·         New Year’s Eve – 5am to 1.30am** (next day).

·         New Year’s Day – 6.30am to 12.30am (next day).

·         2 January - 5am to 12.30am (next day).

** Last crossing from East Cowes 1.10am, last crossing from West Cowes 1.20am.

Highways emergencies

Flooding, fallen trees, traffic lights not working etc - please contact Island Roads, tel: 822440 or visit the website - www.islandroads.com

The Island Roads Hub will be closed:

·         from midnight 24 December to 7am 27 December;

·         from midnight 31 December to 7am 2 January.

Emergency calls received during these times will be diverted to the duty engineer and dealt with accordingly.

Housing

On-call arrangements for emergencies via Wightcare, tel: 821105.

Leisure Services facilities

The Heights:

·         19 to 21 December - 7am to 9pm.

·         22 to 23 December – 8am to 6pm

·         24 December - 7am to 3pm.

·         25 to 26 December - closed.

·         27 to 28 December - 7am to 7pm.

·         29 December - 8am to 3pm.

·         30 December - 7am to 3pm.

·         31 December - 7am to 3pm.

·         1 January - closed.        

·         2 January - 7am to 9pm.

Medina:

·         19 to 21 December - 7am to 9pm.

·         22 to 23 December - 8am to 5pm

·         24 December - 7am to 3pm.

·         25 to 26 December - closed.

·         27 to 28 December - 7am to 7pm.

·         29 to 30 December – 8am to 5pm.

·         31 December - 7am to 3pm.

·         1 January - closed.

·         2 January - 7am to 9pm.

Theatre:

·         The theatre will be open for the following performances of Jack and the Beanstalk:

·         Sunday 23 December: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Monday 24 December: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Christmas Day: CLOSED.

·         Boxing Day: CLOSED.

·         Thursday 27 December: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Friday 28 December: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Saturday 29 December: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Sunday 30 December: Show starts at 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         New Year’s Eve: CLOSED.

·         New Year’s Day: CLOSED.

·         Wednesday 2 January: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Thursday 3 January: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Friday 4 January: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

·         Saturday 5 January: Show starts 2pm; box office opens 12.30pm to 2.30pm; bar opens 1pm to 4pm.

Westridge:

·         19 to 21 December - 7am to 9pm.

·         22 December - 8am to 3pm.

·         23 December – closed.

·         24 December – 7am to 3pm.

·         25 to 26 December - closed.

·         27 to 28 December - 7am to 7pm.

·         29 December – 8am to 3pm.

·         30 December – closed.

·         31 December – 7am to 3pm.

·         1 January - closed.

·         2 January - 7am to 9pm.

Fairway:

·         19 to 22 December - open as normal.

·         23 December to 2 January - closed.

Libraries

·         Cowes Library - closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 10am, Friday 4 January.

·         Freshwater Library - closes 1pm, 24 December; reopens 9.30am, Wednesday 2 January.

·         Newport Library – closes 4pm, 24 December; reopens 9am, Wednesday 2 January.

·         Ryde Library - closes 3.30pm, 24 December; reopens 10.30am, Wednesday 2 January.

·         Sandown Library - closes 4.30pm, 22 December; reopens 9am, Thursday 3 January.

·         Ventnor Library - closes 4.30pm, 22 December; reopens 1pm, Wednesday 2 January.

·         The mobile library will recommence its week 1 on 14 January.

Museum Service

Record Office

The Record Office at Hillside, Newport will be closed from 12.30pm on Monday 24 December. It will be open between 10am and 4pm on 27, 28 and 31 December. It will then reopen with its usual opening hours of 9am to 12.30pm and 1pm to 5pm from Wednesday 2 January.

Dinosaur Isle Museum

Dinosaur Isle Museum will be closed on 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28 December inclusive.

It will be closed on New Year’s Eve (31 December) and New Year’s Day (1 January) inclusive, reopening on 2 January 2019.

On all other days it will open from 10am until 4pm, with last admission at 3pm.

Cowes Maritime Museum

The same opening hours as Cowes Library, above.

Museum of Island History

The museum will close on Saturday 22 December at 4pm and will open again on Wednesday 2 January at 9.30am.

Recycling and waste collection

If your collection is:

·         Monday 24 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.

·         Tuesday 25 December, it will be collected on Thursday 27 December.

·         Wednesday 26 December, it will be collected on Friday 28 December.

·         Thursday 27 December, it will be collected on Saturday 29 December.

·         Friday 28 December, it will be collected on Sunday 30 December.

·         Monday 31 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL.

·         Tuesday 1 January, it will be collected on Wednesday 2 January.

·         Wednesday 2 January, it will be collected on Thursday 3 January.

·         Thursday 3 January, it will be collected on Friday 4 January.

·         Friday 4 January, it will be collected on Saturday 5 January.

All recycling and waste collections will return to normal from Monday 7 January.

Please remember to set out your wheeled bins/gull-proof sacks and food waste by 7am on the correct day of your collection or they will not be collected.

Register office

The register office closes at 4pm, Monday 24 December. It is open Thursday 27 December, Friday 28 December and Monday 31 December from 9.30am to 4pm (by appointment only). It reopens as normal on Wednesday 2 January.

To register a death between 24 December and 2 January, please tel: 823233.

Regulatory Services (Licensing, Environmental Health and Trading Standards)

Offices close at 4pm, Monday 24 December and reopen Thursday 27 December at 8.45am. If you wish to see a specific officer please make an appointment.

An out of hours service will run on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 December as normal, please tel: Wightcare on 821105.

Revenues, Benefits, Parking Services, Blue Badges and Payments Team

Online applications remain available for council tax/local council tax support/housing benefit and Blue Badges.

Christmas housing benefit payment arrangements - please visit - www.iwight.com/housingbenefitpayments

To use the Citizens Access Portal to view your council tax account online please visit www.iwight.com/revsandbens  (selecting Council Tax and then Citizens Access Portal).

To use the Citizens Access Benefits Portal to apply and notify a change of circumstances please visit www.iwight.com  (selecting under the 'Save time do it online' Housing Benefits).

END

IW Council Press Release - Service to Remember Loved Ones

SERVICE TO REMEMBER LOVED ONES

A special 'Lights of Love' service is to be held at the Isle of Wight Crematorium chapel, Whippingham on 14 December, for families and friends to remember loved ones they have lost.

The service, organised by the Isle of Wight Council’s Bereavement team, will be conducted by Mountbatten Hospice’s Chaplain Rosie Deedes at 7pm on Friday 14 December, and will include the lighting of candles to commemorate loved ones, at what can be a difficult time of year.

White Harmony will be singing before and during the service. This will be followed by mulled wine and mince pies before the outside Christmas tree lights are turned on.

Everyone is welcome to attend and any donations received will be given to the Earl Mountbatten Hospice.

For more details, contact the council's bereavement services on (01983) 882288.

END

IW Council Press Release - Views Sought on IW Council Budget Proposals

VIEWS SOUGHT ON COUNCIL BUDGET PROPOSALS

Ideas and suggestions to help the Isle of Wight Council save £5.5 million in the next budget are being welcomed.

An online survey is now live, enabling people to comment on the current proposals or suggest alternative ideas to help balance the books.

The budget will be finalised in February.

Councillor Stuart Hutchinson, Cabinet member for resources, said: “We’re very mindful that we have to make some tough decisions.

“That’s why we’ve published our budget proposals four months in advance of the deadline, to give people every opportunity to have a say.

We need to be very prudent with our financial planning but we also want to make sure our budget can still support our community to help us build a brighter future for the Island.”

Preliminary savings have been identified from all council services, with 95 per cent achieved through efficiencies and income generation.

Council leader Councillor Dave Stewart added: “We know we have a difficult challenge to meet and we know not every proposal will please everyone.

“But we must balance the books and I am sure with the help of the community we can achieve our target without damaging vital services.

My experience so far is that when called upon people on the Island will step forward with thoughts and ideas and I encourage everyone to give us their support.”

The short, online survey is available via https://www.iow.gov.uk/Council/OtherServices/Financial-Management/Budget-Consultation/ until 23 January 2019.

Comments are also welcomed via email to budget@iow.gov.uk.

A public meeting on the budget proposals will be held in January 2019, with details to be announced shortly.

More information about the budget proposals can be found here: https://www.iow.gov.uk/news/Isle-of-Wight-Council-budget-proposals

END

Recycling and Waste Collection Days over Christmas

GET YOUR RECYCLING AND WASTE WRAPPED UP FOR CHRISTMAS

 The festive season is almost here so don’t forget to check your recycling and waste collection days over Christmas (between Monday 25 December and Sunday 7 January).

If your collection is: 

• Monday 24 December, it will be collected AS NORMAL

• Thursday 27 December, it will be collected on Saturday 29 December

• Monday 31 December, it will be collected on AS NORMAL

• Thursday 3 January, it will be collected on Friday 4 January

All recycling and waste collections will return to normal from Monday 7 January 2018.

Please remember to set out your Wheeled Bins/Gull Sacks and food waste by 7am on the correct day of your collection or they will not be collected.

Household Waste and Recycling Centre (HWRC) Festive Opening Times 
Lynnbottom HWRC and Afton Marsh HWRC will be closed on Christmas Day but will remain open as normal throughout the rest of the festive period, including New Year's Day.

Lynnbottom HWRC is open seven days a week, while Afton Marsh opens Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays. Opening hours at both sites are between 10am and 6pm, apart from the Christmas Day closure.

What do I do with…?

Polystyrene packaging
The council, in partnership with Amey, will collect excess polystyrene from households on general (black bin/sack) waste collection days from Monday 24 December 2018 until Friday 11 January 2019.

If you have extra polystyrene packaging just place it within a clear or white plastic bag next to your black bin/black gull sack on your collection day.

It must be in a clear or white sack so that the collection crews can easily identify it. The clear bag must only contain polystyrene or it won’t be collected. Any excess general waste or black sacks left to the side of your bin or gull sack will not be collected.

After 11 January 2019, please remember polystyrene is not currently recyclable and must be placed in your black bin/black gull sack or taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh Household Waste Recycling Centre and placed in the general rubbish skip. 

Paper / Christmas cards 

Paper based wrapping paper/ cards (without glitter) can be recycled in the paper/ card insert of your green recycling bin or the blue gull proof sack.

Any extra can be placed in a clear or white bag to the side of the bin or gull-proof sack.
Foil or glittery based wrapping paper and cards cannot be recycled and should be placed in your black bin or black gull proof sack.

Cardboard
Cardboard can be recycled so can be placed in your paper/ card insert of your green recycling bin or the blue gull proof sack. If you have extra cardboard, simply bundle it together to the side of your recycling bin or blue gull-sack.

Unwanted toys/ bicycles
These can be taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh HWRC's and can be donated for re-use.

Foil 
Clean foil and trays can be recycled.

Extra recycling and waste 
Excess recycling that won’t fit in your green bin or blue gull proof sack can be placed in clear or white sacks to the side of your containers on your recycling day.

Non-recyclable excess side waste will NOT be collected and should be stored until your next black bin or black gull proof sack collection date, or can be taken to Lynnbottom or Afton Marsh HWRC's.

For more information about recycling and waste, visit www.iwight.com/waste   or go to www.RecycleNow.com   

Draft Island Planning Strategy published for an EXTENDED public consultation

NORTHWOOD RESIDENTS ARE URGED TO RESPOND TO THE CONSULTATION

As you may be aware the IW Council have published a draft Island Planning Strategy (IPS) and accompanying documents (including a draft Habitat Regulations Assessment and a draft Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment) for public consultation.

The public consultation will run for an extended period until midday Monday 25 February 2019, and they welcome comments on the draft IPS.

The documents and further information about the consultation can be found at www.iow.gov.uk/islandplanningstrategy, and this page is now live. Paper copies of the draft strategy will be available for public viewing in all libraries and the receptions of County Hall and Seaclose Office, and in the interests of sustainability we are not printing off copies of the draft IPS for distribution (although copies can be printed and purchased upon request).

The cost of these are £26 for a black and white version or £130 for the colour version.

Planning Officers will be in 30 High Street every Tuesday (excluding Christmas Day and New Year’s Day) and available for people to drop in and talk about the consultation and the draft IPS.

The document, created in 2018, will replace the ‘Core Strategy’ which has been in place since 2012. 

The strategy sets out policies, proposals and actions which will meet the social, environmental and economic challenges facing the Island in the years ahead. 

Cabinet member for planning and housing, Councillor Barry Abraham, said: “We must make sure the plan is current and relevant to the short and long term future and reflects the needs of people living on the Island, particularly housing and employment – at the same time as looking to preserve the environment and focus on sustainable facilities and options such as multi-use cycle paths, electric car charging points and energy efficiency when decided future planning applications. 

“We have spoken to key stakeholders such as town and parish councils, businesses, health and environment organisations and the building and construction industry for expert and local opinion and this has helped focus the review. Now we want to hear from Islanders, before we present the revised plan for independent examination in 2019.” 

Future planning applications will need to be mindful of the information in the local plan, if they want their application to succeed.

The plan reflects the needs of Island people, particularly housing and draws from a whole range of evidence from bodies such the Office for National Statistics. 

The Island Planning Strategy also allocates sites across the Island which would be suitable for housing and employment developments, without destroying the identity and character of Island towns and villages. 

IW Council Press Release - Island Planning Strategy Green Light for Consultation

ISLAND PLANNING STRATEGY GREEN LIGHT FOR CONSULTATION

The green light has been given to proceed to consultation on the new draft Island Planning Strategy.

This will set out a vision for how the Isle of Wight will develop in the future up to 2035.

Subject to it being formally adopted, it will replace the current planning blueprint for the Isle of Wight – the Core Strategy.

The new planning document will deal with future needs and opportunities in relation to infrastructure, homes, jobs and businesses, community facilities and the environment. It will also set out the principles that will guide future development, including employment land.

Council leader Councillor Dave Stewart said: “Reviewing and updating the current Island Plan was a key pledge in our manifesto and I am really pleased to be able to confirm that we are on target to deliver on that commitment.

“Our focus currently is very much on meeting our housing and employment needs, especially for young people, at the same time as preserving the identity of the Island.”

Future planning applications will need to be mindful of the information in the Island Planning Strategy, if they want their application to succeed.

The strategy has been informed by a number of new independent evidence based studies. These look at issues such as population, housing, employment, retail and flooding. It also addresses future transport projects affecting roads and railways, to ensure growth and infrastructure go hand–in-hand.

The decision to proceed to consultation, if approved, would see residents being invited to have their say on the new draft plan at the beginning of December, for an eight week period.

After the consultation period, the Island Planning Strategy will be reviewed and updated in light of the comments, and submitted to government, where it will be looked at independently by a planning inspector.

If successful, the Island Planning Strategy will be adopted as a major planning document that all future Island development will be guided by.

Cabinet member for planning and housing, Councillor Barry Abraham, made the decision to proceed to consultation, under delegated powers on 23 November.

END

EXTENDED Consultation on the Island Planning Strategy Development Plan

The Isle of Wight Council has prepared a draft Island Planning Strategy Development Plan Document and accompanying documents for public consultation. The draft Island Planning Strategy includes strategic land use policies, allocations for a range of land uses and development management policies.

 

The accompanying documents include a draft Habitat Regulations Assessment and a draft Sustainability Appraisal / Strategic Environmental Assessment. 

The extended consultation will run from Monday 3 December 2018 until midday Monday 25 February 2019, and views are sought on the content of the draft Island Planning Strategy and what such a document ought to contain. Representations received after this date may not be taken into account.

The documents and further information about the consultation can be found at www.iow.gov.uk/islandplanningstrategy, and a paper copy of the draft Island Planning Strategy will be available to view in County Hall and Seaclose Office receptions and Island libraries during office hours.

IW Council Press Release - New Help Centre opens in Newport

NEW HELP CENTRE OPENS IN NEWPORT

A brand-new help centre designed to give people easy access to information, advice and guidance services has opened at County Hall, Newport.

The council-run facility has combined with Citizens Advice and Age UK (Isle of Wight) to create a single streamlined hub, Isle Help.

The charity Hearing Loss will also use the centre from February when it starts a monthly clinic.

Around £214,000 has been invested by the council in the project, which is the start of its ambition to offer a 'One Island' integrated service covering health, council, emergency services and the voluntary sectors.

"This centre will be a great place for residents to find out information and receive advice from experts all under one roof, said Councillor Stuart Hutchinson, Cabinet member for resources.

“I’m delighted we have spent this money making the centre accessible and modern and a welcoming place for people to visit. It also really kick-starts our ambition to set up a One Island service in the future.

“The expertise of Age UK and Citizens Advice, in unison with our highly-trained council staff, will be formidable and will help people quickly and professionally.”

Paul Savill, Citizens Advice IW chief executive, added: “Our charity is really pleased to be part of the new advice centre and we are looking forward to providing our service in a bright new space that will be so much better for volunteers, staff and public alike.”

Jo Dare, CEO of Age UK Isle of Wight, added: “We are always listening to the comments and input of older and vulnerable people in our communities, and one of the frustrations felt by many was the absence of joined-up working.

“We have been striving towards a practice which means that individuals need only tell their story once.

“The new Isle Help will provide exactly that; more collaborative working and a more streamlined, personalised service for the client.”

The centre in the council’s ground floor reception area now boasts new seating, a confidential meeting pod, self-service computer, terminals for access to a range of council services, meetings rooms and pre-programmed phones with numbers for government agencies.

Island companies were used throughout the refurbishment including Mountjoy, Wight Vending and Signpost Express.

END

IW Council Press Release - Full Council meeting to be Live Streamed

FULL COUNCIL MEETING TO BE LIVE STREAMED

Tonight’s (Wednesday’s) Full Council meeting will be the first to be live streamed by the local authority.

An upgrade to the council chamber’s audio and visual equipment has made it possible for the entire meeting to be viewed on the council’s YouTube channel.

Councillor Stuart Hutchinson, Cabinet member for resources, said: “The democratic process can often be difficult for people to engage with.

“The public are and always will be welcome to attend meetings at County Hall but we wanted to make accessing how the council does its business as simple as possible – and these days, that’s done digitally.

“Helping our residents get close to the action is what democracy is all about.”

To view tonight’s and future Full Council meetings, visit the council’s YouTube channel, https://www.youtube.com/user/IWCouncil/

A previous ‘test run’ is stored from September’s Full Council meeting.

The meeting starts at 6pm.

END

IW Council Press Release - Christmas Shopping Safely On-line

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SAFELY ONLINE

With Christmas fast approaching Trading Standards is warning consumers to take added precautions when shopping online.

As huge numbers of bargain-hunters prepare to log on for Black Friday this week and Cyber Monday in the hope of bagging a bargain for a festive gift, the team are highlighting the growing trend for criminals to use social media to target potential victims with apparently attractive deals.

According to the most recent figures the amount spent with UK online retail sites last year was almost £1.4bn. Reports also showed that Cyber Monday actually surpassed Black Friday, with over £3 billion being spent by UK shoppers.

Overall the results revealed the biggest ever day for both online and offline spending.

“It’s important to make sure that we do all we can to stay safe to ensure that we don’t get scammed at what is probably the most expensive time of year for most of us,” said Councillor Tig Outlaw, Cabinet member for public protection.

“It’s also the most lucrative time for fraudsters to take advantage of the public so let’s make sure the criminals are left short changed this year by following the advice from our Trading Standards team.”

Online Shopping Tips
• Conduct research: When using a new website for purchases, read reviews and see if other consumers have had a positive or negative experience with the site.

• When in doubt, throw it out: Links in emails, posts and texts are often how cybercriminals try to steal your information or infect your devices.

• Personal information is like money: value it and protect it: When making a purchase online, be alert to the kinds of information being collected to complete the transaction. Make sure you think it is necessary for the vendor to request that information. Remember, you only need to fill out required fields at checkout.

• Use safe payment options: Credit cards are generally the safest option because they allow buyers to seek a credit from the issuer if the product isn’t delivered or isn’t what was ordered.

• Don’t be disappointed: Read return policies and other website information so you know what to expect if the purchase doesn’t go as planned.

• Protect your ££: When shopping, check to be sure the site is security enabled. Look for web addresses with https:// the s stands for Secure, there should also be a padlock in the address bar.

Basic Safety and Security Tips
• Keep a clean machine: Keep all software on internet-connected devices – including PCs, smartphones and tablets – up to date to reduce risk of infection from malware.

• Make your password a sentence: A strong password is a sentence that is at least 12 characters long. Focus on positive sentences or phrases that you like to think about and are easy to remember (for example, “I love country music.”). On many sites, you can even use spaces.

• Unique account, unique password: Having separate passwords for every account helps to thwart cybercriminals. At a minimum, separate your work and personal accounts and make sure that your critical accounts have the strongest passwords.

For up to date advice on staying safe online visit the Get Safe Online website at www.getsafeonline.org
 
Reporting a Scam 
• For advice on scams call - Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline: 03454 04 05 06

• To report a scam call - Action Fraud: 0300 123 2040

For more information on scams visit www.iwasp.org  

END