How Neighbours by Ring Powers Modern Neighbourhood Watch Schemes Across the UK

Neighbourhood Watch schemes have long been a cornerstone of British community spirit. Traditionally, keeping an eye out meant relying on window stickers, local newsletters, or chance chats over the garden fence.

With Neighbours by Ring, local safety and community awareness are going digital. Integrated directly into the main Ring app, this free feature acts as a hyper-local digital noticeboard, helping UK residents share real-time safety alerts, report suspicious activity, and reunite lost pets.

Below is everything you need to know about how Neighbours works alongside traditional Neighbourhood Watch principles, how to access it correctly in the UK, and how to report alerts effectively.

📌 Important UK Download & Access Note

• Do NOT search for "Neighbors by Ring" as a standalone app: If you search for the separate Neighbors by Ring app in the UK Google Play Store or Apple App Store, you will see an error message stating: "This item is not available in your country". That standalone listing is restricted to the US.
  
  
• Download the main "Ring" App: In the UK, the Neighbours feature is built directly inside the standard, main Ring app (by Ring.com).
  
  
• No Ring Device Required: You do not need to own a Ring Video Doorbell or Security Camera. Anyone can download the free Ring app on iOS or Android, create an account, and access the Neighbours feed.
  
  

What is Neighbours by Ring?

Neighbours is a community-powered space built into the standard Ring app. It creates a hyper-local safety radius around your home address so you can stay informed about what’s happening in your immediate area.

Key Highlights:

• No Ring Device Required: You do not need to own a Ring Video Doorbell or Security Camera to use the Neighbours feature—it is completely free for anyone who downloads the Ring app on iOS or Android.
  
  
• Customisable Radius: You can adjust the size of your neighbourhood boundary (from 0.1 to 5 miles) to focus strictly on your street or broaden it to cover surrounding roads.
  
  
• Multi-Location Support: You can set up and monitor up to three different locations (such as your home, a relative’s property, or your workplace).
  
  

🚨 CRITICAL: Report Crime to the Police FIRST (CAD / Crime Reference Number)

Sharing CCTV or doorbell footage on community apps is a fantastic way to keep your street informed, but posting on an app does NOT automatically report the incident to the police.

In a recent meeting with a local Safer Neighbourhoods Team (SNT), an officer highlighted a major issue: residents frequently share footage of attempted vehicle thefts or suspicious activity online, yet when officers check police systems, zero incidents are recorded for that street.

If an incident is not officially reported to the police:

1. It doesn't count towards local crime statistics—which can lead to reduced police patrols and fewer resources allocated to your area.
   
   
2. Police cannot investigate or view your footage without an official case file open.
   
   

The Correct Step-by-Step Reporting Process:

1. Report to the Police First:
   
   
   • Emergency (Active Crime in Progress): Call 999 immediately.
     
     
   • Non-Emergency / Past Incident (e.g. Attempted Car Theft): Call 101 or submit an online crime report via your local police force website (e.g. Metropolitan Police).
     
     
2. Obtain Your Reference Number: Note down the CAD (Computer Aided Dispatch) Reference Number or Crime Reference Number provided by the police.
   
   
3. Share on Neighbours by Ring: Create your post in the Ring app, attach your details/footage, and always include your CAD or Crime Reference Number in the description.
   
   

Why include your CAD/Crime Ref? Quoting your reference number allows neighbours whose cameras may have captured the same suspect to pass their clips to the police under the same case file, building a solid evidential chain.

How It Complements UK Neighbourhood Watch Schemes

1. Real-Time Safety Alerts: Instead of waiting days to hear about an incident on a local forum or WhatsApp group, Neighbours sends instant push notifications when a nearby resident posts a verified safety concern or alert.
   
   
2. Reuniting Lost Pets (Search Party): Ring works in partnership with Dogs Trust in the UK. When a dog goes missing nearby, owners can post a lost pet alert. Outdoor Ring cameras can even help match lost dog reports, allowing neighbours to coordinate a search party and bring missing pets home safely.
   
   
3. Public Safety Engagement: Verified public safety organisations and local community groups can post official updates, offer safety tips, or issue urgent warnings directly to the feed.
   
   
4. Complete Privacy & Control: Your home address and video footage are never publicly broadcast. Poster details remain anonymous (e.g., "Neighbour 1") to protect user privacy, and you maintain full control over what footage or details you share.
   
   

Step-by-Step: How to Access & Set Up Neighbours

1. Download the Ring App: Search for "Ring" (by Ring.com) on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (do not search for the standalone US "Neighbors" app).
   
   
2. Open the Neighbours Tile: Log in or create a free account, then tap the Neighbours tile on your main app dashboard.
   
   
3. Set Your Boundary: Go to your Neighbours settings to define your neighbourhood radius (0.1 to 5 miles) and adjust your notification preferences so you only receive alerts that matter to you.
   
   

Step-by-Step: How to Report an Alert or Post an Update

If you witness a security concern, suspicious activity, or lose a pet, publishing an alert takes only a few taps:

1. Open Neighbours: Launch the Ring app and navigate to the Neighbours section.
   
   
2. Tap the Plus (+) / Post Button: Select the option to create a new post.
   
   
3. Choose Your Post Category:
   
   
   • Safety / Incident: Share details regarding suspicious activity, attempted break-ins, or local hazards.
     
     
   • Lost Pet: Upload details and photos to initiate a local Search Party.
     
     
   • Community Updates: Share general safety advice or local community notices.
     
     
4. Add Context, Media & Police Ref: Write a concise description (time, location details, context), attach relevant photo or video clips, and include your CAD or Crime Reference Number.
   
   
5. Publish to Your Neighbourhood: Tap Share. Once verified by moderation, your alert will notify nearby residents within your set radius.
   
   

Note: Always report active crimes or emergencies directly to 999 (or 101 for non-emergencies) before posting on community apps.

Summary

By combining traditional community vigilance with modern digital tools, Neighbours by Ring empowers UK residents to look out for one another more effectively than ever. Whether it's preventing local vehicle crime or bringing a lost dog back home, staying connected—and ensuring crimes are officially reported to the police—is the simplest way to build safer, stronger British communities.

 

Neighbours Ring app - click image to view enlarged

 

JustMe scam prevention app

We're sorry if you had problems last week with the testing of the Cifas JustMe scam prevention app. The free trial code was temporarily blocked, but that has now been resolved. If you would like to help with testing the scam identification features on this app, you can download the JustMe app from the Apple App store or Google Play. Search ‘JustMe – Scam Protection’.

For free access, you'll need to open the app and select ‘activate or restore subscription’, then ‘activate with code’ and use the code GCP7ANF3

The trial is for six months, no payment information is collected, and there's no auto-renewal.

Once you've had a go at testing it, you can share your thoughts on the feedback form.

Source: Which? (17 Sep 2026) 

Test the new JustMe scam protection app (via Which?)

We have an exclusive free trial for Which? Scam Alerts subscribers. Cifas, the not-for-profit scam-prevention organisation, needs help with testing its new app JustMe. It allows you to scan for suspicious texts, emails and QR codes, plus other scam-detecting features.

You can download the JustMe app from Apple App store or Google Play. Search ‘JustMe – Scam Protection’.

For free access, you'll need to open the app and select ‘Activate or restore subscription’, then ‘Activate with code’ and use the code GCP7ANF3. The trial is for six months, no payment information is collected and there's no auto-renewal.

Google Drive Says It’s Full When It’s Empty? Here’s Where Your Space Went

Ever opened Google Drive only to find it claims you are running out of space, even though your folders look completely empty? You are not alone.

Your total Google Account storage (for example, 28 GB used out of 102 GB) is shared across Google Drive, Google Photos, and Gmail. The storage indicator in the sidebar shows your overall account usage, not just the files saved in your Drive folders.

Common Reasons for Hidden Storage Usage

• Google Photos & Gmail: Large photo libraries, high-resolution videos, or old emails with heavy attachments consume space from the exact same quota.

• WhatsApp & App Backups: Hidden app backups (such as WhatsApp device backups) store hidden data on Google Drive without showing up as regular files.

• Items in the Bin / Trash: Deleted files, emails, or photos remain stored in your Bin for 30 days unless manually emptied.

• Orphaned / Unorganised Files: Files you uploaded into shared folders that were deleted by the owner lose their folder directory and become orphaned in your account.

How to Find and Clean Up Space

1. Check Storage Allocation: Go to one.google.com/storage in a web browser to see an exact breakdown of how many GBs are taken up by Drive, Photos, and Gmail.

2. Sort Drive Files by Size: Open drive.google.com/drive/quota to view all files owned by you, sorted from largest to smallest.

3. Check Hidden App Data: On the web version of Google Drive, click Settings (gear icon) > Settings > Manage Apps to check for app backups (like WhatsApp) and delete hidden app data if needed.

4. Search for Orphaned Files: Type is:unorganized into the Google Drive search bar to reveal lost files that still take up storage space.

5. Empty Your Bins: Head to the Bin in Drive, Gmail, and Google Photos, then click Empty bin to permanently remove those files.

Pro Tip: Save Space in Google Photos with "Storage Saver"

If Google Photos is eating up most of your quota, enabling Storage Saver (formerly known as High Quality) can free up massive amounts of storage.

What is Storage Saver?

• Photos: Compressed and capped at 16 MP (large images are stored as standard high-resolution JPEGs).

• Videos: Compressed to 1080p Full HD resolution (anything shot higher, like 4K, is automatically scaled down).

• Quality Impact: For standard viewing, social media sharing, and standard printing, the visual difference is virtually unnoticeable.

How to Enable It:

• For Future Uploads (Mobile App): Open the Google Photos app > tap your Profile icon > Photos settings > Backup > Backup quality > select Storage saver.

• Compress Existing Uploads (Web Browser): Go to photos.google.com/settings > click Manage storage > scroll to Recover storage > select Convert existing photos & videos to Storage saver.

Note: After clearing large files, emptying the bin, or compressing photos, Google Storage can take up to 24–48 hours to update your overall account balance.

(Before - c.28 Gb storage) - click image to view enlarged

(After -c.207 Mb storage - click image to view enlarged)

 

The scam where banks refuse to refund victims

As controls to prevent authorised push payment (APP) scams improve, criminals are changing tactics and increasingly tricking people into approving card payments instead. This leaves victims without the refund protections they expect.

The fraudsters might use similar tactics to APP fraud, such as posing as your bank to steal security codes, but getting your money back from your bank is much harder. Find out how to protect yourself from this latest evolution. 

Source: Which? (11 Aug 2026) 

How to Block Mobile Ads System-Wide (Without Downloading an App)

We’ve all been there: you’re trying to read an article or play a mobile game, and you are absolutely bombarded by pop-ups, banners, and auto-playing video ads.

While you can install ad-blocking extensions on desktop browsers, mobile devices are notoriously tricky. But what if you could block ads, trackers, and malicious domains across your entire phone—inside apps, games, and browsers—without downloading a single app or draining your battery?

Enter AdGuard DNS. By changing just one simple setting on your phone, you can route your web requests through a secure, ad-filtering server.

Here is everything you need to know about how it works, the pros and cons, and how to set it up in under two minutes.

AdGuard DNS filters web traffic at the domain level before ads can reach your mobile.. Source: Google Play

 

What is AdGuard DNS?

Whenever you visit a website (like google.com), your phone uses a Domain Name System (DNS) to translate that human-readable name into a computer-friendly IP address. Normally, this lookup is handled automatically by your mobile carrier or public Wi-Fi provider.

AdGuard DNS replaces your provider's default directory. When a game or website tries to load an ad or a tracker, AdGuard simply refuses to look up that specific domain, blocking the ad before it even has a chance to download to your device.

The Pros: Why You Should Try It

• Zero Battery or RAM Drain: Traditional ad-blocking apps run constantly in the background, hogging your device's memory and draining the battery. Because AdGuard DNS is configured natively in your phone’s operating system settings, it uses absolutely no extra resources.

• System-Wide Protection: It doesn’t just clean up your mobile web browser; it blocks trackers and advertisements inside your apps and games too.

• Encrypted Privacy (DNS-over-TLS): Standard DNS requests are sent in plain text, meaning your mobile provider or a dodgy café Wi-Fi host can spy on the sites you visit. Configuring a "Private DNS" encrypts these queries, keeping your browsing habits private.

• A Strict No-Logs Policy: AdGuard has a highly transparent privacy policy. For their public DNS service, they do not log your IP address or track the domains you visit.

The Cons: The Trade-offs to Keep in Mind

As brilliant as this method is, it is not without a few minor quirks:

• An "All-or-Nothing" Approach: Because there is no app interface to quickly toggle on and off, you can't easily "pause" the blocking if a website breaks. If a retail link (like a sponsored Google Shopping search result) won't open, you have to dig back into your system settings to turn the Private DNS off temporarily.

• Blank Spaces on Webpages: AdGuard DNS stops ad content from loading, but it cannot rewrite the code of the webpage you are viewing. You may occasionally see empty grey boxes or awkward blank spaces where an ad was supposed to sit.

• It Can't Block First-Party Ads: Because it blocks ads at the domain level, it cannot stop ads that are served directly from the same servers as the content. This means ads on platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok will still get through.

How to Set It Up

To get started, you just need to choose which server profile suits your needs:

Profile Mode	Hostname to Copy/Paste	Best For
Default (Standard)	dns.adguard-dns.com	Standard ad, tracker, and malware blocking.
Family Protection	family.adguard-dns.com	Blocks ads, blocks adult content, and forces SafeSearch.

On Android (Android 9 and newer)

1. Open your phone's Settings and go to Network & Internet (sometimes called Connections).

2. Tap Private DNS (this is often located under "Advanced" or "More connection settings").

3. Select Private DNS provider hostname.

4. Paste your chosen hostname (e.g., dns.adguard-dns.com) and tap Save.

On iOS (iPhone & iPad)

Apple does not allow you to manually type in a custom DNS hostname directly within the native iOS settings. Instead, you have to use a lightweight configuration profile:

1. Head to the official AdGuard DNS Setup Page.

2. Select iOS and download their official configuration profile.

3. Open your iPhone's Settings, tap Profile Downloaded at the top of the screen, and follow the prompts to install it.

(Note: While you may see older guides referencing dns.adguard.com, the official and updated hostname to use is dns.adguard-dns.com.)

The Verdict: If you want a free, set-and-forget way to make your mobile browsing cleaner, faster, and significantly more private, setting up AdGuard DNS is an absolute no-brainer.

Save on Petrol, Diesel, and EV Charging: Find the Best Prices Near You

With fuel prices on the rise across the UK, it pays to check the local rates before you head to the forecourt. Even a few pence difference per litre can add up to a significant saving on a full tank.

To make sure you aren’t overpaying, you can use the Fuel Finder website to compare live prices in your immediate area. It is a quick and simple way to see which supermarket or independent station is offering the best deal today.

A One-Stop Search for Every Driver

Whether you drive a traditional combustion engine or have made the switch to electric, Fuel Finder has you covered. The platform allows you to search for:

• Petrol & Diesel: Compare standard E10 petrol, B7 diesel, and premium high-performance fuels.

• EV Charging Sites: Locate charging points across the UK, including rapid and fast chargers, to plan your stops efficiently.

Reliable, Real-Time Data

You can search with confidence knowing the fuel information is based on the official UK Government Fuel Finder scheme. Since February 2026, UK fuel retailers have been legally required to report their price changes to a central government database within 30 minutes of any update.

While the government provides this data feed, they do not run their own consumer app. Instead, they make it available to independent sites like fuel-finder.uk to ensure drivers have easy access to official accuracy and national coverage from thousands of stations and charging points nationwide.

You can find more information about the underlying data and the mandatory reporting scheme here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/fuel-finder

---

Find the cheapest fuel or nearest charging point in your area now at fuel-finder.uk.

Further information:

• https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/news/fuel-news/government-launches-fuel-finder/
• https://fuelfinderuk.live/
• https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fuelprices.live&pcampaignid=web_share
• https://www.moneysupermarket.com/car-insurance/petrol-prices/ 👈🆕
• https://www.petrolprices.com/

Now Live: The Friends Against Scams App

Available for free on the Apple App Store and the Google Play store, the Friends Against Scams App puts scam prevention tools in the palm of your hand.

Complete the Friends Against Scams interactive training to ensure that you are scam aware, check suspicious websites or if you've received a scam using the built in Scams Checker tool from Ask Silver.

Scan the QR code to download, search 'Friends Against Scams' on your respective app store, or click these links here:

App Store  or  Google Play

You can help spread the word by using our social media assets for the launch, downloadable here.

Source: https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/

Stop! Think Before You Tap 'Consent' – Why Sharing Your Data with Smartphone Apps Might Be a Bad Idea

We've all been there. You download a shiny new app – a game, a fitness tracker, a social media platform – and immediately you're met with a barrage of permission requests. "Allow access to your location?" "Grant permission to your photos?" "Consent to data sharing with third parties?" In our eagerness to get started, it's all too easy to tap "Accept" without a second thought. But here in the UK, with our strong data protection laws like the UK GDPR, it's more crucial than ever to understand why blindly consenting to data sharing by smartphone apps can be a significant risk.

The Hidden World of Your Data

Your smartphone is a goldmine of personal information. From your contacts and photos to your location history, Browse habits, and even your health data, these apps can collect an astonishing amount of detail about your life. When you consent to data sharing, you're essentially handing over the keys to this treasure trove.

But where does that data go? Often, it's not just the app developer who gets to see it. Many apps share your information with "third parties" – these can be advertising networks, data brokers, or even other companies you've never heard of. The purpose? To build detailed profiles about you, which can then be used for targeted advertising, market research, or even sold on to other entities.

The Risks Are Real

So, what are the potential downsides of this widespread data sharing?

• Loss of Privacy: This is the most obvious one. Do you really want companies you don't know to have a complete picture of your daily routine, your friends, your interests, and even your most private moments? This data can be combined and analysed to reveal surprisingly intimate details about your life.

• Targeted Advertising Overload: While some might not mind seeing "relevant" ads, others find the constant tracking and highly personalised ads intrusive and even manipulative. Your data is being used to influence your purchasing decisions, and often, without you truly understanding the extent of it.

• Security Vulnerabilities: Every time your data is shared, it creates another potential point of vulnerability. If a third-party company that holds your data experiences a data breach, your personal information could be exposed to hackers, leading to identity theft, fraud, or other malicious activities.

• Data Misuse and Unforeseen Consequences: What if your health data is used to deny you insurance? Or your location data is used to track your movements without your explicit knowledge or consent for purposes beyond what you originally agreed to? Once your data is out there, it's incredibly difficult to control how it's used in the future.

• Less Control Over Your Digital Footprint: In an age where our digital footprint is becoming increasingly significant, giving away control of your data makes it harder to manage your online reputation and privacy.

What Can You Do?

The good news is that you have rights under UK data protection laws, and you can take steps to protect your data:

1. Read the Permissions Carefully: Before you download an app, check the permissions it requests. Does a simple photo editing app really need access to your microphone or contacts? If something seems excessive, reconsider downloading it.

2. Scrutinise Privacy Policies: We know, they're long and often full of legal jargon. But try to skim the sections on "data collection," "data sharing," and "third parties." Look for information on how to delete your data if you stop using the app.

3. Limit or Revoke Permissions: You can always adjust app permissions after installation. Go into your smartphone's settings (usually under "Apps" or "Privacy") and review what each app has access to. You can revoke permissions you're uncomfortable with, though be aware that some app features might be affected.

4. Check In-App Privacy Settings: Many apps have their own privacy settings within the app itself. Explore these to see if you can limit data tracking, revoke consent for certain types of sharing, or adjust ad personalisation.

5. Delete Unused Apps: If you're no longer using an app, delete it. This stops any ongoing data collection and reduces the risk of your data being exposed through inactive accounts. Remember to check if the app offers a way to delete your account data entirely, not just the app from your phone.

6. Be Wary of "Free" Services: If an app is free, chances are its business model relies on collecting and monetising your data. Be extra cautious with these.

In the UK, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) provides guidance and regulations to ensure app developers handle your data responsibly. But ultimately, the first line of defence is you. By being mindful of what you consent to, you can take significant steps towards safeguarding your digital privacy.

So next time an app asks for permission to share your data, hit pause. Ask yourself: Is this really necessary? Do I trust this company with my information? Your privacy is worth more than a quick tap.

 

How to get your money back after a bank transfer scam

New mandatory reimbursement rules for bank transfer scams (also known as authorised push payment or 'APP' scams) came into effect on Monday 7 October. So the way your bank handles reimbursement claims has changed.

Find out what this means for scam victims and what you should do if you're tricked into sending money to a fraudster.

Essential steps to take

Source: Which? (07 Oct 2024)