IT’S A PHRASE that one hears now and again and usually when a crime has taken place. The reality is that despite their best efforts Warwickshire Police cannot prevent every crime from taking place. Wherever people live, the combination of opportunist criminals and some residents that don’t realise how easy a target they maybe is often all that is needed for someone to become a victim of crime.
On a number of occasions, particularly on some social media platforms, there are comments that suggest Kenilworth has no police presence ‘because there is no police station’. The fact is there is a police presence in Kenilworth in two forms. Firstly, there is the Safer Neighbourhood Team who ARE based in Kenilworth. In addition, there is an emergency response team assigned to Kenilworth and the surrounding area 24/7. So, there IS a police presence in and around Kenilworth.
There will always be a minority of people that will complain about the police and their service, that is of course their right to do so, and in some cases things will need to be addressed because mistakes can be made.
We at Kenilworth Watch have criticised and held the police to account in the past, and publicly, about timely information related to crime. However, we recognise the need to be balanced and fair in anything we say. What we do know is that for over two years Kenilworth has had a committed and forward thinking Safer Neighbourhood Team who are engaged with the local community and know the area and its issues well. That’s why today we wanted to share with you some of the activities that have been going on in and around Kenilworth in the last few days.
Earlier this week some of the SNT, namely PC’s Anna Brown, Steve Jones, Joe Gordon and PCSO Rachael Clayton recovered two separate sets of property arising from recent local burglaries. An arrest was also made of a person who was found to be carrying an offensive weapon and who was believed to be committing a burglary. Other offences are also being investigated.
On Friday, (2 October 2020) PC Jones and PCSO Clayton found themselves behind a vehicle on the Warwick Road in Kenilworth where the registered keeper was showing as wanted for an offence of false imprisonment and other offences. They followed the vehicle and stopped it in Kenilworth and the driver was arrested by PC Jones.
In addition, this week police teams have attended reports of domestic violence situations, incidents involving theft, sudden deaths, road traffic collisions, telephone scams and suspicious activity reports to name but a few. Many of these types of incidents require several hours of detailed work by officers to resolve or progress appropriately.
Just because most of us don’t see this sort of stuff going on doesn’t mean there is not a police presence or indeed police activity going on in and around our town. Great results like those we have just shared don’t just happen, they occur after investigation, foot work, attention to detail and getting out and about and pursuing criminals. Kenilworth Watch wants to place on record its thanks to all those in Warwickshire Police who come to work and book onto their shifts to protect our lives and our property and for being prepared to place themselves at risk doing so.
THANK YOU.
Kenilworth Watch 
Very well put. Well done all those involved.
I have to admit to being one of the sceptics. Is it because resolutions are not reported as readily as the original crimes? I saw two police officers walking up Priory Road a couple of weeks ago. I was astonished – it was the first time I’d seen beat officers walk up the road for ten years.
The genuine truth of the matter is that there are considerably LESS Police Officers covering Kenilworth now than there were 20-years ago.
PCSO’s have less powers than a Special Constable and do not have the powers of arrest.
Prevention is better than the cure, but do the Warwickshire Constabulary still offer Domestic Security Surveys and if so are the residents of Kenilworth and the surrounding areas aware of them?
Policing is an incredibly hard job and it is not a criticism of their efforts and endeavours but back in the ’90’s Kenilworth had one Inspector with four Sergeants each controlling a minimum of five officers each, all backed by at least twelve Special Constables.
Could you please advise how many officers cover Kenilworth now?
You can ask Warwickshire Police through the SNT at Kenilworth what they offer in terms of domestic crime advice. Their email is: Kenilworth.snt@warwickshire.pnn.police.uk Yes, back in the 1990’s Kenilworth was policed differently and the number of officers based there was different too, of course the key fact is that applies to EVERY town and village. Policing some 30 years on is different. The number of Special Constables is much lower and the policing model has to reflect the financial ability and constraints that Warwickshire faces, which is ultimately the responsibility of successive governments and politicians. Our statement reflects a balanced view in today’s world and seeks to recognise and thank those that are at the coal face doing the job. The background to the overall level of resources etc is a political matter and one best referred to the Police & Crime Commissioner and your MP.