Author: Fraser Pithie

WARWICKSHIRE POLICE issued a £200 fine on Tuesday evening (12 January 2021) against an individual that travelled 15 miles from Bedworth to Kenilworth in the late evening to undertake a “Pokemon Hunt” game. Warwickshire Police have said this was not an essential journey and therefore consider such a journey to be a blatant breach of the Covid-19 lockdown restrictions. 

The event reinforces the need for people to follow the government guidelines related to the current lockdown restrictions.

KENILWORTH RESIDENTS are advised to beware and remain vigilant following the development of a text message scam related to the COVID -19 Vaccine.

Action Fraud has received reports from members of the public who have been sent text messages claiming to be from the NHS, offering them the opportunity to sign up for the vaccine. The texts ask the recipient to click on a link which takes them to an online form where they are prompted to input personal and financial details. In some cases the online form has looked very similar to the real NHS website.

Please be aware that:

In the UK, coronavirus vaccines will only be available via the National Health Service. You can be contacted by the NHS, your employer, a GP surgery or pharmacy local to you, to receive your vaccine.

The vaccine is only available on the NHS and is free of charge. The NHS will never ask you for details about your bank account or to pay for the vaccine. If you receive an email, text message or phone call purporting to be from the NHS and you are asked to provide financial details, this is a scam

Remember, the vaccine is free of charge. At no point will you be asked to pay.

• The NHS will never ask you for your bank account or card details.
• The NHS will never ask you for your PIN or banking password.
• The NHS will never arrive unannounced at your home to administer the vaccine.
• The NHS will never ask you to prove your identity by sending copies of personal documents such as your passport, driving licence, bills or pay slips. 
  
  What to do:
• If you receive a call you believe to be fraudulent, hang up.
• If you are suspicious about an email you have received, forward it to report@phishing.gov.uk.
• Suspicious text messages should be forwarded to the number 7726 which is free of charge.
• If you believe you are the victim of a fraud, please report this to Action Fraud as soon as possible by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.

KENILWORTH WATCH has been informed by Warwickshire Police that over the weekend the following took place related to the current COVID -19 restrictions:

• Two people were reported for fines after they were found training at a gym in Nuneaton on Friday (8 Jan) afternoon.
• One person was reported for a fine on Friday night following a report of regular visitors to a house in Murray Road, Nuneaton.
• People were reported for fines following a report of a house party in Tile Lane, Nuneaton on Friday night.
• Two people reported for fines for being in Stratford with no reasonable exemption to leave home.
• A householder was reported for a fine following a report of a party with 15-20 people at Station Road, Polesworth on Saturday (9 Jan) evening.
• A man was reported for a fine in Green Lane, Studley for breach of travel quarantine On Sunday (10 Jan) morning.
• The owner of a house in The Avenue, Rowington was reported for a fine following a report of having visitors.

Assistant Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith says:

“We are now a week into the current lockdown, and while the majority of people in Warwickshire are following the rules, we are continuing to see some ignore the restrictions and choose to put others at risk.

“There are some clear messages coming from our health colleagues about the huge pressures on the NHS and the importance of everyone following the rules to bring down the number of infections.

We know this is difficult and frustrating, but we must all take personal responsibility for our actions and play our part in protecting ourselves and others. Our officers will continue to engage with people and explain the rules, but the expectation now is that people do understand the situation and must have a reasonable excuse for being away from their home, as set out by the Government. If this is not the case, they will face a fine.”

If you have any concerns about possible breaches of the rules, you can report those to Warwickshire Police online at https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/tua/tell-us-about/c19/v7/tell-us-about-a-possible-breach-of-coronavirus-covid-19-measures/

To help protect ourselves and our loved ones we must all stay at home apart from exceptional circumstances.

The latest national lockdown guidance is here: visit www.gov.uk/coronavirus

At approximately 21:20hrs Saturday 9 January 2020 unknown offender(s) caused damaged to a residential property in Arlidge Crescent, Kenilworth. Offender(s) threw an unknown object at a first floor window, resulting in the outer pane smashing. 

·         Did you see/hear anything?

·         Do you have CCTV footage?

If you have information relating to the above offence, please call Warwickshire Police on 101 and quote crime reference 23/1038/21. 

Alternatively you can call CRIMESTOPPERS anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Warwickshire Police are asking if anyone has seen Warwick man Nigel Honey? As Warwick is close to Kenilworth we are sending out this appeal in case Nigel has been or is in Kenilworth and the surrounding area.

The 50-year-old, who was reported missing on Tuesday 29 December 2020 is described as white, bald and around 6ft 1in tall.

Nigel is known to ride a pedal bike with a backpack and usually carries a large motorbike chain around his shoulder or waist whenever he’s on the bike.

Officers and his family are growing increasingly concerned for his welfare and are asking anyone with information to come forward.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Nigel is asked to call 101 as soon as possible.