KENILWORTH’S SNT, part of Warwickshire Police, are taking part in the national Sexual Exploitation Awareness Week that starts today (Monday 15 March 2021). The campaign aims to raise awareness of all forms of exploitation, how to spot signs of abuse, and to direct people to support resources and systems.

It may be presumed that CSE only happens to vulnerable young girls, but girls and boys can be sexually exploited – up to 25% of all reported cases nationally are boys and young men. Sexual exploitation can happen to anyone regardless of where they live, what their parents or carers do for a living or what their race, religion or sexuality is. 

This can and does happen in any community including places like #Kenilworth https://t.co/kogvBvIphh

— Kenilworth Watch (@kenilworthwatch) March 15, 2021

Did you know:

• Boys are less likely, or may find it more difficult to disclose abuse and exploitation.
• Boys are targeted in exactly the same ways as girls for sexual exploitation with social media, gaming, status, drugs and alcohol commonly used to target and draw in young men.
• Behaviour could be seen as experimenting with sexuality rather than as exploitation. This is not the case.
• There is evidence to show that boys and young men who are being sexually exploited are more likely to be criminalised and may be channelled into criminal justice systems rather than child protection systems.

During Child Exploitation Awareness week, there will also be a number of activities taking place including two webinars for parents at 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday evening, focusing on mental health and emotional resilience, along with a Facebook Live Q&A session at 7pm on Wednesday for the public to pose any questions they may around CE to experts from Barnardo’s*.

The new Something’s Not Right website is also packed full of information and resources around Child Exploitation, including the different types of exploitation, what signs to look for in a child or young person, and what support is available if you or someone you know may be a victim of child exploitation. The website also features some powerful real life stories about victims of CE.

This can and does happen in any community including places like #Kenilworth https://t.co/Vzy56pgs1p

— Kenilworth Watch (@kenilworthwatch) March 15, 2021

Find out more about child exploitation and the support available by visiting the new website www.somethingsnotright.co.uk

If you would be interested in attending one of the webinars or the live Facebook Q&A session, register your interest by emailing rebeccaweaver@barnardos.org.uk

• Webinar – 7pm on Tuesday and Thursday (both sessions are the same so please only register for one)
• Facebook Live Q&A session

Where to go for help and support

• If you are worried about a child or young person, contact the Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub between 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, on 01926 414144.
• You can also make a report to Warwickshire Police via their website or by calling 101, or you can contact your local Children and Family Centre.
• Contact Crimestoppers confidentially and anonymously on 0800 555 111.
• You can talk to trained counsellors on the 24-hour helplines run by ChildLine on 0800 11 11 and the NSPCC on 0808 800 5000
• If someone is in immediate danger, call the police on 999

Please be aware that between 1830hrs and 2130hrs on Friday 12 March 2021 offenders have stolen a black Ford Kuga Vigmali Motor Vehicle that was parked at Scott Road, Kenilworth.

The motor vehicle was stolen without the keys suggesting this was a “keyless entry” car theft.

Owners of cars fitted with keyless entry are reminded and advised to place their vehicle keys in a “Faraday Cage” or “Faraday Pouch” to prevent such thieves from making contact with the signal that is emitted from the vehicle’s keys and which can enable the thieves to gain entry and steal the vehicle. A visible deterrent, such as a good quality steering lock/shield, is also a good idea.

This is incident 412 of 12 March 2021

Please be aware that between midday and 1230hrs on 12 March 2021 three offenders, driving a silver Ford Transit, stole two steel ramps from the rear of the shops at Leyes Lane, Kenilworth. They made off in the vehicle along Leyes Lane towards Dencer Drive.

This is incident 166 of 12 March 2021

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious or have any information about either of these incidents please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

WARWICKSHIRE POLICE are appealing to senior members of the community, individuals who are vulnerable and those that may care for them to be vigilant particularly when it comes to unsolicited telephone calls being received that appear to be from banks, HMRC, the police, the NHS or other similar organisations.

The appeal has been renewed after Banking staff in Kenilworth acted promptly and contacted Kenilworth Police as a 90yr old member of the community attended the bank and tried to withdraw thousands of pounds from his account.

Thankfully the bank staff and police prevented what was a scam from succeeding. Kenilworth Watch would like to thank both the local banking staff and our police for the way they supported the elderly member of the community, prevented what would have been subsequent distress to him and stopped a crime. The event highlights how plausible these telephone calls can be and how they can easily lead to people losing a considerable amount of their money and savings.

Warwickshire Police would like to stress that no one should withdraw money, provide personal details or their banking details in response to any unsolicited telephone call, text or email.

Anyone receiving such a telephone call is advised to say nothing and replace the receiver immediately. The organisations that these criminals impersonate to scam money DO NOT contact individuals in such a way.

If you care for an elderly or vulnerable person please make them aware to ignore these type of calls and to not provide any personal details.

Please be aware that between 23.45hrs on Thursday 4 March and 0730hrs on Friday 5 March 2021 offenders have stolen a white BMW Series 1 motor vehicle from a private drive at a property in Windy Arbour, Kenilworth. The motor vehicle was stolen without the keys suggesting this was a “keyless entry” car theft.

Owners of cars fitted with keyless entry are reminded and advised to place their vehicle keys in a “Faraday Cage” or “Faraday Pouch” to prevent such thieves from making contact with the signal that is emitted from the vehicle’s keys and which can enable the thieves to gain entry and steal the vehicle. (see further information at the base of this alert)

This is incident 75 of 5 March 2021

Please be aware that between 1400hrs and 1630hrs on Saturday 6 March 2021 offenders have smashed the nearside window of a purple Peugeot 107 motor vehicle that was parked at Rouncil Lane, Kenilworth. It is unclear at this stage what if anything has been taken from the vehicle.

This is incident 241 of 6 March 2021

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious or have any information related to either of these incidents then please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111

Please be aware that between 2030hrs and 2250hrs on Monday 1 March 2021 offenders have stolen a Grey Range Rover motor vehicle from the private drive of a property at Rounds Hill, Kenilworth. The car was stolen without keys suggesting it maybe a “keyless car theft”.

This is incident 402 of 1 March 2021

Please be aware that between 0100hrs and 0700hrs on Tuesday 2 March 2021 offenders have stolen a grey Ford Kuga from the private drive of a property at Rounds Hill, Kenilworth. The car was stolen without keys suggesting it maybe a “keyless car theft”.

This is incident 76 of 2 March 2021

Owners of motor vehicles that have keyless entry and ignition systems are advised to place their keys in a signal blocking  ‘Faraday cage’ (a metal container that prevents the signal and key being contacted by a device that thieves can use to steal keyless entry vehicles). An example is shown below (cost approx £20)  

Faraday pouches are also available (cost approx £8)

Please be aware that between 1000hrs and 1100hrs on Tuesday 2 March 2021 offenders have forced the door on a red Nissan Micra motor vehicle parked at Beehive Hill, Kenilworth. Once they gained entry to the vehicle they have stolen  a black leather handbag containing a purse and bank cards which were subsequently used by the offenders.

This is incident 129 of 2 March 2021

If you think you may have seen or heard anything suspicious of if you have any information that may relate to any of these incidents please contact Warwickshire Police on 101 or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111