STAFFORDSHIRE Police have received reports of two incidents of courier fraud in Amington this evening.
Police in Tamworth have received two separate reports of the ‘Courier Fraud’ scam occurring in Amington this evening and are urging public to be extra vigilant.
They are also asking for the warning to be spread as far as possible and for people to reiterate to more vulnerable friends and family to not pass personal details and pin numbers over the phone.
The courier scam is when fraudsters call and trick you into handing your cards and PIN numbers to a courier on your doorstep.
There are many variations of the scam, but it usually follows this method:
A fraudster will cold call you on a landline, claiming to be from your bank or the police. They state their systems have spotted a fraudulent payment on your card or it is due to expire and needs to be replaced.
In order to reassure you that they are genuine, they suggest that you hang up and ring the bank/police back straight away. However, they don’t disconnect the call from the landline so that when you dial the real phone number, you are actually still speaking to the fraudster.
They then ask you to read out your PIN or type it on your phone keypad. They may ask for details of other accounts you hold with the bank or financial service provider.
Finally, they send a courier to you to collect your bank card. The fraudster will have then obtained your name, address, full bank details, card and PIN.
Protect yourself against courier fraud:
Your bank will never send a courier to your home.
Your bank and the police will never collect your bank card.
Your bank and the police will never ask for your PIN
If you receive one of these calls end it immediately.
Call Staffordshire Police on 101 to report any suspicious calls.
A CAMPAIGN to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation (CSE) is taking to the roads and the airwaves this week.
The regional “See Me, Hear Me” campaign will feature on buses travelling across the West Midlands as well as on radio over the coming weeks to raise the profile of this abuse crime and help keep children safe.
Featuring the message ‘Memories last a lifetime… Everyone has memories of their first love, but for some they won’t be happy ones’, it aims to highlight the horrific crime and its lifelong impact on victims.
People will be directed to the campaign website www.seeme-hearme.org.uk for information on how to spot the warning signs of CSE and what to do if you are concerned about a child or young person.
The site also features educational films to raise awareness of CSE, along with campaign posters for individuals and organisations to download and display.
The campaign was launched in June by Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell, Walsall, Coventry, Birmingham and Solihull Councils, along with West Midlands Police and other partners, to raise awareness of child sexual exploitation.
CSE is a crime that can affect any child, anytime, regardless of their social or ethnic background. It is child abuse and involves perpetrators grooming their victims in various ways, such as in person, via mobiles or online, to gain their trust before emotionally and sexually abusing them.
It can take place in many forms, whether through a seemingly consensual relationship, or a young person being forced to have sex in return for some kind of payment, such as drugs, money, gifts or even protection and affection.
There are a number of warning signs people may spot in a child or young person’s behaviour that may indicate something is wrong. These include having friends who are older, persistently going missing, secretive relationships with unknown adults, truancy from school, chronic fatigue, constant calls on a mobile phone and the possession of money or new things.
Stephen Rimmer, West Midlands lead for tackling CSE, said: “Sexual exploitation of children and young people thrives on ignorance, manipulation and vulnerability. No one in the West Midlands should suffer this crime, and the bullies, abusers and perpetrators need to be held to account.
“This campaign will help ensure that we all understand the threat – right here right now – and what to do about it when we see it.”
Anyone who is concerned about the safety of a child should their local Police on 101, speak in confidence to Barnardo’s on 0121 359 5333 or in an emergency call 999.
Childline also has counsellors available online at www.childline.org.uk.
People can find out more information about child sexual exploitation at www.seeme-hearme.org.uk.
WARWICKSHIRE Police are appealing for information after an aggravated burglary took place on Central Avenue in Nuneaton.
The incident happened on Tuesday 6 January at around 1am.
Two offenders forced entry to the property, armed with baseball bats, whilst the home owner was inside. They went on to assault the victim, a man in his 40s, causing him minor injuries.
It is unclear if anything has been stolen at this time.
PSI Colin Rust, the investigating officer, said: “This was a particularly nasty incident where the occupier must have been quite terrified by what he encountered on this night.
“I am very keen to hear from anyone that may have any information about this incident and would urge them to contact me, either in confidence using the Crimestoppers number 0800 555 111, or at Nuneaton CID on 02476 641111.”
Applicants are being sought to join the team at BMW as their Hams Hall plant prepares for next generation engines.
It’s an exciting time to join the BMW engine manufacturing plant at Hams Hall, in North Warwickshire. With a several-hundred million-pound development programme nearing completion, investment in an increased number of apprentices is a key part of the plant’s strategy to prepare for the production of next generation engines.
Already, the plant has ramped up assembly of new three-cylinder power units for the BMW i8 hybrid plug-in sports car alongside continued current production.
Liam Bashford, a manufacturing technician apprentice at the plant said: “I chose an apprenticeship as the opportunity to join a leading automotive company was a great way to kick-start my career.
“My training involves placements around the business as well as the chance to keep up my studies at college. I’ve just started a foundation degree and I’m developing my skills by training alongside experienced technicians at the plant.
“I would definitely recommend an apprenticeship to other people about to leave school or college!”
There will be twelve manufacturing apprenticeship opportunities at the Hams Hall plant which will commence in August 2015.
People can apply for an apprenticeship through thier Facebook page which can be found at www.facebook.com/BmwCareersUK or via the plant’s website at www.bmwplanthamshall.co.uk
The closing date for applications is 31 January 2015.
STAFFORDSHIRE’S drivers are being reminded that 20 is Plenty as part of an ongoing road safety campaign to help keep pupils safe.
In 2014, 47 Staffordshire schools benefited from the campaign which encourages drivers to reduce their speed to a maximum of 20mph when driving outside schools.
The initiative is run by Staffordshire County Council and is in operation when pupils arrive at school in the morning and leave in the afternoon. Speed Indication Devices (SIDs) which display the speed of a vehicle as it passes by are used to urge drivers to slow down.
Cllr Mark Deaville, cabinet support member for Highways and Transport at Staffordshire County Council said: “Staffordshire is amongst the top two counties for road safety in the country, and our roads are now the safest they’ve been since records began thirty years ago.
“Our 20 is Plenty campaign is one of many initiatives we operate which helps to keep our roads and school children safe and I’m pleased to see so many of our schools benefiting from the scheme.
“Since we introduced the ‘20 is Plenty’ four years ago, around 175 schools have taken part and it is now helping encourage more parents and children to walk and cycle to school. This is not only helping to keep people fit and healthy but is also helping to reduce the amount of traffic around schools.”
The high profile scheme was first introduced in 2010 and has now been rolled out to around 175 schools across the county. Each term 16 schools are selected to take part in the scheme.
PENSIONERS and people on low incomes in Tamworth who could benefit from a government grant scheme which gives £140 towards energy bills are being urged to apply before the January 30 deadline.
Residents of the borough are being encouraged to call Tamworth Borough Council’s free Home Energy Advice Tamworth (HEAT) scheme to see if they could benefit from the Warm Homes Discount, now in its fourth year.
The Warm Homes Discount is available to pensioners who receive the Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit, or those aged over 75 who receive either element of Pension Credit.
Residents in certain low income groups may also be eligible for the Warm Homes Discount if they meet various criteria laid down by their individual energy provider. Each energy company sets its own criteria for eligibility. To find out if you qualify, please call the HEAT freephone number on 0800 043 2815 or text 07922 651982 and we will call you back.
People born before January 5 1952 may also be eligible to receive the Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 tax free. Anyone not automatically receiving the payment is asked to call the HEAT number.
Advisers at HEAT will also check whether callers are eligible for any other energy saving measures, grants or discounts.
The deadline for applying for Warm Homes Discount is Friday January 30.
Cllr Michelle Thurgood, Cabinet member for Housing & Waste Management, said:“Now that the weather is getting increasingly colder, many pensioners and people on low incomes are worrying about whether they can afford to pay their heating bills.
“The Warm Homes Discount and the Winter Fuel Payment are available to help people to stay warm and healthy. I would encourage everyone who thinks they may benefit from a grant to call the freephone HEAT number to see if they qualify for help.”
HEAT is a Tamworth Borough Council project which offers independent advice on energy efficiency to help save money on energy bills and can also offer information on renewable technologies, solid wall insulation, replacement heating and other improvements.
