Police warn vulnerable elderly people to be alert to a scam, after incidents in North Somerset.

Between Wednesday 25 November and Thursday 3 December there were five incidents reported, with four happening on Tuesday and Wednesday. All have involved calls to people in their 70s, 80s or 90s living in Clevedon or Portishead.

In each case someone has telephoned impersonating a police officer. They claim the householder’s bank account has been used for crime and insist on cash being withdrawn, which they say they need as “evidence” and is collected from the house.

Two elderly residents in the Clevedon area have been the subject of serious fraud.

Both received telephone calls today, December 2, from people claiming to be police officers – one from Luton and the other allegedly from Bristol. The supposed officers were very persistent and even asked one of the victims to call 191 to check their identity with a colleague. This was a clever ploy, as the line had not been disconnected and the phone was merely handed to an accomplice.

In both instances they were asked to attend their banks, and were advised by the fake police how they could get around the security measures / questions. On arrival the victims withdrew thousands of pounds between them, which was later collected from their homes by a courier. A password was given by the fraudster to use when handing the money over to the courier to make it even more convincing.

Avon and Somerset police say that this type of fraud can occur anywhere, so always be wary of unexpected calls. Never give out any personal details, especially financial account numbers or passwords. If you have any concerns, hang up immediately. Contact the bank or organisation they claim to represent using a mobile or different phone in case the offenders are still on the line. Never use any telephone numbers provided by the fraudster. Police will never ask you to attend your bank or withdraw cash.

This Halloween, we’re encouraging people to have fun at home so they can stay safe and help control the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). We want you to have fun this Halloween, but please consider how you might do things differently this year and plan ahead so that you can celebrate safely:

• If you can, celebrate at home
• Remember the rule of 6 for indoor and outdoor gatherings
• If you go out trick or treating, wear a mask and keep 2m apart
• Always go trick or treating with an adult, don’t knock on doors where there is a sign saying ‘no trick or treat here’ and only go to houses where you know the residents
• Remember road safety, always look carefully before crossing the road and be visible
• Don’t take sweets from communal bowls, only accept sweets that are in wrappers and keep your hands clean
• Throwing eggs and flour at houses causes criminal damage. You could be arrested
• Although Halloween is supposed to be spooky, be considerate to those who don’t take part and be careful not frighten vulnerable people

There are plenty of ways people can have fun at home, from pumpkin carving to watching scary movies or trying some spooky recipes. You could create a themed display, have a trick or treat hunt at home or host a virtual Halloween costume contest.

Halloween can be unnerving for people who are elderly, vulnerable or live alone. They may be at a higher risk of becoming victims of crime if they feel isolated or alone, but there are lots of things you can do to help your neighbours feel safe:

• Start by just saying ‘hello.’
• Ask if they would like you to check if they are ok on Halloween with either a visit or a call
• Ask if they would like you to download and print on of our ‘sorry, no trick or treaters here’ posters below so they can display it in their window

If you’re a shopkeeper please remember not to sell eggs or flour to young people and selling fireworks to under-18s is an offence.

Click here for no trick or treaters poster

Click here for eggs and flour shopkeepers poster

The Police have seen a vast increase in the number of telephone scams in recent weeks from fraudsters claiming to be from HMRC, TV Licencing, Amazon, Utility Companies and many others. What do most of these have in common? When they call you be it an automated call or a person on the phone, most will eventually ask you to press number 1 on your keypad to be connected to a particular department (Please do not do this). 

Why did that department not contact you in the first instance? Because they need you to press 1.

The most likely outcome is you will be connected to a premium rate phone line charging an extortionate rate for absolutely nothing at all. 

Please take care and be wary of any unexpected phone calls.

If you receive a call and you think it is fraudulent then please report it to Action Fraud at this link below:

Plans to upgrade Congresbury Recreation Club to provide better sports and social facilities have been launched.

The move comes as ambitious plans for a new village hall have been shelved. The new hall would have replaced the existing Rec Club.

Called Project Construct, the Rec Club plan is being backed by the trustees of the King George V Playing Field whose chairman Mike Greaves notes have “a primary duty to support and enable sport and recreation on the fields. 

“The trustees are aware that the existing recreation and changing facilities have deteriorated and are in need of upgrade or replacement,” said Mr Greaves.

A project sub-committee of the Rec Club has already carried out a feasibility study and is now looking to produce detailed plans and costs and develop a funding strategy.

Project Construct is being chaired by cricket club president Les Owen and includes representatives of the tennis, cricket and football clubs as well as the Rec Club.

Its remit is to consult widely with the sports and recreation clubs as well as the wider community to make sure that, wherever possible, the project meets their needs for the provision of sports and social facilities in Congresbury.

The current Rec Club was built in the 1960s and is now well past its best with outdated changing rooms that don’t have separate female facilities. This has, for example, prevented the cricket club hosting some county junior matches.

Initial plans envisage a new changing block shared by cricket and tennis clubs with the old changing rooms incorporated into the rebuilt Rec Club to give a much larger footprint allowing for a multi-use communal area.

Middlecombe nursery are raising money for Feed The Homeless having built an all day illuminated Pumpkin Trail at the nursery. It’s an ideal visit for young and young at heart to see illuminated pumpkins donated by local business displayed in a theatrical setting. Free entry but donations to the charity encouraged!

The Trail is open 10am—7:30pm.  from Wednesday this week at Middlecombe nursery, Wrington road.

Police have been made aware very recently of a new scam.

An email is titled HM Courts & Tribunals Services and will state in the subject “Your Fixed Penalty Notice Ref:” followed by a series of numbers.

In the actual email itself it will explain the total cost is £25 with a delivery date of 7am to 7pm.

The location for the supposed offence simply states “United Kingdom”

the “Click here to Pay” link has been deactivated.

Please, if you receive this in your inbox do not fall for it and advise others that may be unaware.

Police warn that fraudsters continue to contact residents claiming to be from HMRC (the Tax Office) telling them that they owe money and that an arrest warrant will be issued if they don’t hand over payment.

A Keynsham resident received a voicemail asking them to call back on a certain number, and when the resident called he was told that he owed money to HMRC and that he would be sent to court if he didn’t pay. The victim was told to purchase Amazon gift cards as the tax office was closed due to the Covid-19 virus and they couldn’t accept debit card payment. Sadly these were purchased and the codes and reference numbers were handed over during another call at significant cost. There has been a similar incident in Cheddar but this time the scam was spotted by a Neighbourhood Watch member.

These offenders are very convincing, using the fear of arrest to panic their victims into handing over payment for the non-existing debts. They may give passwords and fake identity names and “badge” numbers.

HMRC will never telephone to threaten court proceedings as a first contact, and they certainly don’t take gift cards as a means of payment. If you receive one of these calls, hang up immediately. If you are concerned contact your local tax office using a phone number from previous printed communication or from the phonebook. Never use a phone number provided by the scammer.

A 48-year-old Yatton man has been charged with racially aggravated assault following an incident on Monday morning.

Richard Penny, of Mendip Road, has also been charged with possessing a knife, threatening a person with a knife and using threatening/ abusive words likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress.

The charges relate to an incident in a café at approximately 8.50am in which a woman in her 40s was assaulted and another woman, an off-duty detention officer, was threatened. Attending police officers were then threatened with a knife.

Penny has also been charged with another count of using threatening/ abusive words likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress. This charge relates to an incident on High Street, Yatton at about 12pm on Friday, 4 September in which two women were verbally abused.

Penny appeared via video link at North Somerset Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he was remanded in custody pending a hearing at Bristol Crown Court at a date yet to be set.

Take care as we have been made aware that there has been a sharp increase in calls relating to bogus “Tree Specialists” who have been preying on the older population within our communities, offering to carry out gardening work. Several residents are reported to have paid vast sums of money for poor quality work to the so called “Specialists” who have also taken the money and never returned to complete the work. 

There are a few things that you should be wary of before allowing anyone into your home or garden.

1. Did they put a leaflet through your door claiming to offer discounts for OAPs? 

2. Do they offer 20 / 30 / 40 % off for calling within a particular time scale of receiving your leaflet?

3. Do they offer Tree work and then claim to offer a host of other services seemingly unrelated?

4. Does it look like a professionally printed leaflet?

5. If you speak to an operator, do not be bullied into committing to their services or an appointment.

6. If they are in your home, phone a friend and ask them to come round.

7. You can ask them to leave at any point during their sales pitch.

These are just a few points to look out for, but the best rule to go by is that if you require any work you should find the person yourself or go by the recommendation of others that you trust.

There are plenty of websites that can steer you in the right direction to find the right company. 

And of course there are some genuine, honest companies so make an informed decision, but remember:

“If you’re not sure, don’t open the door”

Click here for Lay Pastoral and Community Workers. Click here for Mission Enabler. Click here for Digital Mission Enabler.

We’ve received this lovely story from Michael Greeves. Unfortunately, the email was hidden in Junk mail, but we think it’s worth publishing, even this late. Apologies to Michael.

If you were planning a 1000 mile cycle ride to raise money to help protect the Swans in London’s Richmond Park, few would include ‘The Strawberry Line’ in Congresbury.

But, that’s exactly what Jamie Gould did. He works in Richmond Park as a gardener where a Cygnet died earlier this year. The swan was killed by a vandal who horrified and disgusted the ‘Friends’ of Richmond Park. To raise funds to help prevent this happening again, Jamie 21 and his friend Alex decided to undertake a mammoth 1000 mile sponsored cycle ride. They originally hoped for £1,000 but it looks like exceeding £1,500.

Starting from London they cycled to Margate and followed the south coast to Lands End in Cornwall. They then rode along the North Devon coast and spent Friday 3^rd July 2020 camping at Porlock in Somerset.

Where does the Strawberry Line fit in ? 

I was riding my bike from Congresbury to Sandford, a modest 2 miles along the Strawberry Line on Saturday evening 4^thJuly. Having stopped to watch a Buzzard soaring over Thatchers apple orchards, Jamie rode along and asked if there was anything interesting. 

In a very brief conversation he said that his companion ‘Alex’s’ bike had a puncture in Bridgwater and needed a new tyre. The nearest open bike shop being in Bristol so he went by train to get it repaired leaving Jamie on his own following the agreed route.  They were due to stay overnight near Bristol and complete their ride back to London on Sunday 5^th July. Completing the 1000 miles in time for work on Monday morning.

For anyone wishing to learn more about the fund raising cause and their journey click on the  link; https://www.gofundme.com/f/jamie-and-alex-1000-mile-cycle-ride

At a time when there is so much bad and depressing news it cheered me up to hear Jamie’s story. I always enjoy seeing the wildlife and the fresh air on The Strawberry Line and will now add meeting Jamie the cyclist raising money for the Swans in Richmond Park to my memory bank.

Michael Greaves

4^th July 2020

Police have just released details of an incident last Thursday (April 9) when officers were called to Cheddar Gorge following reports of several vehicles being driven dangerously.

One motorist was stopped after trying to make off from officers.

The male driver was reported for allegedly driving without tax, driving without due care and attention and not maintaining the car to a safe standard due to insufficient tyre tread.

The driver had previously been warned regarding antisocial driving and following this latest incident the vehicle was seized.

The vehicle was searched and the 29-year-old male was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of a class B drug and possession of class B drug. He has been released under investigation.

Enquiries are being carried out to try to identify other vehicles involved, one of which is believed to be a red BMW 3 Series.

PC James Fowler said: “We take reports of antisocial behaviour and driving in Cheddar Gorge extremely seriously, no more so now than when we are all being asked to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

“We will continue to patrol the Gorge to try to prevent a repeat of this antisocial behaviour.

“If anyone can help us identify the other drivers involved, please contact us.”

Anyone with information can report it online and give reference number 5220079552. Alternatively, if you cannot report it online, call 101.