STOKE AND WYKEN NEWS & NATURE

Dear Residents and Local Businesses, here is your weekly update from your local neighbourhood Policing Team, Stoke and Wyken. 

This week, officers from the Stoke and Wyken team have been actively patrolling key retail areas, including Warwickshire Retail Park and the shopping stretch on Ball Hill, as well as around the Iceland on Binley Road.  

Targeted patrols are consistently underway around Riley Square, Hillmorton Road, Edgwick Park and Walsgrave Road, our team have made several arrests and prevented crime in these areas over the last few weeks and will continue to stay vigilant to keep our communities safe. 

Our ongoing efforts aim to deter shoplifting and ensure the safety of shoppers during each shift. Additionally, we continue to cover various green spaces such as Stoke Heath, Barras Green, Caludon Castle Park, Morris Park, parts of Lindfield in Stoke Aldermoor, Gosford Park, Tick Tock Park, and St Margarets Skate Park. Despite the recent wet weather, officers have maintained foot, vehicle, and bicycle patrols to demonstrate our commitment to the community and reassure residents of our presence. 

Speedwatch operations are consistently underway on our problem roads within the Stoke & Wyken area, some of these include Clifford Bridge Road, Belgrave Road, Parts of Sewall and Hipswell Highway and also Humber Road, as always if there are particular roads you would like to see Officers conduct Speedwatch operations on, please send us a message. 

Additionally there is also a way for you the community to get more involved with reporting speeding motorists with what we call Operation Snap. 

What is Operation Snap? 

Operation Snap (often called Op Snap) is an initiative run by West Midlands Police (WMP) that enables members of the public to submit footage of careless or dangerous driving — from dash-cams, CCTV, mobile phones (when held by passengers), or other recording devices. The goal is to use this evidence to take action against motorists whose driving risks safety on the roads.  

Why it Matters 

Road safety is a high priority: reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured on West Midlands roads is a key aim.  

Public submissions are substantial: in 2024 for example, over 13,500 videos were submitted — about 1,200 per month.  

Action is being taken: Of those submissions, many have led to fixed penalty notices, driver awareness courses, warning letters, or prosecution.  

 What Kind of Offences Can Be Reported 

Some examples of reportable offences include: 

Dangerous or careless driving (e.g. weaving, close passing)  

Using a mobile phone while driving  

Failing to stop at red lights or pedestrian crossings  

Not wearing a seat-belt, crossing solid white lines, or other offences where control is clearly lacking.  

Parking offences can also be reported — but only certain types, e.g. obstructive parking (zig-zags, dropped kerbs etc.) — not everything (for example, not ordinary double yellow line parking or “inconsiderate” parking) . 

 What’s Needed to Make a Valid Report 

To ensure the footage will be usable, reports should meet certain criteria: 

Be submitted within 10 days of the alleged offence.  

Include the whole incident; where possible, also capture about one minute prior to and after the offence.  

Footage duration should not exceed 10 minutes.  

Details required alongside the footage: date, time, location of the event; the vehicle registration, make and colour; description of what happened; how you were involved (if relevant)  

Important: Do not post the footage publicly (e.g. social media) before or during any legal proceedings, as this can make it unusable.  

What Happens After You Submit Footage 

Specially trained officers review every submission.  

If an offence is identified, possible outcomes include: 

Fixed Penalty Notice (FPN) e.g. fines, penalty points  

Driver awareness or improvement courses  

Warning letters  

Court summons, for more serious or repeated offences  

In many cases (around 85% of submitted clips in recent reporting) positive action is possible. 

River Sowe

We have continued our patrols around the River Sowe in regards to the illegal fishing which has been continued to be bought to our attention whilst out and about in the community. 

We have been speaking to many residents in the area this week about , Algae are a type of plant typically found in aquatic environments. They can thrive in various water types, such as saltwater, freshwater, and brackish water. Brackish water is a combination of salt and freshwater. Algae that inhabit water can be classified into two main groups: seaweed and phytoplankton. Seaweed consists of large plants made up of numerous cells. Phytoplankton, on the other hand, are tiny, single-celled organisms (which can include life forms like plants or bacteria). Both seaweed and phytoplankton can sometimes experience rapid growth, known as blooms. Some of these algal blooms can be detrimental to humans, animals, or the ecosystem. The majority of harmful algal blooms that affect the health of people and animals are attributed to phytoplankton. 

The river Sowe can unfortunately be subject to blue algae which can be harmful to both wildlife and people who come into contact with it, some symptoms can include skin rashes, eye irritation, vomiting, diarrhoea, and pains in muscles and joints. 

Blue-green algae are tiny organisms found in lochs, ponds, reservoirs, rivers, and oceans. They often thrive in warm, contaminated waters during hot weather, leading to water discoloration. These blooms can be green, blue-green, or greenish-brown, forming a scum on the surface, typically seen at the shoreline. 

If you spot what looks like blue-green algae in the UK, steer clear of it and make sure to keep kids and pets away from the water. Treat it as if it's toxic and avoid entering, drinking, or swallowing the water. To report what you found, call the Environment Agency at 0800 80 70 60 or use the Bloomin' Algae app to snap a pic and share its location. 

Wyken Slough | Nature Reserve in Coventry 

Regardless of its urban siting, Wyken Slough remains one of the largest areas of grassland in Coventry. With its combination of grassland and fantastic wetland habitat, the site is rich in botanical interest and represents an important ‘green lung’ within the city. 

The reserve welcomes a rich and varied bird life to the pool. A sizeable flock of mute swans and other waterfowl reside here with the marsh offering welcome coverage to reed bunting, meadow pipit and even the occasional jack snipe 

📞 How to Contact Us or Report Information 📞 

Non-Emergency: 101 

Emergency: 999 / 112 (if crime in progress or immediate danger) 

Report Online: West Midlands Police 

Anonymous Reporting: Crimestoppers 

Kind Regards,    

The Stoke & Wyken Neighbourhood Policing Team