Weekly update.

Weekly update.

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

Clocks are due to go back an hour on Sunday the 25th of October at 2am, this always occurs on the last Sunday of October regarding daylight savings time. Please ensure that you all set your alarms accordingly to make necessary adjustments for work or any other arrangements you may have for the Monday ahead. 

We have had a new Streetwatch group form in the Stoke Aldermoor area and now have a dedicated group of volunteers who patrol around the estate of Signals Drive, this expansion brings the total number of active groups to two, with the existing group continuing its operations in the Dorchester Way area. 

The Stoke & Wyken team maintains a proactive stance on preventing shoplifting through consistent presence and visibility across our retail locations, including Warwickshire Retail Park and the commercial establishments along Walsgrave Road near Ball Hill. We collaborate closely with security personnel to ensure rapid response and resolution when criminal incidents are reported.

Hate crime awareness week commenced on the 10th of this month, and Officers from our team have been out and about at various venues handing out leaflets, literature and giving people advice. 

Hate crime awareness is all about solidarity and support for those affected by hate crime.  

A hate crime is any criminal offence driven by hostility or prejudice towards someone because of their transgender identity, sexual orientation, disability, race or ethnicity, religion or belief.  

These crimes can take many forms, including: 

Hate crimes can happen to anyone and can happen anywhere – at home, in public, online, at work or at school. 

If you experience or witness a hate crime or incident, we are here to support you.  

Staff at these centres are trained to handle these reports sensitively, signpost to support and confidentially share the information with police to investigate. 

You can find out more about hate crime and what to do if you experience or witness it, on our website: What is hate crime? | West Midlands Police.  

Our How to report hate crime | West Midlands Police webpage also contains a list of your local Third-Party Reporting Centres. 

Halloween is also steadily approaching and West Midlands Police have issued guidance for parents and carers to ensure the safety of their children whilst trick or treating, a few practical steps can prevent accidents, keep anti-social behaviour at bay, and protect children from potential hazards on darker nights. 

 1. Visibility and Costume Safety (Be Seen) 

Dark autumn evenings make it highly difficult for drivers to spot pedestrians, especially on local residential streets.  

• Brighten Up Costumes: Incorporate fluorescent clothing, add reflective strips/tape to outfits, or have your child wear a high-vis jacket.  

• Carry Electric Light: Equip every child with a torch, head torch, or glow sticks so they are easily visible to road users.  

• Check Masks: Opt for non-toxic face paint instead of full-face masks, which can block a child's peripheral vision and make it harder to spot trip hazards or oncoming cars.  

2. Safe Routing and Supervision (Be Safe) 

• Always Stay Together: Young children must always be accompanied by a trusted adult. Teenagers trick-or-treating with friends should stay in a cohesive group and never wander off alone. 

• Stick to Well-Lit Paths: Plan a route in advance that stays within familiar, well-lit neighbourhoods. Avoid taking shortcuts through dark alleys, secluded canal paths, or parks like Jubilee Park. 

• Stranger Danger: Reinforce the rule that children should never enter a stranger's home or get into an unknown vehicle, no matter what treats are offered. 

• Charge Mobile Phones: Ensure older children carry a fully charged mobile phone with location-sharing apps turned on, but advise them to keep the device tucked safely out of sight while walking.  

3. Respecting the Community 

• Check for Decorations: Teach children to only knock on doors that are actively celebrating (e.g., displaying pumpkins or Halloween decorations).  

• Respect "No Trick or Treat" Signs: Under no circumstances should children knock on doors displaying a police "No Trick or Treat" poster, as unexpected callers can cause extreme distress to elderly or vulnerable neighbours.  

• Inspect the Loot: Parents should inspect all sweets, gifts, and treats gathered during the evening before allowing children to eat them. Discard any items that are unwrapped, unsealed, or look suspicious. 

For elderly or vulnerable residents: Place a ‘no trick or treats’ card on your door or in your window to help deter trick or treaters. We will be handing these out at police surgeries. 

Despite the return of colder evenings, Officers have maintained their foot patrols throughout our green spaces this week.  

During a routine patrol at Caludon Castle Park, several residents brought to the attention of Officers that reports regarding big cat sightings have been spreading throughout the community. Neighbours and residents across the broader area have reported discussions about the large cat, with some believing that this creature is generating tourism interest in the Coventry and Warwickshire region as people actively search for the animal, nicknamed "Catfoot."  

Coombe Abbey, specifically the Coombe Fields area surrounding the Abbey, has been the site of recent sightings. The location features extensive farmland and woodland around the vicinity and extends into Warwickshire rather than remaining entirely within Coventry, though Coombe Abbey sits on the border between the two areas.  

These fields are situated within a reasonable proximity to the previously documented sighting locations, including Binley Woods, with a distance exceeding 3 miles. 

The Halloween season may have heightened awareness as residents reported to Officers observing a large black cat moving at a deliberate pace, only to vanish swiftly at second glance, this incident occurred on October 18th at approximately 9:30 in the evening. 

Officers reiterate that while residents are welcome to enjoy local wildlife in a responsible manner, they should refrain from attempting direct contact with any animal that could pose a safety risk. Should such a creature be encountered, residents are urged to notify the relevant authorities immediately. The contact information is provided below for those seeking further details. 

British Big Cats - British Big Cats Society, Prove and Protect, Big Cat Sightings, Official Website  

You can contact them via their form on the website above or by calling them on 01752 251153 or 07831 658492. 

As always, we urge the public to stay vigilant.  

Providing photographs, video footage, and details about the time and location can assist wildlife organizations in evaluating reports more effectively. For concerns regarding animal welfare, please reach out to the RSPCA. If there are immediate threats to public safety, contact the Police using the appropriate non-emergency or emergency number as necessary. 

Live Chat | West Midlands Police (west-midlands.police.uk) 

https://www.rspca-coventryanddistrict.org.uk/ 

For focus on big cats - British Big Cats 

For anything Cryptozoological - Centre for Fortean Zoology 

Live Chat | West Midlands Police (west-midlands.police.uk)   

Please be aware that this inbox is NOT monitored 24 hours a day and is purely for non-emergencies. In an emergency, please call 999. To report a crime in a non-emergency situation please call 101 or visit Report a crime | West Midlands Police to do this online.      

📞 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 

As a forward reminder, we have the following meetings coming up  

Lower Stoke PACT meeting 

6:00PM - 7:00PM, Thu 26 November 2026 

St Margaret'sChurch, 50 Walsgrave Road, Coventry, CV2 4EB 

Wyken quarterly PACT meeting 

6:00PM - 7:00PM, Tue 22 December 2026 

. Wyken Community Centre, Westmorland Rd, Coventry CV2 5PY 

Kind Regards,  

The Stoke & Wyken Neighbourhood Policing Team