Motorhomes Alert

During the last week motorhomes have been targeted, 3 in North Warwickshire villages, 1 in the Rugby area and 2 in the South of the County.

The latest thefts have been from driveways rather than farms and storage areas.

Neighbourhood Watch and the Police are urging all Motorhome owners to remain vigilant in their area and report any suspicious activity to the Police on 101 or online: https://www.warwickshire.police.uk/

Consider putting your postcode, number plate or other differentiating mark on the roof of your vehicle that could be picked up overhead if the caravan was being moved or parked at a location. 

Crime Prevention advice sheet is attached.

Spring 2024 Crime and Community Webinars (March 2024)

This spring, we are bringing to you a series of webinars which focus on some of the most commonly occurring crimes in the country (such as burglary and antisocial behaviour), as well as community wellbeing topics such as isolation.

Please see the full list of webinars below - registration form coming soon!

Recordings will be available to watch after the webinars have taken place.

Register Here: https://www.ourwatch.org.uk/webinars

200 Hours Community Service for Owner of Shop that Sold Illegal Vapes

Warwickshire Vape Ltd trading as Royal Vapes, and its owner Luke Benjamin Spencer, have been successfully prosecuted by Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service.

Trading Standards Officers seized hundreds of illegal disposable nicotine vapes from the business which has premises in Kenilworth, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton and Warwick. The business had been warned to remove the products from sale but had failed to do so. Vapes seized included Elux Legend 3500 Blueberry Raspberry and R&M Tornado 7000 Skittles.

The offences related to the sale of disposable vapes that contained more nicotine containing liquid than the legal 2ml limit and vapes that used images and wording associated with trade marked sweet products, specifically Skittles and Ribena.

Mr Hunt, representing Mr Spencer said that his client’s offending had not been deliberate. However, Magistrates heard that Mr Spencer had been in business selling vapes for 10 years and had a staff of 18 employees and found it surprising that Mr Spencer said he was naïve.

At Coventry Magistrates Court on Monday 26th February 2024, Mr Luke Spencer, aged 41 of Haddon Road, Leamington Spa, the Director of Warwickshire Vape Ltd pleaded guilty to 7 offences. He was ordered to complete 200 hours unpaid work under a 12-month community order and pay £4592 prosecution costs and a £114 victim surcharge.

Magistrates considered there to be high culpability, and high level of harm in respect of the Tobacco and Related Products Regulations 2016 offences and aggravating factors of financial gain, risk to others and failure to comply with advice from Trading Standards.

Warwickshire Vape Limited also pleaded guilty to 7 offences and was fined £910 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £4590 and a £91 victim surcharge.

Warwickshire County Councillor Andy Crump, Portfolio Holder for Community Safety said: “Illegal vapes, which can contain dangerous levels of nicotine, a highly addictive drug, should not be on sale in Warwickshire. Nicotine poisoning can cause a range of problems including nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach or gut, or diarrhoea.”

“Trading Standards Officers tried to work with this business to remove these illegal products from sale, but in vain, leaving them with no option but to take court action to protect the health of consumers.”

In Mitigation, Mr Hunt said his client was previously of good character and had made an early guilty plea. Further, there were now active measures in place in the business to ensure that only compliant products are sold, including a compliance policy and compliance manager who review all products for sale.

Magistrates also granted a deprivation order for the forfeiture and destruction of over 500 illegal nicotine inhaling vapes seized from the business.

Warwickshire Rural Crime Team Newsletter - February 2024

Please find attached the latest Rural Crime Team newsletter for your information.