WhatsApp users in Gedling borough are being warned about a shocking new scam which has seen people locked out of their accounts.
Users are being tricked into handing over a six-digit “verification code” which hackers have then used to steal their account and attack their contacts in the same way.
The scam starts when a hacker gets access to another WhatsApp account which will have you listed as a contact.
They will then pose as your friend and send you seemingly normal messages.
However, around the same time you will receive a text message or email from WhatsApp with a six-digit code.
This is because the attacker has requested the code from WhatsApp while pretending to be you.
The person posing as your friend will then claim they have sent the code to the wrong account and ask you to help by sending it to them.
Victims will reportedly receive a message, seemingly from their friend, which says something similar to: “Hello, sorry, I sent you a 6-digit code by mistake, can you pass it to me please? It’s urgent?”
This six-digit code is only ever generated when you are trying to log in or make changes to an account.
If you do send the code, the attack will be successful and the hacker will gain access to your account.
A councillor representing Gedling on the county’s health board has complained to NHS bosses about the lack of GP appointments available across the borough.
Councillor Henry Wheeler said he contacted the Nottinghamshire and Nottingham CCG following a ‘large amount of complaints’ from residents saying they can’t get appointments, treatments or check-ups at surgeries across the borough.
Joe Lunn is the Associate Director of Primary Care NHS Nottinghamshire and Nottingham CCG and responded to patiets’ concerns.
“Demand for General Practice appointments is currently extremely high,” he said.
“As people come out of lockdown, confidence to access services is growing and many practices are seeing more patients now than they did before the start of the pandemic. This contributes to the comments being made by patients in relation to accessing services.
“Latest activity data for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire CCG for March 2021 shows that there were 534,353 GP appointments undertaken. 55% of these appointments were seen face-to-face and 51% were seen on the same day or next. This does not fully capture the scale of work being undertaken by our general practices on behalf of patients as this is information only reflects appointments.”
Mr Lunn was asked about problems with phone system being used to book appointments, with many being on hold for long periods of time.
He said: “A large number of our practices across the borough use a Mitel Phone system which is supported by our Health Informatics Service. I have liaised with them in relation to the points raised and they will look to ascertain with the system provider whether there are any issues with the system.
Mr Lunn was asked to respond to complaints from patients with long-term conditions were having to go without medication and check-ups due to lack of access to a GP.
He responded: “General Practices have remained open to meet the needs of patients throughout the pandemic and are working extremely hard to ensure that patients with long-term conditions and those needing on-going care continue to receive the care they need.
“There are local schemes being developed to support patients with long terms conditions remotely such as BP@Home (Blood Pressure) monitoring patients.”
Mr Lunn said that practices were still working hard to provide the best service possible.
He said: “Patients will continue to be assessed and treated as they present to General Practice as they have continued to do throughout the pandemic. General Practices are for the majority of patients the first point of contact for accessing care and support from the NHS, across Nottingham and Nottinghamshire all practices are focused on delivering the best care possible for them.
Following the response from Mr Lunn, Mr Wheeler called for more action to resolve the issues around appointments.
He said: “Crucially in order to sort patient care issues out locally, we need an NHS rescue plan that sees patient care prioritised locally in the recovery from the Covid Pandemic, so people don’t have to wait weeks and in some cases months before getting an appointment”.
Baron Coaker of Gedling has made a personal pledge to do ‘all he can’ to create a fairer, more equal society.
Making his maiden speech in the House of Lords, the Labour peer said: “It cannot be right that 2.5 million people are having to use food banks, 980,000 of these going to children.
“It can’t be right that over 6 million people depend on universal credit to survive.
“It can’t be right that 14.5 million live in relative poverty, 4.3 million children.
“It can’t be right that where you live still determines your life expectancy, your health, your educational outcome.
“It can’t be right that the richest 1% have almost a quarter of UK wealth.”
Lord Coaker said the pandemic has shown that the State can act quickly if required.
PICTURED: Vernon Coaker was welcomed to the House of Lords earlier today
He said: “If the pandemic has shown us anything, it is the power of the state, both local and national to act swiftly and decisively for the benefit of all communities in every region.
“So, I say this, why does the state not act with the same level of urgency now for the sake of our communities?
“I do not want in 30 years time for another peer to be raising the same issues of poverty and inequality about our communities as I am today.
“So, my task will be, through the vehicle of the Labour Party to play my part however small, in saying that my vision is ‘it does not have to be like this’. The state needs to act and that is how this Queen’s Speech will be judged.”
Hope and a vision is what people want. As the great Romantic poet Shelley said. “To hope until hope creates from its very own wreck the thing it contemplates”.
“So, my hope, my vision, is to do all I can for a fairer, more equal society.
Baron Coaker concluded: “My Lords the power of our words needs to ring out across our nation. The dream of a better future is one we have to make a reality.”
Police stopped ten drivers for speeding as part of a road safety operation focusing on speeding in Carlton and Linby.
As part of the Fatal5 week of action, the Operation Reacher and Gedling Neighbourhood team carried out the speed checks during their patrols of the borough earlier this week.
A police spokesman said: “Responding to community requests, officers first went to Wighay Road in Linby to do speed checks in the 30 zone.
“Four drivers were issued with a traffic report for speeding and one for no MOT.
“The teams then moved onto Southdale Road in Carlton where six more drivers were issued with traffic reports for speeding.
“Then just before we finished for the day a Transit was seized as the driver had no insurance and only a provisional license.”
A man has been arrested after a pensioner was ‘shoved out the way’ during a burglary at her home in Arnold.
Police yesterday (May 18) arrested of a 32-year-old man, following intelligence received relating to a break-in in Furlong Street on Saturday afternoon (May 15, 2021).
An elderly woman was shoved out of the way by the intruder who stole her television, among other items.
Detective Chief Inspector Nick Waldram, the force’s burglary lead, said: “Our success in reducing burglary across Nottinghamshire is very much reflective of the hard work of our officers and police teams day-in, day-out, to tackle this issue which remains a priority for the force.
“As well as taking robust action against offenders we are also continuing to doing lots of preventative work in our communities to ensure residents and businesses can take steps to protect themselves from falling victims to burglars and to ensure crime remains low as we come out of the Covid-19 lockdown and work our way through the roadmap.
“We understand that burglary is an incredibly intrusive crime, but coming face to face with an offender makes it even more traumatic.
“I want to reassure people that we treat all reports extremely seriously and we will investigate offences, support victims and continue to work tirelessly to bring offenders to justice.”
Tenants are being invited to share their stories about renting properties in Gedling borough.
Gedling Borough Council and campaigning body Generation Rent want to hear from private renters in the borough to identify ways the council can work with residents in rental properties and increase awareness of their rights and responsibilities.
The project is the first of its kind in Gedling borough, and will be piloted in Killisick, Netherfield, Colwick and Newstead.
There are thousands of privately rented homes in Gedling, and whilst most are in good condition, the council say there are some where repairs or essential improvements have been neglected and a minority where criminal landlords rent out homes that are unsafe to live in.
Councils have powers to tackle unsafe homes, but according to the Survation Poll 2021, commissioned by Generation Rent, 46% of private renters are unaware of this and therefore don’t always report issues that the council can help with. By listening to the different experiences of private renters through the project, the council aims to gain a better understanding of the key issues private renters are facing.
To launch the consultation, the council has partnered with Generation Rent, the national campaigning body for private renters. Residents who rent properties in Killisick, Netherfield, Colwick and Newstead can now take part in the survey at www.gedling.gov.uk/generationrent to let the council know about their experiences of renting.
The first phase of the consultation runs until June 21, 2021.
A second stage will follow the survey later in the year and will include holding focus group discussions and forums with private renters.
This project is part of a larger nationwide project that has been launched by Generation Rent with funding from the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust. Generation Rent is partnering with six local authorities across the United Kingdom including Dundee, East Suffolk, Newham, Newport, and Wiltshire in addition to Gedling Borough Council. Generation Rent will work with each council to develop best practice models for private renter engagement.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “One of our key priorities is to ensure that there are good quality homes available to rent across our borough. We’re already working with landlords on this through our Selective Licensing Scheme, but it’s vital that we also engage with residents who are renting these properties, to get their views and plan how we can improve our services for them.
By working on this project with Generation Rent, we’ll be able to find out more about the experiences of private renters, including how the difficulties of the last year has impacted their lives and health. We want to give a platform to these renters to find out more about what we can do for them and continue to follow our ethos of Serving people, Improving lives.”
Alicia Kennedy, Director of Generation Rent said: “We look forward to working with Gedling Borough Council on this new project. So few private renters are aware of the rights as private tenants, but we hope that by putting in place formalised structures for engagement between private tenants and the council, private renters will have an opportunity learn more about their rights and have their say.”
Police have arrested a burglar who broke into a sports shop in Arnold and stole footwear and sports clothing.
Owners of the store in Arnold Business Centre informed Nottinghamshire Police that they had been notified of a break-in through their security system.
Numerous Police units travelled to the location, including dog officers, shortly after receiving the report at around 2.50pm on 6 April 2021.
A van was located at the scene and the occupant, Liam Butler, initially told officers to: “Get back!” before surrendering himself.
The 38-year-old, of Codrington Gardens, Bestwood was arrested and charged with burglary.
He pleaded guilty on May 6, 2021 and was sentenced to 15 months imprisonment suspended for two years at Nottingham Crown Court on Wednesday May 12, 2021.
Detective constable Chris Black said it was ‘absolutely despicable’ to target a local business in this way
He said: “it’s beyond belief that Butler thought he could get away with it when he’d been captured on CCTV and other devices.
“We’re glad that all of the stolen items were recovered and swiftly returned to the owners so they didn’t suffer any financial loss.
“This case highlights the importance of having a good security system in place which enabled us to act quickly, arrest the offender at the scene and gain all the evidence required to bring Butler before the courts.”
A popular cafe in Gedling Country Park has pulled out all the stops to create an impressive outdoor seating area.
A new, covered outdoor seating area is now open for customers at Café 1899, which has only been operating a take away service via the hatch since last year, due to restrictions in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The take away service will be continuing, but visitors can also eat and drink on the new decking outside the café.
Tables will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and will be allocated by the café team. Customers should visit the hatch to request a table and will be shown to their allocated table by a member of staff. Food and drink orders will be taken at the hatch and then diners will be called to collect their order when it is ready.
Safety measures in place at the café include a one way system and regular cleaning of tables and chairs, which have been positioned to enable social distancing and help ensure the safety of all customers and staff.
Both the café hatch and the country park have been very popular with visitors during the pandemic. The park has provided a safe place for people to exercise outdoors and when restrictions allowed, to meet up with others. Visitors have been able to enjoy the park and its views, especially from the two recently opened viewing platforms which offer views as far as Lincoln Cathedral, Newark and Belvoir Castle.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said: “We are really pleased that once again people can visit this wonderful park and enjoy meeting friends and family over food and drink at the fabulous café.
The new decking area is wonderful and anyone will be able to enjoy delicious breakfasts, lunches or just a coffee and cake from here, come rain or shine, while enjoying some of the most beautiful views in the area.”
The café is open from 9am – 4pm on weekdays and 9am – 4.30pm at weekends. Toilets are open during these hours and the car parks are open from 8am until 9pm. For more information about the park and the café, visit www.gedling.gov.uk/gedlingcountrypark or call the cafe team on 0115 926 1388.
After facing the elements outside for weeks, Gedling borough residents took advantage to go inside local pubs and cafes on Monday for the first time in months.
As part of the latest lockdown easing venues were able to reopen inside from yesterday (May 17), and many customers did not wait around making sure they were among the first to take advantage.
Becki Windsor was among those to enjoy a lunchtime drink in the Ernehale pub in Arnold with her friends, and said she had been waiting for this day for a while.
I’ve really enjoyed being able to be inside a pub again,” she said.
“It has been a nice day and we could have sat outside, but we wanted to go inside.
“I’ll feel better when I’ve had the vaccine so that I can feel a lot more comfortable doing stuff like this.”
Bill Shenton, who was enjoying a pint at The Willowbrook, said: “It is nice to be back.
“I have no reservations about coming in. Life needs to go on, we need to get back to normal.”
Punters packed into It’s Inn The Bank in Netherfield, who opened their doors for the first time in nearly seven months.
PICTURED: The Brown Bird Bakery in Arnold (PHOTO: Rob McCleary)PICTURED: Staff at It’s Inn The Bank in Netherfield
The Brown Bird Bakery in Arnold opened their doors for the first time and proved really popular with locals looking for somewhere new to eat.
Zeke Martin was one of the punters who visited The Free Man in Carlton and said: “It has been really busy, it is great to be able to sit down inside for the first time in five months. A lot of people in.
“It is great to see my friends again, and there have been a lot of new people.
“People are over moon to be able to sit in again.”
