Latest headlines

Top Ten Tips on How to Reduce Stress in Pets during Firework ‘Season’. As we approach bonfire night and Diwali, and we’re less than 10 weeks away from New Year’s Eve! Our Animal Warden team have developed ten tips on how to keep your pets calm and safe during the upcoming firework season.

Kaspa’s -Bracknell - scoops five-star hygiene rating following work with council health professionals. A Bracknell dessert parlour has scooped a five-star rating for hygiene and praise from environmental health experts for its new and updated COVID-19 control measures.

Our Animal Warden team are proud to announce they have been awarded a Gold Footprint in relation to Stray Dogs in the RSPCA's 2020 Animal Welfare PawPrints awards. Since 2008, the RSPCA PawPrints awards has been the only award scheme across England and Wales to recognise good practice from local authorities and housing providers in relation to animal welfare.

Halloween 'COVID Safe' Pumpkin Trail. With COVID making everyone rethink many aspects of our lives then Halloween this year is no different. The current advice is to forego the tradition of ‘trick or treating’ and instead go on a local ‘pumpkin trail’.

Remembrance Sunday. Everyone appreciates and recognises the importance of Remembrance Sunday. It is an opportunity to honour those who fell in defence of our country in two world wars and other militarily conflicts, involving our armed forces, across the world. However, this year like so many other significant moments in our lives in 2020, adjustments will need to be made in relation to the current COVID-19 restrictions.

Home Office Parking Fine Scam. We are aware of numerous reports from people in Wokingham who are reporting receiving a message from the Home Office claiming they have an outstanding penalty charge for parking. The message includes details of the fine and a link to pay.

International Credit Union Day - Thursday 15th October<br />This year's theme is "Inspiring hope for a global community." We are delighted to have partnered with over 110 Credit Unions in England to promote responsible saving and lending. Credit unions encourage members to save regularly, provide loans at low rates, and help members in need of financial advice and assistance. It’s important that we help people to save and build up their financial resilience, protecting them against future unexpected events and falling into the trap of unscrupulous loan sharks. We regularly deliver incentive schemes with credit unions to raise awareness of the dangers of borrowing from illegal money lenders and encourage the development of a regular savings habit.

Wokingham Campaign on Bonfire Smoke. As we enter the garden clearance season, Wokingham council is urging residents and businesses to consider the manner by which waste is disposed of.   Public Protection Partnership has received a marked increase in bonfire smoke complaints recently, and this is in despite of other forms of disposal being available through the Council’s Waste and recycling services such as The Garden Waste Service and the re 3 Household Waste Recycling Centres which also offer a trade waste service.  Illegal fires can be the result of illegal waste transfer in an effort to save money but these cause a statutory nuisance to neighbours and dark smoke is an offence which impacts on air quality.

New Look Halloween for 2020? As with many things this year our usual Halloween traditions will need to be rethought in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Be Aware of ‘Mystery Shopper’ Scam. Fraudsters are targeting job-seekers with a recruitment scam that has already claimed 35 victims with losses totaling over £51,000. All of the victims so far have been from London. The fraudsters use recruitment websites and apps to identify potential targets. The victim is then cold called by someone claiming to be an employee of a mobile phone network. The caller explains to the victim that they will need to take part in a ‘mystery shopper’ test in order to pass the recruitment process.