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| Coventry Police enter unlocked homes and tweet photos | Coventry Police enter unlocked homes and tweet photos |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| Police in Coventry have been criticised on social media for entering people's unlocked homes and tweeting photos. | Police in Coventry have been criticised on social media for entering people's unlocked homes and tweeting photos. |
| The Cov City Police team has been on burglary patrol in the city, testing front doors then advising homeowners to lock their properties. | The Cov City Police team has been on burglary patrol in the city, testing front doors then advising homeowners to lock their properties. |
| The photos, one retweeted by West Midlands Police's chief constable, showed officers inside hallways pointing out the home is insecure. | The photos, one retweeted by West Midlands Police's chief constable, showed officers inside hallways pointing out the home is insecure. |
| The force said it had had good feedback but would take other comments on board. | The force said it had had good feedback but would take other comments on board. |
| More stories from Coventry | |
| Dozens of people on Twitter questioned the officers' actions. | Dozens of people on Twitter questioned the officers' actions. |
| User @craigwalder said: "If you enter my home like this, don't be surprised if I use reasonable force when I hear you." | User @craigwalder said: "If you enter my home like this, don't be surprised if I use reasonable force when I hear you." |
| While @quendergeer tweeted: "Pretty sure "wandering in to make a point" would receive a very dim view from the IPCC." | While @quendergeer tweeted: "Pretty sure "wandering in to make a point" would receive a very dim view from the IPCC." |
| And @just_raymie asked: "And if they forget to lock their door again, everyone now knows where they live?!?" | And @just_raymie asked: "And if they forget to lock their door again, everyone now knows where they live?!?" |
| Occasions when officers do not need a warrant to enter homes include to arrest an individual for a sufficiently serious crime, to recapture someone unlawfully at large and saving an individual's life or preventing serious damage to a person or property. | Occasions when officers do not need a warrant to enter homes include to arrest an individual for a sufficiently serious crime, to recapture someone unlawfully at large and saving an individual's life or preventing serious damage to a person or property. |
| The team tweeted a response on Sunday following criticism of their tactics: "Thanks all for the feedback on one of the burglary prevention tactics. We'll review based on feedback #socialmediasuccess?" | The team tweeted a response on Sunday following criticism of their tactics: "Thanks all for the feedback on one of the burglary prevention tactics. We'll review based on feedback #socialmediasuccess?" |
| In a statement, Coventry Police Ch Insp Helen Kirkman, said: "A significant proportion all burglaries in this area − in excess of 25% − are 'walk-in' offences committed by opportunists taking advantage of properties left unsecure. | In a statement, Coventry Police Ch Insp Helen Kirkman, said: "A significant proportion all burglaries in this area − in excess of 25% − are 'walk-in' offences committed by opportunists taking advantage of properties left unsecure. |
| "Neighbourhood police teams have been on patrol to deter such offences, look for suspects, and to offer crime prevention advice to residents. | "Neighbourhood police teams have been on patrol to deter such offences, look for suspects, and to offer crime prevention advice to residents. |
| "If they find a door or window left open I think people would want officers to check everything is OK at that address and not to just walk on by." | "If they find a door or window left open I think people would want officers to check everything is OK at that address and not to just walk on by." |
| She said she had not received any complaints from residents, saying they were "grateful" for the advice. | She said she had not received any complaints from residents, saying they were "grateful" for the advice. |
| "We encourage our police teams to be proactive and creative in their use of social media to engage with the public and get messages across. | "We encourage our police teams to be proactive and creative in their use of social media to engage with the public and get messages across. |
| "We haven't received any complaints from residents, but obviously we will take on board social media comments." | "We haven't received any complaints from residents, but obviously we will take on board social media comments." |