View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Archive content
March 23, 2005updated 22 Nov 2022 2:50pm

Hoax kidnapper picked pupils’ names from paper

By Press Gazette

By Sarah Lagan

The Kenilworth Weekly News has stopped publishing children’s
surnames after a bogus kidnapper called parents of children who
appeared in the paper, claiming he had snatched them.

The caller is believed to have traced the children’s whereabouts by
taking down their name in the paper and finding their number in a phone
directory.

He has made a number of threats and demands to parents
claiming to be holding their children when in reality their are safe at
school.

As a result of the calls, all Kenilworth and Leek Wootton
primary schools have requested their pupils should not be named in full.

Editor Martin Lawson regrets having to stop naming children but feels it is a necessary step.

He
said: “It’s disappointing in a free and open society, but in this case
we have been left with no alternative. I am anxious to safeguard our
readers.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

“We hope that by giving the issue publicity in the paper
it might put pressure on the police to get the caller caught.”Other
papers, including the Leamington Spa Courier and the Warwick Courier
have stopped naming children following similar incidents in their
circulation areas.

A police spokeswoman confirmed it appeared the
caller is targeting the homes of pupils who have appeared in the press
in a school event or function.

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network