As the final week of term starts for many schools, police are trying to reassure parents not to be alarmed after reports of strangers approaching children in Brighton and Hove.
The police helicopter was scrambled on Friday (15 July) at 12.30pm after a parent reported that a man in a black car had tried to snatch two children.
The search was called off after it was discovered that this related to an earlier report, at 10.45am, that a man in a black saloon car had driven past and stared at two children.
He had not approached or talked to the children who were walking to school in The Avenue, Moulsecoomb, with their mother.
An earlier incident, at 9am, was reported when a 10-year-old girl that felt she had been followed by a black Mini as she walked to school in Wilbury Crescent, Hove.
Sussex Police said that the car then pulled up and the driver asked her if she wanted a lift. The girl ran away.
Inspector Bill Whitehead, from the Brighton Neighbourhood Policing Team, said: “It is not known what the man’s intentions were and police are reassuring children and parents not to be alarmed.
“We received a similar call on Monday 4 July regarding a man who approached a 10-year-old girl outside Patcham Junior School.
Vigilant
“As a result of this officers have been visiting schools locally to talk to the pupils about stranger danger and how to keep themselves safe.
“Extra-vigilant pupils and parents have since been phoning police with good intent to report potentially suspicious incidents.
“So far all these have proved to have innocent explanations.
“Police have looked into all incidents and have found no links between them.
“All parents should anyway encourage their children to follow the stranger danger rules.
“Never talk to or go with a stranger, even if the person tells your child that you have given your permission, and never accept gifts or sweets from a stranger.
“If they are approached tell them to shout ‘No!’ as loud as they can and go back into their house or school or another safe place like a busy shop and tell a trusted adult what has happened.
“They should never go off on their own without telling their parents or a trusted adult.”
Anyone with information regarding these incidents is asked to contact Sussex Police on 0845 6070999 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
