Police reassure Gloucestershire parents amid April Jones search
Police have moved to reassure parents after a number of rumours circulating on social media sites and elsewhere about suspicious incidents involving children.
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During the past week, reports have been received from areas including the Forest of Dean, Tewkesbury, Stroud and Wotton, of adults in vehicles approaching children.
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Some of the reports have been given to police second hand, and there is nothing to suggest any criminal offences have been committed or any children have been harmed in this way in the county.
Chief Superintendent Nigel Avron, of the Constabulary, said: "We can obviously understand that parents will be concerned whenever they hear reports of this nature.
"With national media coverage of the police search for April Jones in Wales, fears will obviously be heightened.
"Child safety is naturally at the forefront of everyone's minds and we will always thoroughly investigate any report of a suspicious incident where children are involved. We will also issue warnings via the local media and on social media sites when we have genuine concerns something which has taken place.
"We also work closely with local schools, ensuring that when such reports are received the schools are able to notify parents and provide accurate safety advice to their pupils.
"It's great people are being vigilant and more alert but we don't want the community to be paralysed with fear or to believe every rumour that they hear.
"The best thing parents can do is give their children sensible safety advice and obviously report any concerns they have to us."
Safety advice can be obtained via the Constabulary's Kids Aware website http://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/kids_aware/3.html, which gives information on stranger danger.
Comments
by gallopingbear
Thursday, October 04 2012, 4:55PM
“Events like this make people realise they should be teaching their children about dangers, and making sure they are not in dangerous situations.
However, hysteria is just selfish. Do your jobs as parents properly and leave the police to get on with policing, catching criminals, and finding April.”
by honslknjklyt
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 6:35PM
“emdia43 makes a valid point and is saying what many are thinking. That does not make him a troll.
The man who may have took her was apparantly an ex soldier and was known to the family, so if this would have been 3pm it could still have happened.
Also to add, the way soldiers are glorified now, regardless of their personality, they are instant heroes who we must worship or be deemed as sub human. How many children would not get in a car with a "hero"?
Sad but only by looking to ourselves and thinking about things such as this, can we try and prevent this happening to our children. This little girl looks adorable, no I don't mean in a *****phile way, she just looks such a sweet sweet child who melts the heart.
I really want her to be safe.”
by geraint2010
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 4:42PM
“This is no place to troll emdia43 have you no compassion? Anyway it was NOT dark – just getting towards dusk, with her playmates, and within sight of her home. Furthermore I know Machynlleth and it is far cry from inner-city Gloucester.”
by honslknjklyt
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 3:56PM
“Love to the child.”
by emdia43
Wednesday, October 03 2012, 2:32PM
“Sensible safety advice includes not letting your 5 yr old child play out unsupervised after dark...”