There have been rumours recently about several attempted abductions of children from near local schools. This is obviously unnerving for parents.
However, the Met Police have just sent us this email:
As it stands there has only been one incident of attempted abduction which occurred on 5th February at Thorpewood Avenue, details available
here
On 27 February 2013 and 28 February we were made aware of three incidents and it was established those incidents are not criminal offences
There was an incident on Monday 11th March 2013 occurred at Sydenham Park Road and at this time that is being treated as an assault not as an attempted abduction. Details of that incident can be found
here and we are appealing for information
None of these incidents are being treated as linked/connected
School officers and Safer Neighbourhoods Teams (SNTs) in Lewisham are continuing to work closely with local schools and, where necessary, have increased patrols.
We continue to talk to local schools about child safety and to ensure that the information being shared and sent to parents is factually accurate.
We are specifically asking the schools to ensure that they liaise with a police officer prior to sending correspondence that may alarm or distress parents unnecessarily
Please can you share this with other parents who are equally concerned and would like information on what we are actually dealing with, there has been the suggestion through social media sites and equally blogs that we are dealing with numerous attempted abductions and linked incidents which is not the case.
Regarding the incident on 5th February and the incident on 11th March, we have sent out a media appeal for information both locally and regionally.
Equally Detectives have handed out leaflets with information on the two incidents to those that live nearby to where they have occurred in order to locate any potential witnesses.
SNTs where necessary have increased their patrols as we have already stated above
Contact has been made with all headteachers in the borough regarding what we are doing
We are equally reminding parents to remind their children not to talk to strangers, to frequent crowded places, if alarmed to go into a shop and alert an assistant, or to approach a police officer, to not approach people who solicit them from a parked car and for parents to accompany much younger children to and from school.
I hope this provides you with a detailed explanation and allays some of your fears
Hopefully that will reassure you. If you spot any suspicious activity, please report it by calling 101 (or 999 if an emergency). The SNT can be contacted on 020 8721 2723 or online