[dropcap type=”circle”]M[/dropcap]erseyside Police has confirmed that investigations are underway after two suspicious incidents involving suspected approaches to secondary schoolgirls on the Wirral.
On Wednesday, 5 October, a report was received of a large white van stopping alongside a schoolgirl at around 8.30am on Teehey Lane in Bebington. The girl was on her way to school when she believed someone had tugged at her backpack. The girl ran off straight away and told an adult. She was unable to give any further information as she ran off without turning around. Enquiries are ongoing to locate anyone who saw what happened. The incident is being treated as suspicious circumstances at this stage.
On Thursday, 6 October, a further call was received stating that a schoolgirl had reported that around 8.20am she was approached by the occupant of a white van on Primrose Hill in Port Sunlight. The man grabbed her backpack too but she was able to pull away and run to school, where she reported the incident. There is no description of the man at this stage.
Wirral Neighbourhood Inspector Katie Wilkinson said: “We have offered advice to the schools in respect of this matter. I would emphasise at this stage that we are treating these incidents as suspicious and not linked at this stage. We will also have an increased police presence in the area to provide additional community reassurance.
“Although of obvious concern, both girls did exactly the right thing by telling an adult at the earliest opportunity. Neighbourhood officers regularly visit schools to work alongside teachers in giving children appropriate stranger danger advice.
“I would like to reassure parents in the local community that we take all incidents of this nature extremely seriously, although they are thankfully rare. Both reports happened at a busy time of the day with people on their way to school and work, and there would have been many drivers and pedestrians in the area who may have seen what happened. I would encourage anyone with further information to contact their local neighbourhood officers, call 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
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