News / Clifton
Parents’ fears following false reports of ‘child snatcher’
Parents have been warned to be “extra vigilant” following reports that police now say are false of a man attempting to snatch a child from a playground.
A story has been circulated on WhatsApp groups across Bristol of two alleged incidents that are said to have happened at the playground in Clifton near the Suspension Bridge.
Avon & Somerset Police say that they received a report of a man behaving suspiciously near the bridge in May but “the man did not make any attempt to touch another person”.
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Following a “thorough review” on Thursday, police confirmed “no other incidents of this nature or anything involving a person matching the man’s description have been reported to us”.
Parents were advised by one primary school “to remain vigilant, keeping your children close by when out and about in the local area and call 999 immediately if you need help”.
The headteacher wrote: “Please remind your children about general stranger safety and for those of you in the area, we would advise precautionary close supervision.
“If you are in the vicinity of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and notice any suspicious behaviour, please report it to the police immediately.”
An unnamed woman leaving the voice note says she was told the story which many people have found convincing enough to be true and shared the voice note with friends, schools and the police out of concern.
The woman says that a friend of hers “was at the playpark recently and out of nowhere a very tall man with long brown hair down to his shoulders with a middle parting just seemed to come out of nowhere and make a grab for her child”.
The woman adds in the voice note: “She (the adult) intervened and hurried away, then she went back the following week after school and once all the school rush had died down and there were just a few families left, the same thing happened where he just seemed to appear from nowhere.
“Thankfully the girl was vigilant enough to call for her mum and he scampered away.”
The woman leaving the voice note falsely says in her story that “undercover policemen” have been sent to the park, and that a man and an accomplice “work in tandem” with each other.
In a statement on Thursday afternoon, an Avon & Somerset Police spokesperson said: “We are aware of social media posts and messages being circulated suggesting a man had attempted to grab a child near Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
“Last month, we received a single report of a man behaving suspiciously near the bridge. The man did not make any attempt to touch another person.
“A thorough review has been completed today and no other incidents of this nature or anything involving a person matching the man’s description have been reported to us.
“Neighbourhood officers continue to patrol the area as part of their usual routes and we would encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour to report it to us.”
Main photo: Martin Booth
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