Appeal: reports of children being approached by a man in Metheringham, Scopwick and Kirkby Green.

Appeal: reports of children being approached by a man in Metheringham, Scopwick and Kirkby Green.

We are aware of recent reports of children being approached by a man in a dark-coloured transit van in the Metheringham, Scopwick and Kirkby Green areas.

We understand that reports of this nature can cause concern for parents, carers and the wider community. We want to reassure residents that we take all reports involving the safety of children seriously, and inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding these incidents. As a result, you may see a more heightened police presence in the area while these inquiries are being carried out.

We are asking parents and carers to speak with their children about staying safe when out and about, including what to do if they feel uncomfortable or unsafe. Children should be encouraged to move to a safe place, seek help from a trusted adult, and call 999 if they believe they are in immediate danger.

We are also aware of discussions within the community about residents undertaking local patrols in response to these reports.  Whilst we are understanding of the strength of feeling around keeping children safe, we would urge anyone considering taking part in patrols to act responsibly, remain within the law and avoid confronting or attempting to detain anyone based on suspicion or unverified information.

Anyone who has witnessed anything they believe may be relevant is asked to report it to us, providing as much detail as possible, including the location, time, description of the individual and the vehicle, and the direction of travel where known. We’d also ask that residents check CCTV, or if they have it available, any RING doorbell footage that may prove useful to our investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact us via 101, or to report it through our online reporting channel, which can be found by visiting our website. In an emergency, or if a child is in immediate danger, call 999.

North Kesteven Community Beat Sergeant Alex Taylor said: “We recognise how important it is for families to feel safe in their communities. We will continue to assess the information available to us and take appropriate action when necessary. We also ask that residents remain on alert, look out for one another and allow the investigation to progress.”