Police chiefs dismiss abduction gang fears - The Worcester Observer

Police chiefs dismiss abduction gang fears

Worcester Editorial 30th Sep, 2020   0

SENIOR police chiefs have dismissed fears a child snatch gang is operating in Worcester despite a string of alleged incidents involving teenagers in and around the Arboretum area of the city.

Multiple incidents have been reported to West Mercia Police in the last three weeks which have included a man ‘loitering’ outside St Barnabas School, children being spoken to outside school by a man in a BMW and young girls being followed by a gang in car.

In the latest incident, a 14-year-old Tudor Grange Academy student was forced to dump his school bag to escape two individuals who told him to ‘come with us’ while he walked home from school last Friday (September 25).

The teenager was able to break free and alerted two dog walkers in the nearby park who walked him home following the incident.




Despite the allegations, West Mercia Police said it had no evidence of an abduction gang and ‘none of these suspicious activities have transpired into criminal activity’.

Local police commander, Supt Steph Brighton said the force was aware of ‘a number of perceived incidents’ and had investigated every report made to police surrounding these concerns.


“A number of these describe a variety of suspicious vehicles and activities.

“To date, despite the good intent of the members of the public reporting, none of these suspicious activities have transpired into criminal activity,” she said.

Supt Brighton confirmed two unlinked reports were being looked at in further detail to establish the facts and details of any activity, criminal or otherwise.

“We would like to ask members of the public to refrain from posting on social media groups and pages, but rather report matters directly to the police, as we have observed some misleading and inaccurate information being reported which could potentially jeopardise individual’s personal safety and any future investigations,” she said.

“One such example of a report with good intent was where a man in a black vehicle was near a supermarket taking a picture on a phone and an observant member of the public felt this behaviour was suspicious.

“Officers spoke with the man who explained he had just purchased the phone and was testing the camera and an associated app out.

“Naturally, officers checked his device and we able to confirm that nothing untoward had occurred – this incident was then closed.”

Supt Brighton confirmed additional officers would remain on patrol around the area to reassure members of the public and urged local residents to speak with them near to schools with any concerns or call 101.

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