Police investigating reports of children being approached by unknown men in a West Country town have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted kidnap.
But detectives have taken the unusual step of trying to curtail the circulation of a photograph of a man, who was supposedly a suspect. Police said he is not linked to either of the incidents.
After making one arrest, police have urged people in Chippenham in Wiltshire to refrain from speculating about both incidents, which happened on Wednesday and Thursday this week, January 29 and 30. They are not thought to be linked and a search is still underway in relation to the second incident.
Officers confirmed on Saturday, February 1, that a 52-year-old man from Chippenham had been arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnap and has been taken into custody for questioning. He was arrested in connection with what police described as a ‘concerning incident’ that happened on Union Road in Chippenham on Thursday morning.
At around 8.30am, a 14-year-old girl was walking on Union Road – the cut through from the north side of Chippenham station to New Road – when she was approached by a man in a car who repeatedly offered her a lift.
The first incident happened the day before – on Wednesday afternoon at around 3.10pm – around half a mile away from the station, at the junction of Woodlands Road and Downing Street.
That incident involved a 12-year-old boy being approached by a man he didn’t know, before running off. Police said there was ‘nothing to suggest’ the two incidents were linked, and enquiries ‘remain ongoing’ in relation to the first incident in Woodlands Road.
Det Insp Penny Andrews said Wiltshire police were taking both incidents ‘extremely seriously’, amid a frenzy of concern and speculation on social media in the town. “We appreciate the significant community impact that these two incidents have had, and we have taken them both incredibly seriously since they were reported,” she said. “I would like to reiterate, however, that they are not thought to be linked.
“A man has now been arrested in connection with the incident in Union Road and will now be questioned. Extra patrols continue to be carried out in the area and we remain in close contact with local schools to provide reassurance,” she added.
She urged people not to speculate on the incidents and to stop sharing a photo of a man who is not linked to either incident. “We are also aware that a photo of a man has been circulating on social media, particularly on Snapchat among schoolchildren, as a supposed suspect,” she said.
“This man is not linked to either offence and the photo appears to have been taken from social media. I would ask the public to refrain from speculation about the incidents. If you have witnessed either incident or have any information, please report it on 101,” she added.