CONCERNED parents across north Powys have received emails alerting them to paedophiles driving around the area, taking photos of children and trying to lure them into their van.
The message – which has been circulated by emails, text messages and on social networking site Facebook – reads: “Please be on the lookout for a white Vauxhall Combivan. A man and woman in their 50s are taking photographs of children at break-time in schools and are then trying to pick them up afterwards. They are paedophiles.”
The warning originally stemmed from North Wales – following widespread concerns over the possible attempted abduction of schoolchildren in the Conwy and Denbighshire areas – but has made its way to parents in north Powys this week.
DCI Steve Williams, of North Wales Police, said: “We can confirm that an investigation is under way into an incident that occurred in the Rhyl area on Tuesday, June 29, when a 15-year-old schoolgirl was assaulted by an unknown male.
“This incident is clearly of great concern, but I would like to stress that there was no attempt to entice the victim or physically force her into any vehicle or away from the area.
“The victim was not injured in this incident and is being supported by her family and members of the investigation team.
“We are also alive to the fact that there have been reported sightings of a suspicious male in a white van in the vicinity of schools in the Denbighshire and Flintshire areas in June. There are positive lines of inquiries under way in relation to this vehicle and the actions of the driver and again I can stress that there was no attempt to engage or approach any children.
“Police circulated the details of the vehicle to the local schools and shared this in order to increase vigilance and public awareness at educational establishments.
“I understand that several schools have sent letters home with pupils asking parents and pupils to be careful and I fully appreciate why this has been done and I am grateful to the schools for their positive action and assistance.
“I can definitely state that we are aware of the reported incidents and that the investigation team is focusing on such sightings and these inquiries are being pursued.”
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “We have had no complaints about this made to Dyfed-Powys Police.”
A spokesperson for Powys County Council added:”We have not been told of any letters been sent home with pupils.”