Plymouth police deny online child-snatch rumour
POLICE have moved to quash internet rumours that "child-snatchers" had targeted a park in Yelverton.
Rumours of an abduction sprang up on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter on Friday morning, causing concern among several parents in the village.
Devon and Cornwall Police said they had received a "well intentioned" report from a carer who had feared a youngster was being led away by an older group.
But a force spokesman said there appeared to have been no malice in the incident at Yelverton Park, and officers took no further action.
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However, within hours rumours began circulating online of a young girl having been targeted by men driving a white van at the same park. Police have reassured parents and other Yelverton residents that this was not the case.
Comments
by Jannerbloke
Monday, May 21 2012, 7:09PM
“Hopeless report. What does it mean? Was a younger person led to a white van by older people? Even though it might have been done 'without malice', was the child taken against it's will? Should we now cease reporting such incidents or not circulating them in the local online community on the off chance that it is not harmful to the child's interests. Can the police confirm that the relevant bit of Yelverton is not used by dodgy people even though it has had a reputation for half a century for a lot of disinhibited adult activities?”
by slack_alice
Monday, May 21 2012, 6:31PM
“Are they sure it wasn't true?
I swear I saw the Childcatcher from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang in Yelverton Co-op.
Maybe the paranoid thickies were right!”
by BS_Hater
Monday, May 21 2012, 6:12PM
“***** means p*a-e'd**o”
by BS_Hater
Monday, May 21 2012, 6:11PM
“More ***** related insanity. We see them everywhere now and many of our Children are robbed of their childhoods as a result.
Those of you in my age group will remember going to primary school on your own (shock horror) The railings outside my primary school were covered with little bikes, not anxious ***** obsessed parents. I remember going out for a bike ride without an adult (ooooh the risk) and going to the park all day on a summers weekend WITHOUT ANY ADULTS (OH GOD someone call a social worker and take my kids away).
When I was 12 my friend and I were dropped off nearly every Friday evening to fish at a canal 20 miles from my home and collected on Sunday lunchtime (no mobile phones then of course). We had camping stoves and slept under our fishing umbrellas. Sometimes adults we did not know would talk to us (shriek, call the police).
These are some of the best memories of my life, and my best mate is still my best mate 38 years later.
This whole ***** business is a huge money industry now employing thousands across the country and its getting out of hand.
And before you ask, yes I am a Dad.”