Photo: Birkdale school, Southport
A number of Southport high schools have issued warning to parents after a pupil who was on his way to school was approached by a man in a car on Wednesday, January 13
A Birkdale High pupil was walking along Trafalgar Road, approximately 1.5 miles from the school, when a man in a dark-coloured car is believed to have tried to get him to enter the car and offered him money.
The man has been described as being in his 20s, with dark skin.
Staff at Birkdale High school and Greenbank High school sent an email to parents and carers pupils and a police investigation was started. Other schools in the area are also believed to have sent the warning out.
A Birkdale High spokesperson said: “One of our pupils was recently approached by a man who invited him into his car, attempted to befriend him, offered him money and tried to arrange further meetings with him.”
“The matter has been reported to the police.”
“We encourage parents to speak to their children and to remind them to be vigilant about inappropriate contact with strangers”
Graham Fisher (North Sefton Neighbourhood Inspector) said: “We take all reports of suspicious incidents of this nature seriously but I would like to reassure people that no physical contact has occurred.
“We believe that a man in a dark-coloured car spoke to an 11-year-old boy walking to school.
“The boy was unnerved by this and did exactly the right thing and walked away and told a teacher once at school.
“Officers later visited him at home to gather more information about what he believes happened and details of this suspicious incident have been circulated among patrols in the area.
“Neighbourhood officers regularly visit schools to work alongside teachers in giving children appropriate stranger danger advice and it is encouraging to see that the message clearly sticks as this boy did exactly the right thing.”
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