Officers in north Kent are appealing for information as they investigate three alleged incidents in which children have been approached by a man in a car.

It is believed that the incidents may be linked as the driver of the car in all three incidents has been described as a white man in his 30s. Kent Police is now conducting a wide-ranging investigation to see if there any links to any other reported incidents.

Children unharmed

In the first incident, which happened on Wednesday 13 January in Joydens Wood, a 10-year-old girl was approached by a man in a car as she walked to school. She was unharmed and reported the incident to teachers as soon as she arrived.

On Friday 22 January, an 11-year-old boy was stopped by a man in a car as he walked home from school in Northfleet. Again he was not harmed in any way and he ran off and reported the incident to police.

In the latest incident, reported on Saturday 30 January, a group of three girls and one boy aged between eight and ten were approached by a man in a car at around lunchtime in Dartford. Again, the driver drove off without causing any harm.

Stranger danger warning

Detective Inspector Chris Collier, who is leading the investigation, said: 'At the moment we believe these three incidents may be linked and we would urge anyone with information to get in touch.

'It is also possible that there have been other incidents which we are not aware of – again I would ask that these people contact police.

'We have approached all schools in north Kent to ask that they raise pupils’ awareness of the stranger danger message and our neighbourhood officers will be out and about visibly policing their communities, particularly around schools.'

Can you help?

If anyone has any information which may help police with their inquiries, contact Detective Inspector Collier on 01474 366180 or Kent Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Posted on: 5 February 2010