Rise in reports of 'suspicious' people across Sussex

The high-profile abduction of April Jones has led to a spike in calls reporting suspicious people in Sussex, according to police

Speaking yesterday (October 11) a spokeswoman for Sussex Police said they had received more calls from people who were concerned about child snatchers and suspicious people and vehicles in the past week.

April Jones was last seen outside her home in Machynlleth, Powys, on Monday, October 1.

Mark Bridger has been charged with the abduction and murder of the five-year-old.

A Sussex police spokesman told The Argus: “There has been an increase in the past few weeks since high-profile incidents and we take each and every one seriously and thoroughly investigate them all.

“We understand that parents at anxious at this time.”

On Monday, October 8 a girl reported being approached in Worthing.

Police investigated and said although she was right to report the incident, it was not believed a crime had been committed.

In Eastbourne, young girls said they were approached by men in Holly Park on Sunday, October 7.

Police said: “Police attended a report of two drunken men shouting and swearing at children in Holly Park, opposite Maywood Avenue, Eastbourne.”

“The children were understandably upset by the behaviour of the men.

"Once we were informed we searched the area in an effort to find the two men and discuss the incident. We will continue to try and identify them.”

Police added they were aware that children and parents were “perhaps more anxious following recent high- profile incidents”.

The force said: “I can assure parents that if there is a genuine concern for safety following any report we will inform the public via Twitter and the Sussex Police website as soon as we have established the facts.”

Comments(9)

MikeyA says...
11:08am Fri 12 Oct 12

Would that be people who have suspicions or those upon whom suspicions are held?

BornInBrighton1968 says...
11:17am Fri 12 Oct 12

'Rise in reports of suspicious people across Sussex'

Not helped by the Marxist Green council making Brighton a party town for squatters, demonstrators, 'Occupy' members and all the over riff-raff that the Greens seem to attract

Crystal Ball says...
11:22am Fri 12 Oct 12

Look on any street for myriad suspicious "looking" people who are entirely innocent. Actions define a person.

NickBrt says...
12:21pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Saw a suspicious man in brighton today, dodgy mnoustache, called himself after a chocolate bar. Claimed to be leader of council, clearly deluded too.

Lady Smith says...
1:06pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Media-fled mob hysteria...

Goldenwight says...
1:29pm Fri 12 Oct 12

A Sussex police spokesman told The Argus: “There has been an increase in the past few weeks since high-profile incidents and we take each and every one seriously and thoroughly investigate them all.

Such as when, in August, I was attacked and robbed in the street on Sunday morning and was told to report to a Police station on Thursday morning. At which time I was informed that it was clearly too late for anything to be done about the incident and brushed off.

I would advise anyone who is concerned about suspicious characters to contact the Police at least a week in advance to arrange an appointment to avoid disappointment.

PorkBoat says...
1:39pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Goldenwight wrote:
A Sussex police spokesman told The Argus: “There has been an increase in the past few weeks since high-profile incidents and we take each and every one seriously and thoroughly investigate them all.

Such as when, in August, I was attacked and robbed in the street on Sunday morning and was told to report to a Police station on Thursday morning. At which time I was informed that it was clearly too late for anything to be done about the incident and brushed off.

I would advise anyone who is concerned about suspicious characters to contact the Police at least a week in advance to arrange an appointment to avoid disappointment.
If you were physically attacked, you're out of luck. If they called you names and hurt your feelings, the full force of the law will come down on them. If they put those names on Facebook or Twitter, the police will leave no stone unturned in trying to apprehend them.

Lady Smith says...
2:27pm Fri 12 Oct 12

Lady Smith wrote:
Media-fled mob hysteria...
Sorry, should be 'media-led'...

Morpheus says...
11:25pm Fri 12 Oct 12

This is how the Nazi party operated. It convinced people to be suspicious of others and to report them. As Hitler said we are one people, you are the people, I will not make promises I cannot keep. Where have you just heard this? Take note of history.

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