The incidents reportedly happened at a playground
The playground near Clifton Suspension Bridge(Image: Cllr Carla Denyer)
Police have reassured the public after a voicemail message warning parents of a child snatcher had spread across various WhatsApp groups in Bristol.
The audio message was from a mum who issued the warning after she spoke to another parent at her child’s school.
The message said: “Be extra vigilant up by the Clifton Suspension Bridge play park.”
The message claimed that a man had made a grab for a child within the play park, with the same person reportedly appearing a week later in another attempt to grab the child.
The message had also made its way onto social media.
However, Avon and Somerset Police have sought to reassure Bristolians by saying that apart from a lone report of a man behaving suspiciously near the bridge, there have been no incidents of this nature.
The man did not make any attempt to touch another person, the force said.
Police said that no incidents involved a person who matched the man’s description which was reported to police.
Neighbourhood officers continue to patrol the area as part of their usual routes and the police are encouraging anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour to report it to the force.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset Police said: “We are aware of social media posts and messages being circulated suggesting a man had attempted to grab a child near Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.
“Last month, we received a single report of a man behaving suspiciously near the bridge.
“The man did not make any attempt to touch another person.
“A thorough review has been completed today [Thursday] and no other incidents of this nature or anything involving a person matching the man’s description have been reported to us.
“Neighbourhood officers continue to patrol the area as part of their usual routes and we would encourage anyone who witnesses suspicious behaviour to report it to us.”