Update on man seen approaching children in Alford

Update 7.53pm, 25 July

We have arrested someone in connection with an incident where a man was reported to have handcuffed a child.

It was reported that two young boys were approached by a man who managed to handcuff the youngest child, and was impersonating a police officer at the time. The incident is reported to have taken place in the Hamilton Road area of Alford on Thursday 13 July at around 5.20pm.

Following a thorough investigation by detectives, officers from Response and CID have today (25 July) arrested a 40-year-old man on suspicion of false imprisonment and impersonating a police officer.

He remains in police custody where he will be interviewed in due course.

We would like to thank the public for their help with our enquiries.

Original release 16 July

We are appealing for information as we continue to investigate a suspicious man seen in Alford.

A man was seen approaching young children in the Hamilton Road area on Thursday, 13^th July at around 5.20pm.

He is described as having ginger hair, looks around 50 years old and was wearing a hi-vis jacket.

The man approached two young boys and managed to handcuff the youngest child. It is believed that he was impersonating a police officer at the time.

Thankfully, the boy’s mother saw the man who then quickly left the scene.

We continue to investigate the circumstances around this incident and are now appealing for information.

If you saw someone matching this description on the day, have CCTV of someone matching this description, or have any information that may help us, please get in touch.

We are taking this incident extremely seriously and our enquiries are ongoing.

If you think you can help us, please call 101 quoting incident number 402 of 13th July.