A man from Sussex was arrested by the police for pretending to be a police officer and for trying to kidnap and search a teenage girl.
According to official reports, the incident happened in the Three Bridges area of Crawley at around 8 am on October 13, 2021.
The 14-year-old girl was reportedly walking to school when she was stopped by a man posing as as police officer.
The officer led her away from the street and searched her clothing before fleeing the scene on a bike.
The teenage girl was unharmed and is currently receiving support from the local police.
The 32-year-old man who was arrested a day later also has not been named.
Sussex Police Superintendent Marc Clothier said:
We understand that this arrest will impact communities. The girl is safe and unharmed and is receiving support from officers, working with her family. We want to reassure people we have not received any similar reports at this time and there is no current risk to anyone in the community in relation to this case. You will see more uniformed patrols in the area and we encourage you to stop and talk to us if you have any concerns.
The Sussex police are now handing out advices to those people that feel unsafe around someone that claims to be a police officer.
The spokesperson said:
Officers can use their police radio on loudspeaker to talk to the operator in the police control room. The operator can confirm the identity of the officer, that they are on duty and carrying out legitimate policing business.
If you do not trust someone who says that they are the police, you can call 999 right away or shout for help from a passer-by.