When children tell their parents about a strange situation or an unusual approach, most parents' alarm bells start ringing. In such cases, it is advisable to contact the police.
The police always take such reports seriously and investigate them with the utmost care.
In fact, in the vast majority of cases, the situation clears up after the initial investigation. Very often it can be established that it was a harmless incident that only looked strange at first glance. In some cases, it turns out afterwards that the children describe the situation to their parents differently than it actually happened. It is often the case that children mix what they have actually experienced with other sources (stories/films, etc.) and then believe this to be true. These are therefore not lies, but normal child behavior. In all these cases, we as police speak of a non-concrete danger.
However, if a situation cannot be clarified, our investigations are continued intensively. A description of the person or vehicle is then particularly relevant for us.
What are the effects of spreading such messages on social media?
If suspected cases are spread on social media, including messenger services, the whole thing takes on uncontrollable proportions. Parents react extremely sensitively to the news that a child may have been targeted and want to warn their friends and acquaintances.
But be careful with the things you post!
Because the number of people who read these warnings increases exorbitantly. The spread is so rapid that the effects are unmanageable. The problem is that children, parents and educators suddenly fear danger everywhere and even everyday occurrences are then classified as potentially dangerous.
The number of reports of children suddenly being approached everywhere is increasing rapidly.
The phones at the police station then never stop ringing. Situations are reported to the police in which children have run home crying because a man has walked some distance behind them. The child was not aware that this man lived in the street and only wanted to go home. The child has mixed up an actual event with what he heard and concluded from this that the man was following him. It is therefore immensely important to question children sensitively.
Possible consequences for reports in social media
Even if one can certainly understand the need of those affected