Police in Bury wish to provide an update following rumours surrounding suspicious approaches to children.
At least three incidents of suspicious behaviour have been reported which officers believe may be linked and enquiries into these are ongoing.
However, this appears to have prompted a number of other reports which have been made to the police in good faith, but after detailed enquiries, do not give any reason for the community to be overly alarmed.
As part of this, officers have confirmed one of the reports as an innocent misunderstanding.
At about 7.40am on 9 May 2013, police received a report of suspicious behaviour on Dundee Lane in Ramsbottom, where a man asked a schoolgirl if she wanted a lift.
A man then made contact with the police after seeing an article in the Bury Times. He said that he was the man in question, and mistook the girl walking down the street for a neighbour’s daughter.
Detective Chief Inspector Sara Wallwork said: "First and foremost, we have thanked those members of the community who have approached us for their vigilance. Any further reports will be fully investigated, and we do maintain that if someone feels there are genuine concerns, they should make contact with the police.
"However, we wish to make it clear that having looked into each of the reports, we do not feel there is any reason for the community to be overly alarmed or for families to change their routines, and we have given those who have approached us the same reassurance.
"While we do have a handful of incidents where there appears to have been suspicious behaviour, this appears to have prompted isolated calls by third parties which appear to have heightened anxieties.
"Indeed one of the reports we have dealt with turns out to be an innocent misunderstanding.
"We fully understand the concern that parents will inevitably feel by these issues, and will continue to provide regular updates via our social media websites, including Facebook and GMPBuryNorth on Twitter.
"The police always values information that comes in from members of the public, and we work together to keep our communities safe. We recognise the invaluable assistance that social media can bring, however we equally accept that rumour and speculation are unhelpful when dealing with issues as emotive as this."
Anyone with any concerns or with any information is asked to call police on 101.
INCIDENTS WHERE POLICE ENQUIRIES ARE ONGOING
A man stopped a schoolgirl for directions on 25 April 2013, on Stand Lane, Radcliffe. A short time afterwards, the same man asked the girl to get in. She refused.
At about 5pm on 2 May 2013, a man in a car stopped and asked a girl for directions near Tottington High School. The man then asked the girl whether she wanted to get in, which she refused.
At about 6pm on 3 May 2013, a man slowed down his car on Stand Lane to try and get the attention of a schoolgirl, but she ignored him.
At about 8.35am on 7 May 2013, a man driving a car approached a 12-year-old girl on Eton Hill Road, Radcliffe.
