Police spread Stranger Danger message in Newton Aycliffe (From The Advertiser Series)

Police spread Stranger Danger message in Newton Aycliffe

5:44pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Lizzie Anderson

THE police have been warning youngsters of the dangers of talking to strangers after a man exposed himself to primary school pupils.

Officers from Newton Aycliffe Police and the stranger danger team visited all of the town’s primary schools today (Monday, October 22) to reiterate the message in the wake of an incident outside Vane Road Primary School at 8.45am on October 10.

The incident saw the male driver of a small black VW pull up alongside children, beckon them over and expose himself. The man, who is thought to be in his 40s, then drove off in the direction of Malling Green and Mellanby Crescent.

PCSO Mike Welch said the visits were aimed at educating youngsters of the importance of saying no to strangers, while reassuring parents that the police and schools take the matter very seriously.

“We wanted to reach out to the kids and highlight this important message,” he said.

As well as listening to a talk by Claire Kerr from the stranger danger team, pupils were shown a video advising them on safe places to play and the correct way to handle situations.

The youngsters also sang the Say No to Strangers song with the help of police dogs Jet and Ben.

Alison Gargan, headteacher at Byerley Park Primary School, said: “It is always a good idea to reinforce stranger danger as a way of life.

"It is a really important message and it is a message we pass on to the children and their parents all the time.

“It is even more important to highlight this message when there are incidents that happen close to home.”

Inquiries are ongoing into the incident on October 10 and anyone with information is asked to contact Newton Aycliffe Police on 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.

The man is described as white, with short, black spiky hair. He was wearing a black v-neck jumper, blue jeans and black-rimmed glasses.