Social media 'child abduction' rumours dismissed by police

Oct 17 2012 by Jack Griffith, Uxbridge Gazette

RUMOURS that a man tried to coax a child into his car in West Drayton have been quickly dismissed by police.

Word was circulating on Twitter and Facebook last week that a man has been accosting children in the area and alarmed people went online to spread the word and warn others.

But Inspector Nick Aldworth of Hillingdon Police told the Gazette: “We are aware of erroneous information being circulated on Twitter and Blackberry Messenger, relating to allegations of children being approached in the West Drayton area. These allegations are wholly false.”

The rumours appear to have stemmed from an incident in Thornton Avenue, West Drayton, on Sunday, October 7.

At about 9.30pm, an Asian driver tried to persuade a woman to get into his black Peugeot but she refused.

No offences were committed, but police are trying to trace the man. He was described as being of large build, aged about 35 and wearing a grey cardigan and dark jeans.

If you can help police, call 101 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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