Man who tried to snatch schoolgirl in broad daylight still at large - police criticised
- Credit: Archant
The head of a mums’ group has slammed police for not doing more to find a man who tried to snatch a schoolgirl in broad daylight.
Natalie Stanworth, who runs the website Islington Mums, says it’s “disgusting” the investigation hasn’t progressed further.
On July 14, the girl was walking along Old Street, Finsbury, on her way to school in the morning when an old man followed her.
He is thought to have tried to grab her, when a woman passing by stepped in and scared him off – but police say there has been no progress with the hunt to find him.
Ms Stanworth said: “It doesn’t seem like they’re doing anything, it’s terrible.
“You’d have thought they would be doing everything they possibly can, looking at CCTV, trying to find out who they are.
“London is the CCTV capital of the country, it’s disgusting they haven’t found out more.
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“It’s every parents worst nightmare for something like this to happen
“I think mums will be really, really worried. The people I have spoken to are very concerned.
“It’s worse that it’s the school holidays, because there are more kids out and about in parks and so on.
“How long before he tries it again?”
Police confirmed that they were investigating the pursuit, which stretched along Old Street, Bunhill Row, Dufferin Street and Fortune Park.
The suspect is a light-skinned, black male, aged about 65.
But a Met spokesman this week said during the investigation it was established no offence had taken place, and no other reports or allegations have been received.
She added the Met would like to reassure concerned parents that this was an isolated report.
Local Safer neighbourhoods officers will continue to conduct additional patrols in the area and then contact with the school when the new term starts in September.
