Police are to increase patrols in an area of Bristol following reports that a ten-year-old boy was forced into a car on his way home from school.
Officers will be providing an increased visible presence in the Lockleaze area of the city, after the incident yesterday (October 5) which is being investigated.
Avon and Somerset's Chief Insp Robert Cheeseman said he wanted to reassure parents that the police were treating the report as a priority.
READ MORE: Boy 'forced into car' on way home from school in Bristol
Police have launched a major investigation after a member of the public found a ten-year-old boy in what they said was a 'distressed' state in Stoke Park, the large parkland area between Lockleaze and the M32 at 4.50pm on Monday.
The boy went on to tell police he had been forced into a car in the Lockleaze area on his way home from school that afternoon. Police said they were taking his report seriously and a number of lines of enquiry are already being pursued.
Chief Insp Robert Cheeseman said there would be an increased police presence in the area as investigations continued, and to reassure local residents they were treating the report as a high priority. "We fully understand the concern this incident is likely to cause the local community and we’d like to reassure them we’re looking into it as a priority," he said. "We’ll be carrying out high visibility patrols to reassure parents and anyone with specific concerns is encouraged to speak to an officer. The boy and his family are being supported by specialist officers while we are also keeping the boy’s school updated about our inquiry," he added.
A spokesperson for Avon and Somerset police confirmed the details of what happened in Lockleaze on Monday afternoon.
"At 4.50pm yesterday (Monday, 4 October) we received a call from a member of the public who’d come across a distressed 10-year-old boy in Stoke Park, Bristol. The boy has since told officers he was forced into a vehicle while making his way home from school.
"After being checked out at hospital the boy is now safe at home with his family. Officers are taking the report seriously and are following up on a number of lines of enquiry. As part of our investigation we’d like to hear from anyone who was in the Romney Avenue area between 3.15pm and 4.15pm yesterday afternoon who saw anything suspicious.
"Anyone who drove through the area yesterday is also asked to check their dashcam and to let us know if it recorded anything which might help us," he added.
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