Man arrested after 'fake policeman attempts to abduct' schoolgirls

Police are treating the reports as attempted abductions

Kent Police are appealing for information about the whereabouts of the girl before she turned up at Gravesend police station (Harry Engels/Getty Images)

A man has been arrested after it was reported somebody was posing as a police officer and approaching girls in Haringey, north London.

Four schoolgirls, aged between 11 and 14-years-old, were approached early on Monday morning by a man who was not wearing a police uniform, but who identified himself as an officer.

Police are treating the reports as attempted abductions.

A similar incident was also reported shortly before 8am today. A sixth incident was also reported, with a 10-year-old boy being approached on Tuesday morning in the Crouch End area, ITV news reports.

Police described the man as black, aged between 20 and 30 and of medium build, with short dark hair. He was wearing a jacket with the hood up.

Haringey chief inspector Jude Beehag-Fisher said: “It would be unusual for police officers in plain clothes not to identify themselves by showing a warrant card, and members of the public are entitled to ask to see one.

“Any child approached by someone in the street, in similar circumstances to these incidents, that are not shown any identification that the person is a police officer, should get away from them as quickly as possible.

Detective Chief Inspector Paul Trevers, from Haringey CID, said in a statement: "Haringey does not see this type of offence very often and I want to reassure the community that such instances are incredibly rare.

"Notwithstanding the development of an arrest, I urge any witnesses to come forward so that my team can be sure to identify and prosecute the offender of these awful crimes.

Anyone with information is urged to call police on 101, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.