Rumours of children being approached in Great Yarmouth ‘unsubstantiated’, police say
Police are appealing for witnesses after attempted theft in Great Yarmouth. Picture: Norfolk Police
Police have moved to allay fears over children being approached by strangers in Great Yarmouth.
The Sea Princess Hotel in Great Yarmouth. - Credit: Archant
A hotel in Great Yarmouth has put out a statement defending its guests after more claims of people being approached by them in the town.
The statement was a response to rumours circulating on social media in recent weeks that children have been approached by strangers.
A manager of the Sea Princess Hotel, where some of the subjects of the rumours had been staying, expressed sadness at the allegations, which police have said are “unsubstantiated”.
On February 8 a post on the hotel’s Facebook page said: “It has come to our attention that there are rumours circulating around the town with reference to a few of our residents. Now the fact that these residents might not be English doesn’t make them any less of a human being than an English person.”
Three days later the manager wrote: “Yet again I’m so sad we have to issue justification.”
The post went on to maintain the guests were “extremely well behaved” and not paid by the government to stay in the hotel, which is on North Drive in the town.
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“They pay themselves. They work. They are extremely tidy and respectful to our accommodation.
“We are happy with these residents and we will be happy to provide accommodation to these people for as long as they need it,” the post said.
Police have also moved to allay the fears.
On Monday (February 25) Great Yarmouth police released a statement insisting the rumours remain unsubstantiated.
However, they did confirm a report had been received on Sunday (February 24) of an incident on King Street.
But officers have been unable to make an appointment with the person reporting the incident to try to establish the circumstances, they said.
A police spokesperson said: “We are aware of rumours that have been circulating on social media of alleged incidents where children have been approached in Great Yarmouth in recent weeks but these reports remain unsubstantiated.
“We do take incidents such as these seriously and would encourage people to report them in the first instance to Norfolk Police.”
Earlier this month, Norfolk police addressed the rumours by saying that they had received no reports of offences.
