Updated: Rumours of criminal gang operating at Lakeside untrue, Essex Police say

1:00pm Tuesday 26th February 2013 in News By Emma Thomas

Updated: Rumours of criminal gang operating at Lakeside untrue, Essex Police say Updated: Rumours of criminal gang operating at Lakeside untrue, Essex Police say

ESSEX Police say rumours of a criminal gang operating at Lakeside are untrue.

Officers are currently investigating an isolated incident in which a woman has approached a child, who was with her family, and is reported to have stroked the girl’s head and pinched her cheek on Saturday, February 23 shortly after 1.15pm.

It is possible the woman was just being over-familiar but officers are treating the incident as an alleged common assault and would like to speak to the woman.

An Efit image is being issued to help trace the woman concerned.

She is described as being of Asian appearance, with long black hair, and aged between 20 and 40.

She was wearing a beige coat and red scarf.

Anyone with information can call Essex Police on 101.

Rumours circulated on Twitter and Facebook about a gang but Essex Police says it has no information about any on-going criminal gang activity at Lakeside.

Police are continuing to work closely with security staff at Lakeside to ensure a safe environment for visitors.

Comments(23)

mys842 says...
1:36pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Is this for real? Common assault!?! Has the world gone mad.

Report this post »

ebagumtrebor says...
2:26pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Surprised the Gazette even mentioned it. The national media have been vomiting loudly at the thought of having to mention asian paedophile gangs in other parts of the country. They've blown the media's assertion that paedophilia is the vile bastion of the white man. Poor old leftie's worlds are falling apart.

Report this post »

I hate the police says...
3:02pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Again this is just over reaction from our 'Wonderful police service'.The woman was just probably being friendly. Are they being racist because she's Asian? I wonder if a white woman did this they would be investigating. Common assault? And be more specific with your details. A young lady who is 20 looks much different to a 40 year old lady. I think this country has gone mad. Essex police get your priorites right, you bunch of useless twat5!

Report this post »

ThurrockResident says...
4:07pm Tue 26 Feb 13

What a load of old cobblers.

Report this post »

Royr says...
4:38pm Tue 26 Feb 13

For heaven's sake ihate - once the complaint has been made, the police have NO OPTION in the matter - it's called legislation, which is poassed by the government at the time

Report this post »

claysman says...
4:40pm Tue 26 Feb 13

to i hate the ploice get the facts right you plonker and go back into your own little world this was real so keep your stupid comments to yourself

Report this post »

Sean4u says...
5:03pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Are there two stories here, or just one? Is it a criminal gang who are commonly assaulting children by stroking their hair and pinching their cheeks?

I'm in two minds about 'non-consensual physical demonstrations of affection' being common assault. On the one hand it seems almost harmless, on the other it fits the idea of 'zero tolerance' - something I happen to agree with. Perhaps we ought to have the big red sign at all our ports that some South East Asian countries do warning of death to drug smugglers.

"THE PENALTY FOR PHYSICAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF AFFECTION TOWARDS CHILDREN IS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT"

http://www.cps.gov.u
k/legal/l_to_o/offen
ces_against_the_pers
on/#a21

In this "all in it together" merchant paradise we're enjoying, I guess the police are duty bound to reiterate at intervals that commercial centres are safe to visit, in the same way Boris exhorts us all to stop saying the banks are broke.

Report this post »

stopmoaning1 says...
5:43pm Tue 26 Feb 13

Sean4u wrote:
Are there two stories here, or just one? Is it a criminal gang who are commonly assaulting children by stroking their hair and pinching their cheeks?

I'm in two minds about 'non-consensual physical demonstrations of affection' being common assault. On the one hand it seems almost harmless, on the other it fits the idea of 'zero tolerance' - something I happen to agree with. Perhaps we ought to have the big red sign at all our ports that some South East Asian countries do warning of death to drug smugglers.

"THE PENALTY FOR PHYSICAL DEMONSTRATIONS OF AFFECTION TOWARDS CHILDREN IS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT"

http://www.cps.gov.u

k/legal/l_to_o/offen

ces_against_the_pers

on/#a21

In this "all in it together" merchant paradise we're enjoying, I guess the police are duty bound to reiterate at intervals that commercial centres are safe to visit, in the same way Boris exhorts us all to stop saying the banks are broke.
There’s not really a story at all if you read it.
So there ISN’T a criminal gang operating at Lakeside and the police MAY be looking at an ALLEGED common assault matter if the childs parents have decided to take the matter to them

Report this post »

DogsMessInLeigh says...
8:09pm Tue 26 Feb 13

it is a little odd in todays world in the UK that someone aged 20-40 would stroke your kiddies head and pinch their face in a shopping centre or anywhere, could have some mental issues, what did the parent(s) do at the time...?

Report this post »

supermadmax says...
3:25pm Wed 27 Feb 13

"officers are treating the incident as an alleged common assault and would like to speak to the woman"

Officers should be treating the incident as alleged false allegations.

As someone else said, what did the parents so at the time ?

Report this post »

DrSpiffSpaffington says...
7:41am Thu 28 Feb 13

I saw this photo on facebook as "woman who tried to snatch child" LOL

Report this post »

aberline 88 says...
2:54pm Thu 28 Feb 13

its the paranoia our diverse freinds are causing, due to our diverse freinds bringing their new crimes to thurrock

Report this post »

Mr. Pedantic says...
4:52pm Thu 28 Feb 13

I wonder if these two are related?

http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/local_ne
ws/10247285.Thief_ja
iled_for_stealing_po
ppy_tins_on_Remembra
nce_Sunday/

Report this post »

ThurrockResident says...
8:27pm Thu 28 Feb 13

http://www.echo-news
.co.uk/news/local_ne
ws/10247285.Thief_ja
iled_for_stealing_po
ppy_tins_on_Remembra
nce_Sunday/

Wow! That is uncanny!

Report this post »

grays_mum says...
2:07pm Fri 1 Mar 13

aberline 88 wrote:
its the paranoia our diverse freinds are causing, due to our diverse freinds bringing their new crimes to thurrock
do you always talk such b0ll0cks? Child abduction is hardly a new crime.

I've seen the Lakeside facebook page with this story, and the comments on it. Whilst I can understand parents' concern that there may be a criminal gang at work, I'm sure we'd have heard if any further instances had occurred. We just need to do what we're meant to do, which is keep our children close to us at all times when in wide open public spaces.

Report this post »

Cooper9 says...
7:13pm Fri 1 Mar 13

this "story" is another post about Lakeside police, who to be honest, are looking to justify their role...let the security team look after Lakeside and get the police to do proper jobs, in walking the beat in Thurrock town centres, catching real criminals...

Report this post »

gazette reader says...
10:32pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Why have some of the malicious comments on this story been allowed to stay on this website ? People do not know the full facts as they have not been told by the police so do not pass judgement on the parents, this child was being looked after properly. Lakeside are obviously trying to tone down what really happened last week,has no one noticed an increase in police presence there this week, why would this happen if this woman were guilty of merely stroking a childs hair, as for the comments about racism try to think of something more original to say, its getting BORING!!!!

Report this post »

megansmum says...
4:22pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I know the grand-father of this child, he is a highly respected member of the community, people who don't know what happened have no right to make accusations....'wher
e were the parents?'.....standi
ng right next to her, they know what happened and if it was your child I'm sure you would have wanted something done !!!!

Report this post »

Letmetryagain says...
11:17pm Sat 2 Mar 13

megansmum wrote:
I know the grand-father of this child, he is a highly respected member of the community, people who don't know what happened have no right to make accusations....'wher

e were the parents?'.....standi

ng right next to her, they know what happened and if it was your child I'm sure you would have wanted something done !!!!
Wrong.

People have every right to make comments.

If it had been my child, I WOULD have done something about it.

Everyone carries a mobile phone now, all of which are capable of taking photographs.

Report this post »

megansmum says...
11:52pm Sat 2 Mar 13

I agree, if it was my child the woman wouldn't have got away, but these were grand-parents with young children and it all happened so fast

Report this post »

aberline 88 says...
1:30pm Sun 3 Mar 13

grays_mum wrote:
aberline 88 wrote:
its the paranoia our diverse freinds are causing, due to our diverse freinds bringing their new crimes to thurrock
do you always talk such b0ll0cks? Child abduction is hardly a new crime.

I've seen the Lakeside facebook page with this story, and the comments on it. Whilst I can understand parents' concern that there may be a criminal gang at work, I'm sure we'd have heard if any further instances had occurred. We just need to do what we're meant to do, which is keep our children close to us at all times when in wide open public spaces.
sherry? good god no, one of us should stay on gaurd, we dont no what shes going to do next, shes so mauve.

Report this post »

DannyButcher says...
6:15pm Mon 4 Mar 13

megansmum wrote:
I agree, if it was my child the woman wouldn't have got away, but these were grand-parents with young children and it all happened so fast
It seems that without meaning it, you are saying that grandparents aren't capable of looking after children properly in public.

Otherwise, this would never have been a story. I mean, why are there no cctv images? This looks like a total non story, or worse, a story by which NO-ONE knows what went on.

Report this post »

ardale lad says...
10:52pm Wed 6 Mar 13

I believe the full facts have not been reported after talking to people actually involved in this incident. Please be vigilant at all times when shopping with children as you should at anytime !

Report this post »

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree