Bedfordshire Police rule out any pattern over multiple claims of suspicious behaviour towards children

Following speculation on social media about suspicious behaviour towards children in the county, Bedfordshire Police have taken the step of saying no crime has taken place.

In a tweet, the force said it had investigated every report received over the past two weeks.

It said: "All [reports] have been investigated and many lines of enquiry have been followed across the reports, including officers being dispatched to speak to those involved, CCTV enquiries and witnesses being interviewed."

And it added that according to its specialist intelligence officers, "there is no evidence to suggest they are linked to, or part of, a particular pattern of offending, as has been suggested on social media".

The statement continued: "We are also satisfied that, in the vast majority of the reports, no criminal offence has taken place."

This follows on from an earlier story by Bedford Today when police urged parents to be vigilant following claims of suspicious behaviour towards children - and to report any incident to them, rather than social media.

Bedfordshire Police appealed to the public to think before they post on social media after one innocent member of the public had their photograph and car details published.

The tweet added: "We understand that such incidents can be concerning and that the public share these posts with good intentions.

"However, please be responsible when sharing information when it isn't from an official source and consider the impact your social media posts might have."