Hastings Police investigating a suspicious approach in the Whakatu area would like to advise parents to be alert, not alarmed.

At around 3.15pm on Tuesday 21 October, a man approached a young girl and began interacting with her as she was walking home.

We acknowledge the girl who has done the right thing by avoiding the man, making her way home, and telling her caregivers.

Police are still working to understand exactly what has occurred and our enquiries into the incident are ongoing.

We understand an incident like this can be unsettling to the community however, we ask parents to be alert, not alarmed.

Police encourages parents and caregivers to have discussions around behaviours and actions that are inappropriate or that make a child feel uncomfortable.

This enables them to identify behaviours that make them uncomfortable, unsafe or scared, and take action by removing themselves from the situation and tell someone they trust.

Police ask those in the Whakatu area who have CCTV or dashcams to please review their footage from Tuesday around 3.15pm, and ask them get in touch with Police if they see any suspicious activity.

We ask the community to report suspicious activity to us as soon as possible by calling 111.

For non-emergencies, or to provide information after-the-fact, please contact Police through our 105 services.

Please use the reference number 251022/0221.

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