Maltby: School sends text message to parents after pupils followed by two men

Crags Community School, on Strauss Crescent, sent a message to parents which warned them a pupil had been followed to school ‘by two males’.

One mum said: “I don’t let my kids play out. I don’t feel like they are safe.”

“It used to be that you could go anywhere.”

“It’s not like that today. Just last week I had a text from my child’s school saying a pupil had been followed.”

The message, sent by the school on 27th January, said: “Be aware that a pupil was followed to school today by two males on Muglet Lane. Take extra care for your children getting home safely.”

South Yorkshire Police confirmed it was called after the incident.

A spokesman for the force said: “It is alleged the two males followed a 11-year-old girl while walking. No words were said and the girl was not injured.”

“Officers are conducting regular patrols in the area and work closely with the local schools providing safety awareness courses for pupils.”

“Anyone with concerns or wishing to report suspicious activity should call 101 or speak to your local officer.”

Alison Noble, consultant assistant director of safeguarding for Rotherham Council, said schools use texts as a means of quickly alerting parents to issues that might affect their children, including safeguarding incidents such as ‘stranger danger’.

She said: “Unfortunately, incidents happen from time to time and can range from situations such as legal highs to escaped dangerous dogs as well as ‘stranger danger’.

“The expectation is the individual school which has the responsibility makes the decision on when to send an alert to parents.”

“Schools then usually liaise with South Yorkshire Police on deciding exactly on the content of the alert that goes out.”