New bid to help children stay safe around strangers

A LEAFLET is being issued to parents and carers in the Highlands explaining how children can stay safe when approached by strangers.

‘Stranger Smart’, a joint initiative by Highland council and Police Scotland, sets out a protocol for how schools and police will deal with reports of youngsters being approached.

The leaflet will also include information about how to keep safe and what to do if a stranger appears.

Julian Innes, Police Scotland’s chief superintendent for the Highlands and Islands, said: ‘Keeping children and young people safe is at the heart of what we do in the Highlands. Stranger Smart sends out three key messages: that while incidents involving suspicious people are rare, it is important we all work together and quickly to make sure that we get it right, that Police Scotland are notified at the earliest opportunity when an incident occurs and that it’s everyone’s responsibility to keep children and young people safe.’

A YouTube video, highlighting the key points for children, is also available at https:// youtu.be/ HFCOKEv_4m4