Man posing as child contacted Co Down primary school pupil

In a letter to all parents last Thursday, Downshire Primary School in Hillsborough said the child believed they were communicating on the social media app with someone their own age.

School principal John Knaggs said the man is understood to be aged in his 40s and that police have been notified.

In the letter, Mr Knaggs said: “This is extremely concerning hence the reason for bringing this to your attention.”

The letter also includes a number of recommended “safeguarding” steps to help protect children, including: ensuring you are in the same room as your child when they are using the internet; regularly checking your child’s devices; ensuring appropriate levels of parental controls are activated; not letting children have their own accounts to download apps.

It went on to say: “Please take time to share this information with your child.”

One concerned parent who contacted the News Letter said the school deserved praise for the “prompt action” to alert parents.

“This is very concerning and underlines the need for vigilance among parents when children are using social media,” he said.

“It was very scary to learn that a young primary school child has been in communication with an adult via a social media forum.

“I applaud the school for their prompt action in bringing in the police to investigate and also for making parents aware of the situation.”

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police received a report, on February 26, that a man had made inappropriate contact via Snapchat with a child in the Hillsborough area. Enquiries are continuing.”

She added: “The PSNI is appealing to parents to have conversations with their children about the benefits and dangers of social media. Know what social media platforms they are using and remind them how important it is to tell a trusted adult if something happens online that makes them feel uncomfortable.

“Anyone with concerns or information is encouraged to get in touch on 101.”