Few things strike fear into parents like a predator lurking near schools.
But this is exactly what is happening in Otumoetai.
Today's front-page story about a man who reportedly tried to lure a young girl into his home, sparking a stranger-danger alert at four schools, is huge cause for concern and raises important
public-interest and safety issues.
The schools - Otumoetai Intermediate, Otumoetai Primary, Matua and Bellevue - have sent notices home to parents after a man approached a group of children and tried to persuade one to come home with him.
The schools deserve praise for acting quickly and telling their communities.
The man concerned has had a trespass order served preventing him from entering the grounds of Otumoetai Primary - and his name and photo have been circulated among teachers.
But the schools cannot tell parents who he is for legal reasons - something that some parents are finding hard to deal with.
Some want to know who he is. Those spoken to by this paper want the man named and shamed. One even wants his picture posted at the school gate.
These are all natural reactions. It is a normal parental instinct to protect your children.
And knowing who this man is would empower parents and make them feel they are doing something.
This paper has learned the man has appeared in court in the past on a similar matter and is on probation.
We also cannot name him unless we can prove what he did in this latest incident or he is charged and appears in court. One of these two options would protect the paper from potential defamation proceedings.
The Department of Corrections admits it has concerns about his behaviour. Police are saying little.
The Bay of Plenty Times has approached the man and he denies any wrongdoing.
The tricky aspect of this story is balancing the rights of the school community and that of the man, given police have not charged him. They are saying little about this case so it remains unclear if they intend to charge him.
In this case, the rights of these affected school communities outweigh the man's rights, especially given his history.
The law should be changed so parents, at least, can be legally told who he is.
Protecting our children is of utmost importance.
