Editorial: We need to keep our children safe

Andrew Austin, editor of Hawke's Bay Today.

Stories about the abduction of children - or even attempted abductions - are never good to hear, especially if they are in Hawke's Bay.

Maybe it is naive to believe this, but our children should be allowed to go about their business - walking to and from school and playing with their mates in public parks - without being in danger of people with foul intentions.

We have a story on the front page of our paper today about the mother of a Taradale High School student who believes more can be done to give our children some protection. Kelly Rowley is encouraging school children to carry personal keychain alarms that they can easily activate when they are in danger. When activated the device sets off a 110 decibel alarm bell.

Mrs Rowley was prompted to contact us after a man tried to abduct her daughter on her way home from school last Friday afternoon. The incident, in which the teenager was pulled by the arm, has left her quite shaken and scared.

I think that anything that makes our children feel safer is good. Unfortunately in this day and age we do need to teach our children to be aware of potentially dangerous situations.
Police are investigating and say that although they don't know for sure what the man's intentions were, the girl did the right thing by screaming and running away from him back to school.

Police say it is a totally different case to the incident involving a Tamatea High School student last month.

Either way it is distressing and we, as the public, have a role to play in keeping a watch out for our children and reporting anything suspicious.

So if you do know something, please call your local police or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.