Parents have taken to social media to warn of men “hiding in bushes” and “trying to entice children” in Southwark Park.
A status warning parents and carers has been circulating on Facebook since at least Thursday last week (August 3) and has since been copied and pasted dozens of times.
The post states: “A warning to all parents and carers in the Bermondsey & Rotherhithe area.
“Multiple men have been seen hiding in the bushes at Southwark Park trying to entice children to go with them, and asking if their parents are around.”
Police were unable to confirm whether officers were investigating at the time the News went to print.
However, Rotherhithe Safer Neighbourhoods Team later confirmed it was aware of the Facebook posts, which were thought to be a hoax.
“Police have had no calls to men hiding in bushes in Southwark Park – only one call from someone wishing to report what they had read on Facebook,” a member of the team told the News.
“The Rotherhithe Safer Neighbourhood Team regularly patrol Southwark Park and have seen no suspicious activity of this nature.”
The Rotherhithe SNT Twitter account also tweeted: “Team aware of recent Facebook rumours re: Southwark Park – possible hoax.
“No calls to police of this nature. We patrol the park regularly.”