As parents we just want our kids safe

Officers have been battling tales of the most hideous kind – the child-snatcher.

False rumours of attempts to abduct children and even a rape in Worcester have spread like wildfire through the city.

The problem facing the police is that they are up against that most slippery of enemies – the rumour based on a tiny nugget of fact.

There was an attempted abduction – but only one – in Dines Green some weeks ago. A man was arrested.

There was also a sexual assault recently – but it was in Hereford and not Worcester. A man has been arrested in connection with that too.

You can see how easily these snippets grow and change to become an entirely different monster.

And you can’t be too hard on people spreading these rumours because they may be gullible or thoughtless but they are also undoubtedly well-meaning.

And it’s tough to combat such stories because even if people do have doubts about them there is a desire among most parents to be safe rather than sorry.

And that is surely the greatest challenge facing parents these days.

How do you keep children safe without wrapping them up in cotton wool or scaring them into believing anyone that walks towards them could be a potential pervert?

Tricky one.

As my child is three I have a free pass at the moment.

If we go anywhere I can refuse to take my eyes off him even for a second and still be safe in the knowledge that I am doing my job properly.

But that won’t last.

Will that be the same when he gets to five or 10 or 15?

At what point will he need to be able to explore at least a small part of his world without me breathing down his neck?

I haven’t a clue but I hope I recognise it when it comes because at the moment if he rides his bike around a corner in the park I can feel my heart beating wildly until I can see him again.

But if I can’t at least pretend to be relaxed then I run the risk of him becoming fearful and suspicious of everyone – and that surely can’t be a healthy way to grow up.