POLICE liaison with schools in the Devizes area is paying dividends and pupils are now more aware without being alarmed at the prospect of stranger danger.

Recently children at one school in the town reported to their teachers that a man had been taking pictures of them in the street.

Thankfully, there was an innocent explanation for it. An architect had been taking pictures of local amenities for a planning application.

But the children have been warmly praised for their sensible actions in passing the information on to school authorities.

Inspector Pete Bowerbank at Devizes Police Station said: "The children did exactly the right thing. They told an adult about it so we could make our own inquiries.

"We live in a very low crime area and we get very few reports like this. Recently we were told of someone hiding in the bushes and looking into the swimming pool at Devizes Leisure Centre while children were using the pool, but this could have been someone messing about.

"But it was right we knew about that. It is a testament to the impact that our liaison with schools has and the work the schools do internally."

PC Adam Hall is responsible for visiting schools in the area and advising children of what they should do if an adult is acting suspiciously.

PC Hall said: "A lot of children over the age of five are very streetwise and get a basic understanding from their parents. Younger children have to be made aware of what to do, for example, if they lose their parents in a shop. Who should they trust? I always tell them to look for someone wearing a uniform, either a member of staff or someone dressed like me.

"This is a very safe town but everyone watches TV and thinks that the world is becoming more dangerous. That's not necessarily true, but it pays to be aware."