Stefan Witehira.
A pamphlet was delivered to Palmerston households
yesterday warning a convicted child sex offender is living in
the community.
The pamphlet claims the offender is ''sneaking around
watching children as they walk to and from school''.
The pamphlet advised people to contact police if they were
concerned about a stranger approaching their child or if they
were worried about any unusual behaviour.
Police had been made aware of the pamphlet and that it could
cause unnecessary concern, Senior Constable Stefan Witehira,
of Palmerston, said in a statement yesterday. The pamphlet is
not an official document although it comes with a ''safer
communities'' logo attached to it.
Snr Const Witehira said he had identified and spoken to those
responsible for the production and distribution of the
pamphlet. If people were worried about any unusual behaviour
or wished to seek advice on any matter they should contact
police, he said.
A Waitaki Safer Community spokeswoman said yesterday the
pamphlet had nothing to do with the organisation.
The differently named logo used on the pamphlet may have been
taken from an overseas website to give the pamphlet an air of
authenticity.
Snr Const Witehira's statement did not say whether a
convicted child sex offender was in the community.
It said police had no further comments to make at this stage.
