Authorities in Merton including the borough MP, police and council have announced two online public meetings for Monday (November 9) after last week's events, that witnessed two attempted kidnappings reported and averted by members of the public.
Two public meetings to be held via video call app Zoom on Monday, at 2pm and 6pm respectively (details on how to join below).
Metropolitan Police Inspector Bob Whitehead and representatives from Merton Council will join the Mitcham and Morden MP Siobhain McDonagh, who announced details yesterday evening, for the meetings.
In an email sent to residents by the Mitcham and Morden MP, she acknowledged the two "extremely worrying incidents" of last week that witnessed two attempted kidnappings of children in Mitcham and Colliers Wood.
My open letter to all residents in #Mitcham and #Morden following two extremely worrying incidents that have shaken our community this week. Please join my public meetings with Merton Police on Monday. Details and links below. pic.twitter.com/m6xAWgnoRj
— Siobhain McDonagh MP (@Siobhain_Mc) November 6, 2020
"I am writing following two extremely worrying incidents in our community this week.
"These incidents have understandably shaken our community.
"And so I have urgently arranged two public meetings on Monday at 2pm and 6pm.
"Police Inspector Bob Whitehead will be joining the meeting along with representatives from Merton Council to provide updates and answer any of your questions and concerns," McDonagh wrote.
She meanwhile described the incidents in further detail reflecting on their "truly awful" nature.
As the Wimbledon times reported earlier this week, the first attempted kidnapping took place in Mitcham on Wednesday (November 4), when a man thought to be Kadian Nelson, 26, grabbed a school girl on North Place and attempted to lead her away.
He was only prevented from doing so by a brave witness her filmed and pursued him, eventually forcing him to flee.
He has since been arrested by police.
The second incident happened just days later, when a man reportedly "grab the child from the back of his neck" on Colwood Gardens around 8.20am.
McDonagh wrote that the meetings on Monday would "provide updates and answer any of your questions and concerns".
The meetings will be held on Zoom, but you do not need a Zoom account to join.
Just click one of the two links below in time for the start time of the meeting and, when prompted, type in the password.
You will automatically join a waiting room and be admitted as soon as the meeting begins, McDonagh said.
Meeting Links:
2pm meeting: https://parliament-uk.zoom.us/j/64735958980
Meeting ID: 647 3595 8980
Passcode: 744697
6pm meeting: https://parliament-uk.zoom.us/j/64407301585
Meeting ID: 644 0730 1585
Passcode: 232087
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