Stop clowning around! Police urge public to ignore creepy clowns after sightings across UK
Police have vowed to track down pranksters dressing up as clowns and offer them 'strong words of advice'
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Norfolk police have urged residents of King's Lynn to ignore any clowns they see after two 'alarming' reports of people being chased.
Police have vowed to track down pranksters dressing up as clowns and offer them "strong words of advice" - but added that dressing up as a clown is not actually illegal.
The police advice follows sightings in towns across England and one in Carrickfergus, Northern Ireland.
Pictures of a man dressed as a creepy clown and stalking the streets of Northampton went viral earlier this year becoming a global internet sensation.
Sightings have since followed in Mansfield, Scunthorpe, Burnley and now King's Lynn.
According to the BBC, there have been clown sightings in the market town on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Supt Carl Edwards speaking to the BBC said: "Firstly, I'd like to stress that it isn't against the law to dress up as a clown.
"Nobody has been assaulted and it appears that the people involved are waiting for a passer-by to be startled by their appearance and run away, and then the clown runs after them for a short distance."
"We will be out in the areas where reports have been made to attempt to find those responsible and offer them strong words of advice," he said.
Supt Edwards warned that the young or elderly could be worried be any clown encounters and Norfolk police said they were treating the King's Lynn clown activity as "anti-social behaviour being fuelled by reports on social media".
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments