Schoolgirls in a Scottish town have been handed rape alarms by police over fears they were being stalked by illegal migrants being housed in a nearby hotel.
The intervention from officers came after it was alleged that the men had been taken photos of the girls in between lessons in Dumfries.
One concerned mother has claimed the harassment has left to some girls feeling too frightened to walk the streets of the Scottish town.
The hotel migrants have been spotted hanging around the school and ogling at children during break times, according to The Sun.
Police confirmed to the newspaper that rape alarms had been distributed to two girls after they complained that they were having photos of them taken by the men without their permission.
The mother said: “Every single day these guys turn up just as the school is about to break for lunch and hang around just to perv on the kids.
“Some of the girls have stopped going into the town as they feel so unsafe.
“There have been suggestions that the men have made crude comments to some of the kids.
Police confirmed to the newspaper that rape alarms had been distributed to two girls
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“The police need to get a grip on this and start patrolling the town during these times, but they don’t.
“We cannot get to a position where the answer to this issue is to give schoolgirls rape alarms and hope they don’t get attacked.”
The hotel in Dumfries has seen protests erupt outside after a man being housed there was arrested following a “child protection” concern.
Scottish Conservative MSP Craig Hoy described the reports as “deeply alarming”.
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Some girls are said to have been left feeling too frightened to walk the streets of the Scottish town (file photo)
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He said: “It is shocking that we have reached a point where girls have had to be given alarms to keep them safe from potential threats from migrants.
“Authorities must give locals urgent reassurance that they are robustly monitoring these individuals.”
Mr Hoy has called for the closure of the Dumfries hotel, which was handed a Home Office contract in 2023 and is said to cater exclusively for single men.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for Police Scotland said the force had failed to establish any criminality nearby – though did arrest a 19-year-old a month later.
“In January, officers carried out enquiries following the report of two men acting suspiciously in the Dumfries area. No criminality was established,” he said.
There are almost 7,000 asylum seekers living in Scotland (file photo)
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“Two teenagers were provided with appropriate safety advice and given personal attack alarms.
“On February 19, police received a report of potential child protection concerns.
“A 19-year-old man was arrested and later released without charge.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “This Government is removing the incentives drawing illegal migrants to Britain. That is why we will close every single asylum hotel, moving asylum seekers into basic accommodation.
“The population in asylum hotels has fallen by nearly 20 per cent in the last year and by 45 per cent since the peak under the previous government.”
GB News has approached Dumfries and Galloway Council for comment.