A teenager has been arrested following a series of indecent exposure incidents in London’s Tower Hamlets.
It comes as a separate spate of similar offences occurred on Wandsworth Common over the past six months, with an ongoing hunt for suspects, despite two people coming to the attention of police.
The Tower Hamlets arrest of a 19-year-old man follows a police appeal over the case, which relates to a series of incidents between Monday, August 30 and Tuesday, September 28.
Various women reported being approached by a man riding a silver and black bicycle who exposed himself and in some instances sexually assaulted them.
A man from Tower Hamlets was arrested on Monday, October 4 and remains in custody.
Detective Constable Janina Parol from the Central East Command Unit said: ‘Due to the number of offences being investigated, it is possible there are more victims who have not come forward.
‘We want to hear from anyone who may have been targeted by this man who appears to have been active predominantly in the E3 area. We have specialist officers who are ready to listen and support you.’
In Wandsworth, south of the river, the Metropolitan Police say they have identified several offences relating to exposure over the past six months.
A 34-year-old man from the area was arrested on September 25 on suspicion of indecent exposure. He was released on bail and will appear in court in late October.
Another man, 38, from Chigwell, north-east London, has been interviewed under caution over the same offence and released under investigation.
But Scotland Yard is also investigating offences of exposure said to involve a white man aged between 35 and 50, with a medium to large build and dark hair.
He has been seen wearing a short navy blue jacket and blue jeans, and on another occasion a grey jumper, dark bottoms and a backpack.
The force has said it is conducting plain clothed patrols in the area to reduce the likelihood of further offences and provide reassurance, with a number of events being held to offer information.
Inspector Jonathan Lloyd of the Met Police said: ‘While we have made one arrest and interviewed a second male under caution, we continue to investigate other active lines of inquiry with the aim of identifying and apprehending further suspects.
‘This is a serious offence and anyone falling victim to this crime should dial 999 immediately.
‘If you call straight away we have a far better chance of locating the suspect. In the meantime we are conducting extra patrols in the area and doing all we can to reassure our community.’
It comes as it was disclosed former police officer Wayne Couzens had been accused of indecent exposure in Kent in 2015, and in London in the days before he murdered Sarah Everard, but was allowed to continue working.
Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 101 or contact via Twitter @MetCC.
To provide information on the Tower Hamlets case, quote CAD286/29SEP21.
You can also speak anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or online at crimestoppers-uk.org.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
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