A man has been arrested following reports that a number of women and girls had been approached by a person who had caused them concern.

An employee in a town centre store in Dewsbury contacted officers on Tuesday and also posted about the incident on social media, a West Yorkshire Police spokesperson said.

As a result, a 24-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Thursday on suspicion of harassment.

Police said that three further potential victims had also been identified and spoken to by officers, and high visibility patrols would be increased in the town centre over the coming days to offer reassurance to the public.

Dewsbury's neighbourhood policing team was aware of comments on social media from other females who said they had been approached by a man in the town centre, the force spokesperson said.

'Concerning circumstances'

Insp Liz Lockwood said officers were working to ensure that all victims were appropriately supported, adding that a "comprehensive investigation" would be carried out.

"We will be increasing high visibility patrols in the town centre today and over the coming days to offer reassurance to the public, visit stores and reassure business owners and staff and to collate details of any further victims," she said.

"If anyone else has been approached by a man in concerning circumstances that has caused them to feel harassed, alarmed or distressed, then I would urge them to come forward.

"We are committed to protecting women and girls from violence and the fear of violence."

West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds

A police commissioner has said he will ask his chief constable whether the force is "doing enough" following the sentencing of a former Essex officer.

Mark Ling, 39, was jailed for four years and six months after tricking girls into sending him explicit images by posing as a teenager on Snapchat and TikTok.

Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst, said he would meet with Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington.

Mr Harrington has said Ling "does not represent" the thousands of hard-working officers in the county.

Ling, from Ipswich, admitted 13 sexual offences involving children and was sentenced at Ipswich Crown Court on Thursday.

The force said it was told of allegations about offences that happened between March 2021 and February 2023.

He was sacked from the force following an accelerated misconduct hearing in December 2024.

Mr Hirst said 143 people were rejected from roles at Essex Police last year following the vetting process.

In 2023, inspectors rated its vetting and counter-corruption measures as "good".

"It is good to know that bar is being kept high and it is something I review with the chief constable on a regular basis," he told BBC Essex.

"We are looking at what the history is here, but frankly one case is too many.

"This is something that is really disgusting behaviour. I will now be sitting with the chief constable again asking are we doing enough? What more can we do?"

Mr Hirst also revealed about 40% of the Essex force had been hired in the last five years.

Ling joined the force as a police constable in 2010 and later served in one of its operational support groups.

Mr Hirst continued: "Public trust and confidence in policing is undermined by every single case that we get like this and it is a huge frustration to the overwhelming majority of police officers we have who go out and do a job and protect the public and keep them safe.

"I'm very pleased that he is gone but the question is how can we be sure that it won't happen again?"

Mr Harrington has said tackling violence against women and girls is an "absolute priority" for the force.

"This is not something where women and girls are alone, we men have to stand up and make sure that this sort of behaviour is eradicated," added Mr Hirst.

Mr Harrington said: "[Ling] does not represent the thousands of hardworking, professional, and dedicated officers, staff, and volunteers who work tirelessly each day to keep you safe.

"I know they are as disgusted at Ling's actions as the public will be."