King's Lynn: 'Anti-Social' Clowns

28 November 2013, 12:03

Police are calling people dressed up as clowns in King's Lynn 'anti-social'.

Officers have recieved reports of people dressed up as clowns terrorising the people of King's Lynn.

The clowns are seen to have been waiting for passers-by to spot them and run away before chasing them for a short distance.

The events have largely been fuelled by people on social media. The first report happened on Tuesday at about 8pm on Marsh Lane, Gaywood. The second took place the following evening on the cycle path between the Fairstead skate park and Extons Road at approximately 7.20pm.

The person seen on Tuesday is said to have been wearing full clown attire, with a red suit and red hair, in the report on the following day, the people were described as wearing 'Halloween-type' clown masks.  

King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Superintendent Carl Edwards, explained:

"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 know there has been a lot of gossip and conversations about this on social media channels, not just in Norfolk, and it is important to gain a perspective on these incidents. We appreciate this can worry people, especially the young or elderly. The most effective way to behave if you are to see someone dressed up is to give no reaction – because that’s what they are after!

"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.”