POLICE have thwarted a suspected grooming crime after a 13-year-old girl travelled from Scotland to meet a man in London.
The schoolgirl from Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, had arranged to see the man in person after chatting to him online through a social networking site.
But in a joint operation involving Lothian and Borders Police and Metropolitan Police, officers intercepted the girl at King's Cross Station after she had got off a train following a 350-mile journey.
No arrests have yet been made regarding the May 4 incident, but police are working on the theory the man had been grooming the girl for sex.
The case has resulted in renewed warnings to parents over the dangers of the internet.
Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire MSP John Lamont said: "While the internet is a fantastic resource, it can also pose a danger to children, especially in incidents of adults attempting to groom them.
"In this instance, had it not been for police intervention, it might have been too late and this is a stark warning that we must always strive to do more to protect our young people.
"It should be made clear in schools that under no circumstances should children become involved with strangers over the internet or arrange to meet up with them."
Scottish Borders Council said it was aware of the incident and added it regularly emphasised the importance of staying safe online to schoolchildren.
A Lothian and Borders Police spokesman said: "We are investigating after a 13-year-old girl from the Scottish Borders was stopped by officers travelling to England where she was due to meet an individual whom she had been contacting online."
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