Police in Dundee have been slammed for failing to warn local residents about a sexual assault more than five days after a woman was subjected to a mid-morning attack.
Detectives are scouring CCTV and carrying out door-to-door inquiries after a man, who is said to have spoken with a Dundee accent, entered a property in Balunie Crescent and carried out the assault on a 32-year-old woman.
Officers confirmed he was wearing a black scarf, black tracksuit top and bottoms, and a black tammy-style hat at the time of the incident, between 10 and 11.30am on Saturday.
Several families living in the quiet residential area said on Thursday they had no idea an such an incident had happened, and those that did said police failed to warn them a sexual crime had been committed just metres from their homes.
One man who lives nearby with his wife and two young children said he was unaware, despite a police vehicle being parked outside his home on Thursday.
“I didn’t hear anything on Saturday and I wasn’t aware anything had happened.
“I haven’t really seen any police except for the van, they haven’t spoken to me at all. It’s worrying to have something like that happen so close. I wish they had told me.”
June Brown, 68, lives with her husband directly opposite the street where the incident took place. Mrs Brown confirmed was visited by officers on Sunday but was not warned a woman had been sexually assaulted.
She said: “They just told us it was an incident but I don’t really know much more about it. This is a really quiet area so it is quite shocking.
“It would have been better to have known exactly what happened, although I’m not sure how much difference it would have made to me. I always keep my door locked and don’t answer to anyone I don’t know.”
Another woman, who asked not to be named, was spoken to by officers just moments before being approached by The Courier but said she was also not warned about the nature of the inquiry.
“They just told me there was an incident – I didn’t know it was a sexual assault,” she said.
“We didn’t see or hear anything at all. The police didn’t tell us much, just that there was an incident and do we know anything about it.”
North East MSP Liam Kerr, the Scottish Conservatives’ justice spokesman, said: “I trust the police to keep people safe and investigate any crime to the fullest.
“However, it seems good sense that the wider public need to be aware of possible threats still at large as soon as possible.”
Detective Inspector Marc Lorente said officers “understand” the concerns of local residents and confirmed the force had carried out “various lines of initial enquiry, including supporting the victim with specialist officers”.
He said: “In the circumstances we released information to the public at what we considered to be the most appropriate time.
“We can confirm that there will be a visible policing presence as the investigation continues. Again we would appeal to the public to assist in coming forward with any information which may assist the investigation.”
Anyone who recognises the description of the man or has any information on the incident is asked contact Police Scotland on 101 or to speak to any officer.
