Police to conduct 'proactive foot patrols' in Kilrea following report of 'suspicious man' in the area

Police have confirmed they will be conducting 'proactive foot patrols' in Kilrea today following reports of a 'suspicious man' seen in the area in recent days.

Officers will also be patrolling nearby Rasharkin and Dunloy.

The increased patrols come days after a video was uploaded to social media showing an individual reportedly walking on roads in the area during the early hours of the morning wearing a mask and a long yellow coat.

The person who uploaded the video alleged that the individual may be armed.

In the video, the individual in question is challenged by a motorist who asks him why he is wearing a mask and what he is doing.

The County Derry Post contacted the PSNI earlier today and a spokesperson said that police had received a report about the incident from an individual who had watched the video online.

In a social media post this afternoon, Causeway PSNI stated: "Local officers will be conducting proactive foot patrols in a number of locations today including Kilrea, Rasharkin and Dunloy, following reports of a suspicious man seen in these areas."

Inspector Burns added: “As a service, we take all reports very seriously and I hope that the visibility of our officers today, alongside our commitment to continue to patrol shared public spaces, provides reassurance and boosts confidence that we are committed to doing everything we can to make areas safe.

“If you are out and about and notice anything suspicious or perhaps you are concerned about the welfare of an individual, please report your concerns to our officers on the ground, or by calling 999 in an emergency, or 101 if it’s a non-emergency."