I AM writing this article as a child protection lawyer, but also as a parent and school governor. Many parents and children across Oxfordshire are reeling after last week’s abduction of a 14-year-old girl on her way to school and serious sexual assault.

I am not alone in receiving a jointly signed letter this week from my daughter’s school from Jim Leivers, the head of children’s services at Oxfordshire County Council and Supt Joe Kidman, of Thames Valley Police, giving information on how to keep our children safe to and from school, as well as the URN number for reporting anything of concern that might be linked to this incident or that might be similar to it.

We should of course as parents be vigilant and our children need to take care.

The letter to parents makes it clear that this sort of incident is, thankfully, very rare. It sought to reassure parents that Thames Valley Police were investigating the incident and had increased their patrols, and went on to give advice to children and parents as follows: 1. If children are travelling to school without adults, make sure wherever possible they are travelling in groups, and that they stick to busier routes and avoid alleyways and underpasses.

2. Be alert to what is going on around them and avoid wearing headphones.

3. To report anything suspicious to 101 and to use the URN 1631 28/09/2016, and if in immediate danger to call 999. They also encourage informing their school’s safeguarding lead as soon as possible.

But how common is this sort of thing? The charity Action Against Abduction estimates that roughly 50 children under the age of 16 are taken by strangers in this country every year. Its 2011-12 survey found that 42 per cent of all abduction attempts were made by strangers, and that three quarters of those attempts were unsuccessful. Three quarters of the attempts involved girls.

However it is clear that this is still an extremely rare occurrence. The NSPCC figures report that 90 per cent of child sexual abuse is committed by someone known to the victim – so less than 10 per cent is perpetrated by strangers.

So in that context, the advice from TVP and Oxfordshire County Council seems sensible and is certainly echoed by organisations such as the NSPCC and teachers’ organisations.

Children should still feel safe to travel to and from school on their own if they have the right age and maturity. They should take notice of the advice not to travel on their own if possible, and be vigilant. Trust their own instincts and maybe identify places to stop on their way if they are feeling worried or concerned about something or somebody. Many will have a mobile phone, and if they feel in danger they should use it to call 999 or contact a trusted adult. Obviously that is not a reason to have a phone with them in class, and most schools will have policies and procedures dealing with this.

It is important to talk to your child about what to do if anyone approaches them. A responsible adult would almost certainly not ask a child for directions or help and that they should always trust their instincts. It might help to think through with them where they could go if they felt uncomfortable. If need be, go back to school if they feel unsafe walking home at the end of the day.

I am sure that I am not alone in hoping that whoever abducted the young woman last week and subjected her to such an awful ordeal, is found very quickly and brought to justice.