Police are patrolling the changing areas at a Mill End leisure centre after a second young girl noticed a mirror being placed under her changing room cubicle.

Hertfordshire Constabulary, said a 10-year-old girl reported the incident, which took place at the William Penn Leisure Centre Shepherds Lane, on Tuesday, February 24, at 4.40pm.

Officers are also investigating another similar incident, where an 11-year-old girl noticed a mirror being placed under the cubicle she was changing in and detectives are linking the incidents.

Paul Christie, regional manager at Hertsmere Leisure said staff would be patrolling the changing rooms more following the first incident.

But it has emerged this week that police officers will now be patrolling the leisure centre- including the changing rooms- and additional CCTV cameras will be installed at the centre.

Eleanor Hudson, who issued a statement on behalf of Hertsmere Leisure said: “We are working with Hertfordshire Police on this matter, providing every assistance. As this is an ongoing police investigation, we cannot comment further at this stage and are taking instructions from the police.

“However, in light of this incident, and the one on Tuesday, February 13, on the advice of police, arranged for additional CCTV to be installed and the police have started regularly patrolling the centre and changing area.

“We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of all our visitors and continue to take the advice of the police on this matter.”

When reacting to the first incident, child protection charity, NSPCC, described this type of incident as “relatively rare” but praised the girl for reporting it.

PC Christian Gottmann, who is investigating, said: "These incidents will understandably be of some concern to the community but I would like to reassure people that we are doing all we can to trace the person responsible as a matter of urgency.

"I am appealing to anyone who was using the changing rooms at the times stated and saw anyone acting suspiciously, or loitering around, to contact me as soon as possible. I would also like to hear from anyone who may have noticed something similar happen but hasn't yet contacted police.

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