Police have arrested an Afghan asylum seeker after reports he approached schoolchildren near a primary school in a Surrey village.
Officers detained the man, believed to be in his 20s, following reports of individuals being approached outside Laleham Church of England Primary School.
Surrey Police confirmed the suspect was arrested on suspicion of harassment before being detained under the Mental Health Act for further assessment at a secure facility.
The incident has raised questions over how the individual came to be housed in the area.
Local authorities confirmed he had been living in a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) supported by the Home Office, close to the school.
Spelthorne Borough Council said the placement appeared to have taken place without the usual risk assessments or communication with local agencies.
In a statement, the council said: “It would appear that this has happened without the normal risk assessment and communication from the Home Office to the local agencies.”
The authority confirmed it has written to the Home Office seeking an explanation and assurances that similar situations will not happen again.
Parents and residents in the area have raised concerns following the incident, citing the proximity of the accommodation to the primary school.
Local MP Lincoln Jopp described the situation as “unbelievable”, stating the individual had been living “a stone’s throw from a primary school” in an unlicensed HMO.
He has written to the Home Secretary calling for an urgent investigation into the placement and risk assessment process.
The Home Office said all accommodation must meet contractual standards and that local authorities are consulted before properties are used, although the council disputes this occurred in this case.
The Prime Minister declined to comment in detail due to the ongoing police investigation but said the Home Office works with police to manage accommodation safely.
Surrey Police said officers are continuing to work with the school and local community as enquiries continue.