IT’S rare that the police call a press conference in Guernsey.

And it’s even rarer for it to take place on a Bank Holiday Monday. But such is the seriousness of the current spate of attacks on women on our Town’s streets that detectives summoned the island’s media to the briefing at 1pm yesterday.

The press call was arranged after news that two more sex attacks on lone females had happened in and around the Town area during the early hours of Saturday morning.

One of these, which may be linked to two previous assaults in July, also took place in almost exactly the same spot in St Peter Port as one of the July incidents, namely Forest Lane.

But what the police did not know at the time of putting out their press call for Monday afternoon, was that an attacker would strike on Sunday night as well, albeit in a different part of the area.

With three of the attacks now possibly linked, and Sunday’s assailant not being ruled out as the same man, it suggests as feared that a serial offender could be at large.

At the moment police are declining to elaborate on this and opting not to reveal the exact nature and seriousness of the sex attacks, although why currently remains unclear.

What is clear is that any such attack will be extremely traumatic for the victim and those close to them, and will be likely to have lasting effects.

As the operation moves into its seventh week, all islanders are hoping for news of some arrests or an end to the fear that is now blighting our Town centre and its surrounding area.

Already some women are known to be avoiding the area altogether, feeling it is just not worth the risk.

The good news is that what could eventually prove to be a vital piece of evidence appears to have been found.

The silver neck-chain, as shown in our pages today, which was discovered at the scene of one of the assaults may be that vital link in the investigation that is currently rocking our community.

Stepping up calls for personal vigilance and information from the public, as well as ensuring that this message reaches all the population, are welcome moves from the police and will hopefully bring in some more crucial leads.

But islanders will want to see a quick end to the worrying news headlines that are so out of step with Guernsey’s usual way of life.

As mentioned, police press calls on bank holidays tend to be rare for this island.

But what is even more unusual – and extremely unsettling – is for the community to hear that the Town streets of our island are now, officially, unsafe.