Police who told women in a city not to go out alone at night after a spate of apparent rapes and kidnaps today said that they had been hoaxed.

Detectives in Northampton put up warning posters across the city centre following reports of a gang of men cruising the streets in two cars at night, prowling for victims.

The reports raised the chilling prospect that the notorious South African crime of jack-rolling - when gangs of youths in cars block off streets and rape women caught in their net - had arrived in Britain. The attackers were described as tall, black men with South African accents who were driving a blue BMW car and a light-coloured Fiat Punto

After the eight-week Operation Harbour investigation, which caused widespread fear and generated intense media interest, officers today said that they were no longer looking for a predatory gang. .

Instead, they are now preparing a file for consideration by the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to possible action against an 18 year old for wasting police time.

A spokesman said: "Officers are now satisfied that one of the alleged rapes and another alleged abduction did not occur in the way in which they were reported."

He said that 'informal action' had been taken against a 15-year-old girl for wasting police time over an alleged attempt abduction on August 1.

Officers are still investigating a series of other alleged rapes and attacks which occured in the city in early August, but these are now considered to be isolated incidents and not part of a wider trend.

Three men arrested in connection with the Operation Harbour inquiry, have all been released without charge.

Detective Chief Inspector John Jones, from the Homicide and Major Crime team, said: "We are now satisfied that two of the alleged incidents – a rape and an attempt abduction - that were reported to us, did not occur in the way in which they were first reported.

"Both allegations have been thoroughly and professionally investigated but we have found no evidence that they occurred in the way they were reported.

"We are now happy that we are not looking for a gang of predatory men, as previously thought. Our investigations have led us to believe that there was a group of men cruising around Northampton in vehicles in the early hours of August 1, but we have found no evidence that any offences were committed.

"We know that this large investigation and the high profile media coverage of it has had a huge impact on the local community. We were very reassured by the responsible way in which people reacted to the information, and we hope this latest news gives people further reassurance that Northampton is a safe place in which to live, work and socialise, and that there is no cause for fear or alarm.

"Following this case, what is important to stress is that I do not want genuine victims of rape or any other crime to be put off from reporting incidents to us. As this case shows, we treat all reports seriously and will thoroughly, professionally and sensitively investigate them."

Three men were arrested during the course of the Operation Harbour inquiries at two addresses in Northampton yesterday, on suspicion of conspiracy to counterfeit and immigration offences.

Two have subsequently been charged by the Immigration Service with forgery offences. The third is being dealt with by the Immigration Service in relation to possible immigration

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