WA Police have confirmed one report of strawberry tampering has proven to be false.

The child who claimed to have found a needle in a strawberry will not be charged, Police Commissioner Chris Dawson said on radio station 6PR’s Mornings with Gareth Parker.

One young boy in NSW has already been arrested over behaviour that “could be called a prank” and he would be dealt with under the youth cautioning system, police there said

In a separate case, a 12 -year-old girl will also be cautioned after admitting to putting a needle in a piece of fruit.

Police in WA are investigating at least 19 cases of reported strawberry sabotage as the crisis deepens across the country.

Mr Dawson said investigators had yet to determine any common link between the cases.

“We can’t find a link at present between point-of-sale, packaging or producer and the reports that we have got,” Mr Dawson said.

Four schools have been caught up in the crisis including Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Hilton, St Anthony’s in Wanneroo and schools in Bicton and Pinjarra.

Across Australia, the Australian Federal Police is investigating 100 cases of possible contamination.