Man who witnessed ‘kidnap’ is arrested
A MAN who sparked a huge police search after reporting a child being bundled into the back of a van, has been arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
Detectives were unable to find any evidence to corroborate the man’s claims of a child abduction.
He came forward on Thursday afternoon claiming to have seen a child being forced into the back of a Volkswagen Transporter van on Redstone Hill in Redhill, Surrey.
Police described the witness as having been “credible” and, despite the fact no child had been reported missing in the area, launched a huge operation.
Officers scoured the scene, undertook forensic searches and even sent up the force helicopter to hunt for clues.
Detectives issued CCTV images of a black van they believed had been involved but later ruled the driver out of the inquiry after tracing the vehicle.
A child’s mountain bike found near the scene was also later discounted when a local landlord admitted dumping it there.
Surrey Police also made a series of public appeals for information in a bid to find out what had happened, receiving more than 130 calls from members of the public.
But after being unable to find any evidence to corroborate the witness’s claims, he was arrested.
A spokesman for Surrey Police said: “Officers had no reason to disbelieve the account of the witness and had to act quickly in order to prevent what was suspected to be a risk to the life of a child.
“In the days since, officers have carried out an extensive and thorough investigation into this report which has not brought about any evidence to corroborate it.”
Senior investigating officer Det Supt Pete Fulton said: “Reports of this nature are extremely rare and we are sure the public understands that when information such as this is received we treat it extremely seriously and must do all we can to find out investigate what’s happened.”
The man who made the original report has been released on bail.