The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Child kidnap witness ‘credible’
Incident: Police launch appeal despite no reports of missing boy
Police investigating reports of a child abduction in Surrey insist they are “completely satisfied” they have a “credible witness”, despite not receiving any reports of missing children.
Detective SuperintendentChrisEdwardssaid officers are investigating two theories following a claim that a boy was taken into a van and abducted in Redhill, Surrey, onThursday afternoon.
The boy, aged around six or seven and wearing a red T-shirt and navy jeans, was reported to have been taken into the side of a black Volkswagen Transporter with an 02 licence plate, andMr Edwards said police had narrowed the time frame down to betwe e n 4.25pm and 4.40pm.
He ruled out from inquiries a black VW Transporter van with a roof rack that police had previously circulated pictures of, though he stressed officers still want to trace a similar van with three alloy wheels and a distinct fourth spacesaver wheel, designed for temporary use.
He said a mountain bike found at the scene did not belong to the boy but was related to another individual unconnected to the incident, though he said the bike is still relevant to the police investigation.
Mr Edwards said: “We’re operating two particular theories, the first one and the priority line of investigation is that this is exactly as portrayed and reported, and that a child has been abducted from the roadside.
“The second theory that we are operating is that if you were at that location and involved in an incident yesterday involving your own child, or a child that you are connected to, we would urge you to come forward and make contact immediately in order that we can scale this investigation back and offer messages of reassurance to the public.”
Mr Edwards added it was “implicit” that a child would be in danger given the circumstances as it appears the child was taken “against their will”, although there was “no information to suggest a struggle”.
He also stressed the “credibility of the witness” as being important to their inquiries. There have been 130 reports by members of the public relating to the apparent abduction.