Third newborn abandoned in East London

ONE YEAR AGO police in East London recevied a report from a member of the public who said that they had found a new-born baby, wrapped in a towel, in a shopping bag near the junction of Grenway and High Street South, Newham, E6.

The baby was taken to hospital, where she was found to be well and was discharged. Hospital staff named her Elsa, and took her into care.

Police officers, however, were left with a sense of deja vue. And when the Met Child Abuse Investigation Team looked into this case, they found that baby Elsa was biologically related to two other babies who, when newly born, had been found in similar circumstances – on in 2017, and one in 2019. The parents of those babies have never been traced.

Detective Inspector Jamie Humm of the Child Abuse Investigation Team explained that the Team has been trying hard to find the parents. One line of inquiry is that the parents, or at least the mother, live in Plaistow or East Ham, and the police have appealed to members of the public for help in finding them. They believe that someone may have seen someone in the community who has been pregnant but does not seem to have a child.

DI Humm said, “We have serious concerns for the well-being of the parents, especially the mother.” He explained that because experts have recorded the DNA of the children, anyone reported by a witness and who is not involved can be quickly eliminated from inquiries. He confirmed that all three children are healthy and well.

Anyone who has any information is asked to ring the police on 101. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800-555 111 and give information anonymously. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Crimestoppers, a charity which is independent of the police, have now offered a reward of up to £20,000 for information given to them which leads to the identification of the babies’ mother. To qualify for the reward, you must give your information to Crimestoppers direct and not to the police.

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