Police continue to appeal after human placenta found 3 weeks ago

Specially trained officers from dedicated departments across the force have been working around the clock trying to identify the mother and baby who may need medical care and help.

The discovery was made by a 15-year-old boy in the wooded cut-way off of Dale Road at 8.47am on Wednesday, June 21.

It sparked a major police appeal with search and rescue teams scouring the area searching for the mum and newborn baby.

Inquiries have included but were not limited to, checking CCTV footage in the area, house-to-house visits, DNA testing and following up on information provided by the public.

As part of the ongoing inquiries, police arrested a 30-year-old woman from Southampton on suspicion of concealing the birth of a child.

She has been released with no further action to be taken.

Southampton Chief Inspector Marcus Kennedy said the police continue to keep an ‘open mind’ about the factors which may be stopping the mother from coming forward.

He said: “While we as the police deal with crime, this is not the only thing that we investigate and we are highly trained to deal with unusual, sensitive and difficult situations.

“We do not know the full circumstances of what has happened here, but we currently believe that either a woman has given birth safely and she and her baby are both healthy and well, or that a woman has given birth in difficult circumstances and may need support and medical care.”

“We are keeping a really open mind and recognise that there may be factors outside of the control of the mother which may be preventing her from coming forward.

“Whatever has happened, the public’s help is crucial and we need to hear from anyone with information so that we can understand what has taken place. We know that this discovery is unusual and that local residents will be concerned for the person involved and her baby.

“We also know that people will have been concerned to hear that a woman has previously been arrested in connection with this incident, however, this was necessary and proportionate in order to help us gain vital information to be able to progress our enquiries, and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the individuals involved.

“This was just one of many lines of enquiry and we have now released the woman with no further action to be taken. Our absolute priority remains ensuring the welfare of the people involved and to understand what has happened.

“If you are the mother involved then we want to appeal to you to please make yourself known to a support agency – this does not need to be police, you could visit a doctor’s surgery, a hospital or a walk-in centre. I would like to thank members of the local community for all their support so far.”

Officers are now returning to houses in the area where residents were not at home when they originally visited.

Those living in the area will receive a card through their door saying that police have been at their address.

No matter how small or insignificant it might seem, anyone with information which could assist enquiries should not wait to be visited and are asked to get in touch with the police.

Anyone with information can call 101, quoting Operation Holdo or the reference number 44230246419.