Cops failed to issue Child Rescue Alert for girl who was kidnapped and raped despite it being reported within 15 minutes – and they say it was for her own SAFETY
Officers believed they would put the teen at further risk - even though she was snatched off the streets and raped
COPS investigating the rape of a 14-year-old have admitted they didn't put out a Child Rescue Alert - despite knowing she had been kidnapped 15 minutes earlier.
Thames Valley Police's Major Crime Team decided the teen could have been put at "further risk" - even though she had been snatched from the street by two men and then raped
The child's school and her own mother contacted police just 15 minutes after she vanished.
Cops failed to find her for three hours and later discovered her after she had knocked on doors in Marston, Oxfordshire, pleading for help.
The alarm was raised at 8.51am and Detective Superintendent Chris Ward claimed there was insufficient information at the time to activate a Child Rescue Alert.
The schoolgirl was abducted by two monsters as she walked to school. She was attacked in a silver VW hatchback and nearby woodland.
Police were only alerted after the “extremely traumatised” teenager, who had been wearing school uniform, was found knocking on doors pleading for help.
There was no public appeal for help and despite launching an immediate inquiry, cops did not trace her in time.
The traumatised teenager said the men who attacked her were both aged in their late teens and early 20s, one with blue eyes and blond hair.
A team of specially trained officers interviewed the girl at Oxford Police Station where she revealed she had been kidnapped and raped.
Thirty police officers have worked on the case while specialist officers from the National Crime Agency have also stepped in to help the investigation.
Det Supt Ward said: "We immediately followed the national guidelines for responding to a kidnap and a significant response following those guidelines was commenced. I am unable to provide any additional details of the operational activities.
"There was insufficient information at that time to activate a Child Rescue Alert. It is also not always appropriate to issue this kind of alert in the event of a child kidnap as this could put the child at further risk.
"At noon we were informed of a child trying to gain entry into a house in the Marston area and two officers were deployed to assist.
"The victim was brought to Oxford Police Station. She disclosed that she had been abducted and raped by two men. During the afternoon she was interviewed by specially trained officers who worked with the victim to clarify her account.
"Working with a young victim who has been through a traumatic experience can be a very slow process.
"Following the interview, the case and evidence was assessed alongside the need to provide guidance and reassurance to the public. The decision was taken that public guidance needed to be provided ahead of the school run the following morning and at 11.05pm a press release was issued."
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