Mum’s anger after bungling cops issue picture of her son in missing child appeal for a completely different boy
Nike said she was horrified to see her son's photograph being shared on an appeal saying he was missing
A MOTHER has spoken out of her anger that a photograph of her 14-year-old son was shared as part of a missing person's appeal - even though he has never had contact with police and was NEVER missing.
Panicked Nike said her son Emmanuel had started receiving calls from his friends, asking if he was OK and worried for his wellbeing - with the family quickly realising that his photograph had been shared on the Missing People's website.
Investigating online, she said she found a photograph of her son, who is only 14, attached to a report calling for information to find missing teen Noble Nwokocha - who had been last seen on December 31 last year.
She told the Sun Online: "My son came into my room to tell me that his friends were calling him, and that he was pictured online saying that he was missing.
"He was really troubled about it and I said, 'You are just being pranked' but he said no, it's real."
The panicked mum contacted Missing People, telling them that they had the wrong photograph - with the charity telling her they had been provided with the photograph from police.
But this simply left Nike even more concerned.
She said: "I see no reason why the police would have my son's picture in their database for any reason without my knowledge. He has never had an issue with the police anywhere before.
"Emmanuel was so scared that for a few days he could not sleep thinking this picture could have been used for something more serious that could have landed us in trouble and that he wants me to ensure his picture is taken down."
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The report was quickly taken down, with a new appeal - using the correct photograph - later posted.
The family lives 50 miles from where the true missing person, Noble Nwokocha, was last seen - with Nike telling the Sun Online that the family doesn't know the missing boy "at all".
Nike said: "People are not aware that they can be pictured by police without their knowledge.
"It might look simple to other people but it's not simple to me."
Met Police said: "On Tuesday, January 10 police were informed that an incorrect photo was supplied to Missing People for the purpose of an appeal.
"The image was changed to the correct person and the appeal updated.
"The image was supplied to the charity by Enfield police.
"Officers are in the process of speaking to the parents of the person incorrectly featured in the appeal to explain the circumstances of what happened.
"Officers mistakenly sent the wrong photo after it was obtained during the course of the investigation."
A spokeswoman for Missing People UK said: "Missing People is an independent charity which provides additional services to compliment the work of the police such as publicity appeals when somebody goes missing.
"Publicity is done only when requested by the police force dealing with the missing person case, and all information and images publicised are provided to the charity by the police."
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