Latest information releasd in hunt for missing Hanwell teen
The investigation into the disappearance of 14-year-old Alice Gross continues as new CCTV leads confirm the last sighting of Alice was on a canal tow path.
Alice was last seen by her family at 1pm on Thursday, 28 August, when she left her home address in Hanwell. She told her family she would be home that evening, but she did not return.
She was captured on CCTV at 2.23pm on Thursday walking alone on the Grand Union Canal tow path in the vicinity of the Holiday Inn at Brentford Lock, TW8 8GA, heading in the direction of the River Thames. Enquires continue to establish if there are any further sightings of Alice after this point.
Alice is white, 5 feet 2 inches tall and of very slim build with shoulder-length, light brown hair. When last seen, she was wearing dark blue jeans and a dark green lacy cardigan. She was carrying a dark rucksack and may have been wearing denim blue 'Vans' shoes and tartan-framed spectacles.
Police are especially concerned as Alice has not been in good health recently.
Officers continue to conduct extensive enquires, including searches and house-to-house enquiries.
On Monday, 1 September Alice’s family made and emotional appeal for her to return home. Police also appealed for anyone who may have befriended Alice whilst on a song-writing workshop at the Camden Roundhouse in August to come forward and assist police with their investigation.
The investigation continues to be treated as a missing person’s inquiry but due to the high risk nature of this investigation and the concerns for Alice’s welfare the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) are now leading on the investigation but continue to be supported by officers from Ealing.
There is no information at this stage to suggest that anything untoward may have happened to Alice but detectives retain an open mind and consideration has been given to the fact that she may have become a victim of crime. This is only one line of enquiry but detectives stress that with the HMCC now providing additional resources and expertise to locate Alice they hope to return her home safe and well.
Detective Chief Inspector Andy Chalmers from the Homicide and Major Crime Command (HMCC) said: “As a matter of course the investigation has now been taken over by the Homicide and Major Crime Command but we continue to liaise closely with our borough colleagues to find Alice. It is not unusual in circumstances such as this for the HMCC to provide additional expertise and a fresh perspective to support and progress the investigation.
“I would like to stress that there is no change to the status of this investigation. This is and continues to be treated as a missing person’s inquiry and our involvement is due to the fact that we have a vulnerable missing young girl who needs to be located as a matter of priority.
“I would like to thank the local community and those who have kept the appeal in the public domain by using social media to highlight Alice’s disappearance. This has generated a number of leads and I would urge anyone who has any information that has yet to get in contact with us to please do.
“In particular I would like to speak with anyone who may have seen Alice on the Grand Union Canal or River Brent Towpaths during the afternoon of Thursday 28 August.”
Anyone who has seen Alice or has information that may assist the investigation should call the Incident Room on 020 8358 0100 or Ealing Missing Persons Unit on 020 8246 1018 or 101. Alternatively call the charity Missing People on 116000.
3rd September 2014