COPS have launched an urgent hunt for a family who has been sleeping rough with an 18-month-old.
Officers are concerned for the toddler after a cot and tent were found in Queen’s Park, Brighton – where temperatures have been plunging to just 3C.
Cops last week found a cot in a freezing Brighton park
Officers fear a couple with a young child are sleeping rough
The public are being urged to keep an eye out for a petite blonde woman and slim 6ft man – in his late teens or early twenties.
They were last seen in the park on Wednesday December 6.
Detective Superintendent Kris Ottery said: “Since receiving a report of concern for welfare from a member of the public, we’ve had dedicated teams of officers working to identify these people and trace them, so we can make sure they’re safe and well.
“The female is described as petite / slim, approximately 5’ tall with blonde, messy-style hair and blue eyes. She is said to speak with a northern accent.
“The man is described as slim and at least 6’ tall. He was last seen wearing a black tracksuit and a scarf-type covering over the lower part of his face.
“The toddler is believed to be a boy with pale skin, blonde hair, rosy cheeks, and was last seen wearing a thick red snowsuit and black or dark blue wellington boots.
“The group are also believed to be in possession of a pushchair that is overladen with baggage.
“Specially-trained officers have been searching the park and other areas of interest, with the assistance of drones and the National Police Air Service helicopter, completing house-to-house enquiries, liaising with local transport networks and carrying out CCTV trawls in the vicinity.
“We have released photographs of the tent and cot as an appeal to any members of the public who may have seen these items in the area in the past couple of weeks. If you recognise these items or the descriptions provided, please contact us.
“Our priority is ensuring the welfare of all three people, particularly given the recent adverse weather. We are conscious they may have moved on from the Queens Park area and may have sought shelter elsewhere in the Brighton area.
“If you see anyone matching these descriptions, or if you have any other information that can help, please do get in touch.”
Anyone with information or a possible sighting is asked to call 999 quoting Operation Sorrel.
Earlier this year another manhunt was launched when Constance Marten disappeared with lover Mark Gordon.
The new mum had given birth in her car days before the pair fled on January 9.
Constance and Mark were located in Brighton on Monday, February 27, 2023, after a tip-off from a member of the public – 54 days after they had gone on the run.
However, their baby was not with them when police found the pair on a residential street shortly before 9.30pm.
At a press conference on March 1, 2023, police said the remains of a baby were discovered in a wooded area in Brighton, near to where the pair were arrested.
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