Woman Arrested After Two-Year-Old Found Alone In Bournemouth

16 December 2013, 17:58 | Updated: 16 December 2013, 18:11

A woman's been arrested on suspicion of child neglect after a two-year-old boy was found on his own in an alleyway in Bournemouth.

Detectives are appealing for witnesses and information after he was found unattended on Saturday 14 December.

Officers were called to the Charminster area of the town at 5.15pm following reports that a two-year-old boy had been found in an alleyway off Chelsea Gardens at the bottom of Malmesbury Park Road.

Detectives are investigating how the child came to be on his own and are particularly keen to hear from a good Samaritan who found the boy.

Detective Constable James Taylor, of Bournemouth and Poole CID, said:

“This is an unusual investigation and we are keen to establish exactly what happened.

“We know a woman found the boy unsupervised while she was out walking her dogs and handed him over to a couple who subsequently called the police.
 
“The woman did not wait for police to arrive carried on walking her dogs.

 “We are very keen to speak to this woman and I urge her to get in contact with me.”

A 34-year-old woman from Bournemouth was arrested on suspicion of child neglect and has been released on police bail pending further enquiries until the middle of January 2014.

Witnesses and anyone with information should call Dorset Police in confidence on 101 quoting incident number 14:378. Alternatively, call the free and anonymous Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111 where mobile phone tariffs may apply.