Police have issued an urgent plea for information after a newborn baby boy was tragically found dead inside a Marks and Spencer bag at a church in west London.
The Metropolitan Police is investigating after the body being found on Tuesday at All Saints’ Church in Notting Hill. Now, the Met has implored the infant’s mother to step forward, highlighting her potential need for critical medical care.
The public has also been asked to report any sightings of someone with a Marks and Spencer bag near the church on the day prior.
Briefing the media, Superintendent Owen Renowden said: “We were called at 12.46pm to All Saints’ Church near Talbot Road following the discovery of a newborn baby in a shopping bag. This was a black Marks and Spencer’s bag adorned with avocado images. The bag was discovered by a council refuse worker who immediately contacted the police. Officers attended alongside colleagues from the London Ambulance Service but very sadly the baby was pronounced dead at the scene.”
Superintendent Renowden added: “We can now confirm that the baby was a boy and we believe that he was a newborn when he died.”
Addressing the mother directly, the officer added: “She will likely be feeling really frightened and going through a really difficult time. We are really worried about her well being as she will have recently given birth. If you are the baby’s mother and you see this today, I want to appeal directly to you to come forward and seek help. My priority is to help you and make sure you receive medical assistance. You can do this at any time by attending any hospital, police station or by calling emergency services.”
He also appealed to anybody who might have information, asking for any witnesses who may have seen somebody in the area with an M&S bag or acting in an unusual manner.
This can be done by calling 101 or making an online report quoting reference 1879 and today’s date.
Deputy church warden Marcia Haynes said police searched the church after the baby was found. She said: “My prayers are with the family and poor baby. There was a church service and then the police came in they searched everywhere.
“I think they thought the mother may have been in here. It’s such a shock. They were in the toilets and everywhere.”
