Baby death probe: Detectives given more time to quiz three Portsmouth women

This morning detectives from Hampshire police’s major crime team were granted an extra 12 hours to quiz the Portsmouth women, 39, 21 and 20. They were arrested yesterday morning.

A search was being carried out at a property in All Saints Road, Buckland, yesterday just a minute's walk to the site at the corner of Victoria Street and Old Commercial Road where the infant was found dead at 6.18am on January 25 - just near Charles Dickens’ birthplace.

A police spokeswoman today said: ‘Officers have been granted a superintendent’s extension to allow officers to allow further questioning of the three women arrested yesterday morning.

‘We will update further with any significant developments.’

Police can initially hold suspects for 24 hours, before needing a senior officer’s permission to hold detainees for 36 hours. After this, magistrates’ approval is needed to hold suspects up to a maximum of 96 hours.

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