'High risk missing' Gosport woman makes hoax call claiming she was locked up - sparking frantic police rescue search
and live on Freeview channel 276
Several police officers, the National Police Air Service (NPAS) in situ with a helicopter scouring the area from above and members of Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) frantically tried to locate the 24-year-old woman after receiving a desperate call for help at 1.12am on Friday morning.
But after attending the allotment just off Camden Street, Gosport, police were unable to find the apparent victim.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdAttempts were made to contact the female by phone but with no response and increasing concerns for her welfare Hampshire police upgraded its response - before eventually locating her.
‘We were called by a woman reporting she had been locked in an allotment against her will. On attendance officers could find no one at the allotment and call takers were unable to make contact with the woman, she was then treated as a high-risk missing person,’ a police spokeswoman said.
‘Resources were deployed to locate the woman, who was eventually located at an address on Cobden Street. The report was found to be false and the woman was given a community resolution for malicious communications.
‘A number of officers and NPAS were deployed also, as well as HFRS to assist with heat sources within the allotments.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad‘The initial report was that someone had locked her in the allotment against her will.’
A firefighter from Gosport, who attended the incident, said: ‘We were called out to help with the police. We weren’t given all the details but it appeared to be in relation to a missing person.
‘It seemed quite serious as there were lots of police and a helicopter. We were there until around 3am.’
Police were unable to confirm details of the community resolution, however these are typically aimed at first-time offenders for less serious crimes that give an individual a second chance and spare them criminal justice proceedings.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdVictims can have a say in resolutions with outcomes ranging from an apology to compensation or offer to make amends.
Police confirmed the woman making the false claim was from Gosport.