Missing Louise Smith: Families celebrating VE Day in Leigh Park are asked to look back at video footage as concerns deepen

Detectives desperately hunting for missing 16-year-old Louise Smith are calling on people who may have spotted her – or inadvertently captured anything on video during the VE Day commemorations earlier this month – to come forward.

In particular, they are urging anyone who may have been celebrating VE Day from their driveways, or motorists who may have passed through Leigh Park and Havant with dash camera footage, to come forward.

It comes as Havant’s top police officer today insisted the force believed Louise was still alive but warned her disappearance was ‘completely out of character’.

Chief Inspector Alex Reading, Havant district commander, said finding Louise was an ‘absolute priority’ and that they were still ‘actively searching’ for her.

But he said: ‘Louise hasn’t been in contact since VE Day and that is completely out of character for her.

‘Her family and ourselves at the police are very concerned for her welfare. This is not like her at all.’

He added: ‘We are still treating this as a missing-persons investigation and all of our work is supporting finding Louise safe and well.’

Louise was last seen at about midday on VE Day in Somborne Drive, Leigh Park. Officers confirmed this was not her home address.

Specialists from Hampshire Search and Rescue today resumed a large-scale search of Havant Thicket and Staunton Country Park areas. It will continue tomorrow.

Meanwhile, police have called on the entire Leigh Park community to check their VE Day footage.

Chief Insp Reading said: ‘We know a lot of people would have been out on their driveways on VE Day, and may have been filming the celebrations in their neighbourhood on camera or mobile phone.

‘If you were out celebrating or filming on VE Day in Leigh Park, we ask you to please take a look back over your footage to see if you captured Louise walking by.

‘Perhaps you drove through the area on VE Day and saw someone matching Louise’s description, or caught her on dash cam. Please check your dash cam footage from this day to see if it captured anything that could help our investigation.’

And in a fresh plea to the missing teen, Chief Insp Reading said: ‘Louise, if you are reading this, please call us and let us know you are OK. We just want to know that you are safe.

‘If you feel you cannot call us, then please call a friend or a loved one – we need to know that you are ok.’

Louise is white, about 5ft 2in, slim and has straight, black, shoulder-length hair.

She was last seen wearing black jeans, a black and white striped T-shirt, black trainers and a black coat with a fur hood on Thursday, May 7 – the day before she vanished.

However, police said they ‘can’t be certain’ that she might have been wearing this the day she disappeared or if she has worn them since.

Those with information should call 101 quoting 44200163113, or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information can also be submitted online at: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/44HC20E08-PO1

As part of the investigation, a 29-year-old man and a 29-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of kidnap. They have since been released on bail.

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