Police visit 800 homes in Portsmouth baby death investigation

INVESTIGATORS have visited 800 homes as they search for answers to explain the death of a newborn baby girl found dead in a Portsmouth street.
By Ben Fishwick
Published 25th Feb 2020, 17:28 BST
Updated 25th Feb 2020, 18:16 BST
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The infant was found exactly a month ago - on January 25 - at the junction of Victoria Street and Old Commercial Road in Buckland.

Hampshire police previously said they were extremely concerned about the mother's welfare, and officers have now said it is ‘not too late’ for anyone to make contact.

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Five people spotted on CCTV between 5am and 6.18am in Old Commercial Road, who were the subject of a public appeal, have since been identified as simply passers-by.

Pictured is: Police in Buckland after a baby girl was found dead on January 25 at 6.18am. Picture: Keith Woodland (25012020-72)Pictured is: Police in Buckland after a baby girl was found dead on January 25 at 6.18am. Picture: Keith Woodland (25012020-72)
Pictured is: Police in Buckland after a baby girl was found dead on January 25 at 6.18am. Picture: Keith Woodland (25012020-72)
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But police are still reviewing a week’s worth of CCTV footage obtained from more than 60 places. This includes shops, tower blocks and home cameras.

Experts from the National Crime Agency have been drafted in to help with geographical profiling. This is a technique police use to try and narrow down where a person may live.

Toxicology and forensic tests are continuing, police said. A post mortem was inconclusive.

Inspector Louise Tester pictured with a yellow towel similar to the one officers recovered from close to the scene, believed to have been used to wrap up the infant. Picture: Sarah Standing (300120-5171)Inspector Louise Tester pictured with a yellow towel similar to the one officers recovered from close to the scene, believed to have been used to wrap up the infant. Picture: Sarah Standing (300120-5171)
Inspector Louise Tester pictured with a yellow towel similar to the one officers recovered from close to the scene, believed to have been used to wrap up the infant. Picture: Sarah Standing (300120-5171)
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A Hampshire police spokeswoman said: ‘We still have a large, dedicated team working on the investigation into the discovery of a baby girl’s body in Portsmouth four weeks ago.

‘More than 800 homes have been visited as part of the extensive house-to-house enquiries in and around the Buckland area, where the baby was found on the morning of January 25.’

SEE MORE: Flowers and soft toys mark a week since newborn baby girl was found dead

She added: ‘Our priority still remains finding the mother of this baby and we continue our work with our partners in health and education in Portsmouth and the wider Hampshire area, in a bid to identify anyone who may have information about how this baby girl came to be found at the junction of Victoria Street and Old Commercial Road.

‘It is not too late for anyone with information to come forward and speak to us.

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‘We appreciate that this may have been a very difficult time but you can still help. Please call us on 101, quoting 44200030626.’

A yellow Primark towel found feet away from the baby girl, who was discovered at 6.18am, may hold the clue to who the mother is, police previously said. The afterbirth was not found, prompting more concerns about the mother's wellbeing.

See mipp.police.uk/operation/44HC20E02-PO1