00:00.
00:30Good morning.
00:48Most definitely.
00:50Good morning.
00:52My name is Chief Inspector Vicks Hayward-Mealan.
00:54I'll now read a statement,
00:56but I won't be taking any additional questions at this time.
00:58I'd like to start by saying that this is a terrible and deeply distressing tragedy
01:03in which three young children have lost their lives.
01:06Our thoughts are very much with the children's loved ones
01:10who are going through a horrendous deal.
01:12We were first called by a member of the public
01:15who was concerned for the welfare of the occupants early on Sunday the 18th of February.
01:21Officers arrived at about 12.40am
01:24and found three children whose lives could not be saved.
01:29Forensic post-mortem examinations will now be carried out on the children
01:33to establish the cause of death,
01:35and it is important that we don't give further detail on this
01:38until the proper processes have been carried out.
01:41The post-mortem examinations are not likely to be completed until the middle to the end of this week at the earliest.
01:49Formal identification has not yet taken place,
01:52but we believe the victims are a boy aged seven, a girl of three and a ten-month-old boy.
02:01Their next of kin have been informed and are being given all of the help and support that they need
02:06by specialist family liaison officers.
02:09A 42-year-old woman was arrested at the scene and taken to hospital due to injuries that she had sustained.
02:16Her condition is not life-threatening and she remains in police custody at this time.
02:21Uniformed officers from neighbourhood policing teams will be in the area in the coming days
02:26to provide reassurance and support to the local community.
02:30So please do speak to us if you have any concerns or worries.
02:35It's important to stress that we are treating this as an isolated incident
02:38and we do not believe there to be any ongoing risk in the wider community.
02:43We've been humbled at the community response to this tragedy.
02:47At a time of great sadness and disbelief, we've seen spontaneous acts of care and support.
02:53Within hours of the incident occurring, a local church was opened up for people to gather and mourn.
02:59This is what being in a community is all about and we'd like to thank those who continue to offer important and selfless service.
03:07The death of such young children is a great shock to the whole community
03:11and this incident has had a profound and deep impact on all of us in the police.
03:16We'll be making sure that all of those involved in the response and the subsequent investigation
03:20are given any welfare support that they may need.
03:24I know people will be eager to have answers but the major crime investigation team
03:29are in the very early stages of what will be a highly sensitive, complex and thorough investigation
03:35and it will take time to establish all of the facts.
03:38We anticipate that we will need to carry out some further inquiries at the scene for the rest of the week
03:44and there will be some cordons in place while we do this.
03:47If you have any information which you feel could help, please do call 101
03:51and give the call handler the following reference, 52240-42788
03:58or alternatively contact us through our website.
04:02As is usual in the circumstances where there has been prior police contact,
04:06we have notified the Intervenant Office for Police Conduct
04:09and a mandatory referral has been made today.
04:13We'll provide further updates when we can. Thank you.
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