Latest in Tia Sharp investigation (From Croydon Guardian)
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Latest in Tia Sharp investigation
7:51am Friday 10th August 2012 in News
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Latest
- A body found at gran's house
- Mitcham 12-year-old Tia Sharp went missing from New Addington on Friday afternoon.
- Anyone with information should call the incident room on 0208 721 4005 or Missing People on 116 000 quoting reference 12MIS025216.
- One week on and the search continues
- Police have cordoned off gran's house in New Addington while forensic officers search it
9:10pm
Police have arrested Stuart Hazell. The arrest took place at 8.27pm this evening in Merton.
9:09pm
Police conducted three searches of Tia Sharp's grandmother's home before the discovery of a body this afternoon.
7:24pm
Police are searching Cannon Hill Common as part of the manhunt for Stuart Hazell.
Sources confirmed it is believed Mr Hazell may have been in the common between Morden and Rayne's Park earlier today.
6:33pm
Shocked volunteers who devoted hours of their time to search for Tia have said they are shocked by today's developments.
Eileen Minogue, 40, handed out 'Missing Tia' posters and searched woodland looking for the 12-year-old.
The mum-of-three said: "I feel disgusted, it is heartbreaking.
"I have just seen a cousin collapsing in tears at what happened in that house. I can't imagine what they are feeling."
6:13pm
Earlier, as police carried out a forensic search of the property.
6:02pm
People have reacted with shock, sadness and anger after police launched a man hunt for the step granddad of missing Tia Sharp after a body was found at the home her shared with her grandmother. Click here to read more reactions.
5:51pm
Hannah Williamson reports
Neighbours stand stunned and shocked as the news a body has been found in the home of Tia Sharp's grandmother spreads.
Ginny Oteng lives in front of Christine Sharp's property.
The 46 year old said: "I can't believe it, i am in shock.
"It is terrible, I have kids the same age.
"I was praying they would find her alive but the fact they didn't see her on the bus or on CCTV I thought maybe something had happened."
Another neighbour who did not want to be named, described the news as unbelievable.
"I saw him [Stuart Hazell] once or twice in the car park, only to say hello to. I didn't know his name until I read it in the paper."
5:16pm
Residents of the Lindens have described their shock at the discovery of the body.
Large groups of residents are out on the streets. People have been seen comforting each other and crying.
4:53pm
Police have said they have launched a murder enquiry after a body was found at Tia's grandmother's house, following a search of the property this afternoon.
Enquiries are also underway to establish the identity of the body.
A post mortem will be held in due course.
A police spokesman said: "We are seeking to find Stuart Hazel to be interviewed in connection with this case. He should not be approached and if seen people should call 999 immediately.
"There have been no arrests in connection with this investigation at this time."
The family of Tia Sharp has been informed of the discovery.
4:47pm
Hannah Williamson reports
Forensic officers are continuing to search Tia's grandmother's house.
Police have been looking for clues to the 12-year-old's disappearance in the terraced property since about 1.15pm.
Lots of residents have gathered behind the cordon to watch the police operation.
None of the family or friends who have visited the house in the last few days have appeared today.
3:50pm
The search of the Lindens could take as long as 2-3 days
3:33pm
Plain clothed officers are carrying out door to door enquiries as police, scene of crime officers and forensics search inside the terraced house.
2:56pm
2:34pm Fri 10 Aug 12
Pebbs04 says
Surely a search of the Grandmothers home and surrounding areas should have been one of the first things the police should have done, not a week later!!!
2:55pm
Forensic officers are searching the house in New Addington
2:02pm
Forensic officers wearing protective boiler suits are preparing to search the home.
1:54pm
Why on earth has it taken police a week to conduct a full forensic search of the house of Tia Sharp's grandmother and her partner? #findtia
— @davidwhite020 10 August 2012
1:47pm
DCI Nick Scola, who is leading the search for Tia, said: "This morning a member of the family left the address by agreement so we could carry out a planned forensic search of the property. This search will start shortly."
1:42pm
Hannah Williamson reports
Up to 30 police officers came along the alley and created a cordon outside the grandmother's house in the Lindens New Addington where Tia was last seen. The Met said this was part of a pre planned search but they have cancelled a planned 2pm conference so everyone is expecting major development in the case.
1:25pm
A Met police spokesman said: "The media briefing that was arranged for 2pm today, Friday 10 August, with SE London Area Commander Neil Basu regarding the disappearance of 12-year-old Tia Sharp has been postponed.
"The area around The Lindens has been sealed off as part of pre-planned search."
1:22pm
Up to 20 police officers have cordoned off the house at the Lindens.
1:18pm
Police are stopping cars as they enter the New Addington estate on the week anniversary of Tia's disappearance.
12:03pm
Tia's gran Christine Sharp has been taken away from the house by two detectives.
She is not wearing handcuffs and is not under arrest.
11:33am
Two police officers have left the house of Tia's grandmother carrying brown evidence bags.
One plain clothed officers and a family liason officer left the house, having spent about half an hour inside the terraced property.
One officer told reporters they were collecting "the remains of last night's evidence bags."
It is believed officers searched the property last night.
11:26am
Police Family liaison officers are this morning with the family of #TiaSharp at the grandmothers house #FindTia
— @mwilliamsthomas 10 August 2012
10:03am
Tia's gran Christine Sharp has spoken to reporters.
She said she wanted to see the appeal t-shirts on a bonfire and her beloved granddaughter home.
9:39am
The police have vowed to search relentlessly for Tia.
Commander Christine Jones from the Metropolitan Police said: "We've had some great support from the public.
"Obviously we are exploiting every piece of information coming in and all we would say is if you have any information please, please call us.
"We will continue to search relentlessly for her."
8:13am
Tia Sharp went missing from her grandmother's home in the Lindens, New Addington, on Friday August 3 at midday.
Stuart Hazell told police she had said she was heading to the Whitgift Centre in Croydon to buy shoes.
She is reported missing at 6pm after she failed to return home.
8:04am
Last night Tia's grandmother's partner gave an interview to ITN where he denied having anything to do with her disappearance.
Stuart Hazell, 37, who has convictions for drug dealing and possessing a machete, was taken to a south London police station by two detectives on Wednesday to help with inquiries.
He returned home later that evening.
7:57am
School girl Tia Sharp has now been missing for one week and there has still been no sign of her after she left her grandmother's house in the Lindens, New Addington.
Hundreds of volunteers and police continue to canvass the Croydon estate and the police are expected to expand their search today.
Ketsuban says...
10:00am Fri 10 Aug 12