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Body found in search for Havant teenager Louise Smith

Body found in search for Havant teenager Louise Smith

Body found in search for Havant teenager Louise Smith

A body has been found in the search for missing Havant teenager Louise Smith, 16.

Officers are treating the death as suspicious.

Police said the body was found in Havant Thicket.

No formal identification has been made but family of the Havant teenager have been made aware of the find.

Earlier this week, Hampshire Constabulary issued a fresh appeal, requesting that members of the public help find the 16-year-old who was last seen at midday on VE Day, May 8, in Somborne Drive, Leigh Park.

They asked for any VE Day footage which was taken in the area to be send in for analysis.

On Thursday evening officers closed off the main entrance to Havant Thicket, one of the two areas being searched by police since Saturday.

A Hampshire police spokesperson said:

“We are treating the death as suspicious, and are continuing to investigate the circumstances.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Scott Mackechnie added:

“Today officers located a body in an area of woodland in Havant Thicket.

“We know that news of this discovery will be very upsetting for the community, so I want to reassure you that we will be working around the clock to establish what has happened.

“We will endeavour to provide you with further updates as soon as we can, but in the meantime we’re asking the community not to speculate on the circumstances, and instead provide all information to the police in the first instance, as this is crucial to helping our enquiries.

“Thank you to everyone in the community who has offered their support so far and has assisted us with this investigation.”

It comes after a man and a woman, both 29, were arrested on May 15 on suspicion of kidnap.

They were later released on bail until June 11.

No further arrests have been made. The body was found late yesterday morning, and the discovery was announced yesterday evening.

Contact Gi Portsmouth
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk

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