In Leicestershire this week, eight summer camp children were taken to hospital on suspicion of food poisoning.
This is all we know.
On Sunday 27 July, someone reported to Leicestershire Police that kids at a camp near Stathern Lodge, were feeling unwell. By Monday, police and paramedics were on-site. A triage centre was quickly set up at Plungar Village Hall, and after checking all the kids, eight of them were taken to hospital. Thankfully, they’ve all been discharged and are now back home.
The interesting part is that a 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious substance with the intent to injure or annoy. He’s still in police custody. And if that wasn’t serious enough, According to the BBC, the police watchdog (the IOPC) has now launched an investigation into how the police themselves handled the initial tip-off.
The IOPC says it’s looking into whether there were delays or failures in how the force responded to the early concerns about the children’s wellbeing. In short, did someone drop the ball when they should’ve acted faster?
At a press briefing on Thursday, reporters tried to get answers, What was the substance? How old were the kids? Were they all boys or girls? But the police, understandably, are being tight-lipped. They say the focus right now is making sure the kids are safe and supported, and that the investigation plays out properly.
Locals are stunned. Some say it feels bizarre, like something out of a movie. Others especially community members are rethinking whether they can still trust the area for future retreats. And who can blame them?
This is still unfolding. A public portal is now live for anyone with information. If you know something, say something.
