Eight children were taken to hospital after falling ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire, with a 76-year-old man arrested on suspicion of poisoning.
Police officers attended the camp on Canal Lane in the village of Stathern at around 4pm on Sunday, 27 July, after receiving reports that a group of children were feeling unwell.
After being transported to a triage centre at the nearby village hall in Plungar, each of the children were assessed by the ambulance service and eight were taken to Queen’s Medical Centre as a precaution.
The children involved had been attended a summer camp at a youth centre called Strathern Lodge, which is owned by the Christian charity Braithwaite Gospel Trust.
Leicestershire Police were called to the camp in Stathern after receiving reports that children were unwell (PA)
A representative of the trust said that while they maintain the upkeep of the building, the centre is self-catered and is hired out by various organisations for education holidays and events. It has no direct involvement with the camp.
Each of the children has since been discharged, and their parents have been informed.
The 76-year-old man was arrested at the camp on suspicion of administering a poison with intent to injure, and remains in police custody.
On Thursday afternoon, a police cordon remained in place on Canal Lane just outside the small village.
Two police cars and three officers have been at the cordon while other police vehicles have been leaving the site.
The scene outside Stathern Lodge which had been hosting a children’s summer camp (Jacob King/PA Wire)
More officers could be seen in the distance beyond the cordon which has blocked off a stretch of the road.
Detective Inspector Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, said: “We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community.
“We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.
Describing it as a “complex and sensitive investigation”, he added: “Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies, including children’s service,s to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.
Eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution. Police remain at the scene to carry out enquiries (PA Video/PA Wire)
“We also remain at the scene to carry out enquiries into the circumstances of what has happened and to continue to provide advice and support in the area.
An East Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said that they attended the address in Plungar at 4pm after being alerted to a “medical emergency”.
They sent a number of resources including four paramedics in ambulance cars, ten crewed ambulances and the air ambulance.
Meanwhile, Leicestershire Police also said it has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) over what it said were the “circumstances of the initial police response”.
An IOPC spokesperson said: “We received a conduct referral on Tuesday (July 29) from Leicestershire Police relating to their handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children.
“Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC.
“The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour – namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities – that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police’s response to what was later declared a critical incident.”
