Eight children have been taken to hospital after an alleged poisoning at a summer holiday camp, as police arrested a 76-year-old man.
Leicestershire Police have revealed they were called to a report of youngsters feeling unwell at a camp in Stathern, near Melton Mowbray.
Residents in the nearby village of Plungar have described ‘chaotic’ scenes following the suspected poisoning – in what was described as ‘every parent’s worst nightmare’.
Paramedics helped set up a triage centre to assess all children present at the camp.
June Grant, 83, former bookings secretary at its village hall, said: ‘I live near the village hall and there were so many sirens.
‘You could hear the ambulances and police cars whizzing around the village.
‘It was pretty scary but such good news that the children are okay.’
Another resident, who lives near the hall, said: ‘It was pretty chaotic with emergency workers running around everywhere. I saw a few children in tears as they walked into the hall.
‘It’s like every parent’s worst nightmare dropping your child at summer camp and then being told they might have been poisoned.’
Officers said a 76-year-old man was arrested at the camp on suspicion of administering poison/a noxious thing with intent to injure/aggrieve/annoy.
He remains in custody, police added.
Leicestershire Police said in a statement: ‘Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and have all since been discharged.
‘Officers have contacted the parents or guardians of those children who were taken to hospital.’
The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s Major Incident Team.
Detectives and uniformed officers from the Melton and Rutland Neighbourhood Policing Area remain in Stathern today carrying out further enquiries.
They are also intending to provide ‘reassurance to families affected as well as the local community’, Leicestershire Police added.
Det Insp 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.
‘Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children’s services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.
‘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.
‘This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can.’
The force told of having referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct watchdog, saying this was related to the ‘circumstances of the initial police response’.
The IOPC said: ‘We received a conduct referral on Tuesday 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.’
A dedicated Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP) has been created. Anyone with any information in relation to the investigation is asked to report online here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/33EM25I63-PO1.