Police share pictures of baby 'Edward' dumped in east London as they hope to trace his mother

27 January 2020, 12:57

Baby Edward is safe and well in hospital
Baby Edward is safe and well in hospital. Picture: Metropolitan Police

By Asher McShane

Scotland Yard has released pictures of a baby that was found abandoned in a street in east London as they issued a plea to find its mother.

The newborn has been named Edward by hospital staff after the passer-by who found him.

Police said they are growing “increasingly concerned” for the welfare of his mother.

The baby was found abandoned on the doorstep of a house in Hackney on Saturday.

Edward is currently in a hospital in east London where he is safe and well.

Baby Edward was found on a doorstep in east London
Baby Edward was found on a doorstep in east London. Picture: Metropolitan Police

Edward was found wearing a grey babygrow and a grey hat. He was also wrapped up in a white knitted blanket.

Detective Sergeant Andy Barry, from Central East Area Safeguarding Unit, told LBC News: “He is healthy, he is fit. Our concern is mum.

"Our focus is solely on finding her and making sure she is ok.

“We are treating mum as someone we are concerned about. We want to make sure the mum is OK.

“We would want anyone who saw anything to contact us.

“Edward is in a safe place, the best thing is that he is OK, at the moment he is getting treatment at hospital and he is OK.”

Detective Sergeant Barry said in a statement: “Baby Edward was only about 12 hours old when he was found abandoned on a doorstep in Sandringham Road. Edward is being well cared for by hospital staff and is a healthy, bonny lad.

“I am reaching out to Edward’s mother. You are my primary concern. I do not know the circumstances around Edward’s birth, but as a father myself, I understand how daunting becoming a parent can be. I can offer you help, please be assured that you are not in trouble. Edward is safe and well and your health and wellbeing is our priority.

“To anyone who may know Edward’s mother, I’d urge you to come forward and help me locate her - this can be done in confidence. 

“I’d also like to hear from anyone who was in the Sandringham Road area between 10am and 12pm on Saturday, 25 January. If you noticed anything or saw someone please contact us as a matter of urgency.”

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.