Search for April continues, say police

Published on 14/10/2012 01:49

POLICE looking for five-year-old April Jones have denied the search is being scaled down 13 days after she first went missing.

Officers from all over the UK have joined in with the hunt for April, while volunteers from the ambulance and the coastguard services are also continuing to search.

A spokeswoman for the Dyfed Powys Police said: “Over the weekend, the search for April Jones continues with teams carefully examining many different areas.

“The area in and around Machynlleth is large and we are continuing to put a huge level of resource into the search.

“As time passes and we work through the detailed plan, we will of course conclude our searches in particular areas.

“Whilst we have almost completed the searches in the town centre area, outside this small vicinity there is still a lot to do.

“The search continues at the same level of intensity that we have seen all last week.

“We have a number of areas and locations identified that require a detailed, methodical forensic search.”

Superintendent Ian John, leading the operation, said on Friday that officers remain committed to finding the little girl.

He said the search plan had been developed between the force’s own police search advisers and the national police search centre, which has consulted worldwide with others that have similar experience.

April vanished from outside her home as she played with other children in the mid-Wales town of Machynlleth on 1 October.

Mark Bridger, 46, appeared in court on Wednesday accused of abducting and murdering April, and of unlawfully disposing of, and concealing, her body with intent to pervert the course of justice.