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| Man, 76, arrested as Stathern Lodge summer camp children fall ill | Man, 76, arrested as Stathern Lodge summer camp children fall ill |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Police received a report of children feeling unwell at a summer camp on Sunday | Police received a report of children feeling unwell at a summer camp on Sunday |
| A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after children fell ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire. | A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after children fell ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire. |
| Leicestershire Police received a report from a third party about children feeling unwell at the camp at Stathern Lodge on Sunday, but the force did not attend the scene until Monday. | Leicestershire Police received a report from a third party about children feeling unwell at the camp at Stathern Lodge on Sunday, but the force did not attend the scene until Monday. |
| Police said officers went to the camp in Canal Lane and the children were checked over. Eight were then taken to hospital as a precaution and have since been discharged. | Police said officers went to the camp in Canal Lane and the children were checked over. Eight were then taken to hospital as a precaution and have since been discharged. |
| The man was arrested at a public house on Monday evening and remains in custody, police said. He was detained on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. | The man was arrested at a public house on Monday evening and remains in custody, police said. He was detained on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. |
| The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident. | The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it was investigating Leicestershire Police's handling of the incident. |
| Eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and later discharged | Eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and later discharged |
| Police said once emergency services had arrived at the scene, a triage centre was set up at Plungar Village Hall to assess all children present at the camp. | Police said once emergency services had arrived at the scene, a triage centre was set up at Plungar Village Hall to assess all children present at the camp. |
| Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and all have since returned home. | Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and all have since returned home. |
| The force said the investigation was now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit's major incident team. | The force said the investigation was now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit's major incident team. |
| Officers remain in Stathern, in the Melton district of Leicestershire and roughly eight miles from Melton Mowbray. | Officers remain in Stathern, in the Melton district of Leicestershire and roughly eight miles from Melton Mowbray. |
| They are carrying out further inquiries and providing reassurance to families affected and the local community. | They are carrying out further inquiries and providing reassurance to families affected and the local community. |
| Meanwhile, an IOPC spokesperson said it received a "conduct referral" on Tuesday from the force "relating to their handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children". | Meanwhile, an IOPC spokesperson said it received a "conduct referral" on Tuesday from the force "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," they said. | "Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC," they said. |
| "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." | "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." |
| Officers remain in Stathern on Thursday while investigation work continues | Officers remain in Stathern on Thursday while investigation work continues |
| Det Insp Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, added: "We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community. | Det Insp Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, added: "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. | "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. | "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. |
| "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." | "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." |
| At a press conference on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable James Avery would not elaborate on what substance the children came into contact with. | At a press conference on Thursday, Assistant Chief Constable James Avery would not elaborate on what substance the children came into contact with. |
| He also refused to comment on the ages or gender of the children involved. | He also refused to comment on the ages or gender of the children involved. |
| ACC Avery finished by reiterating that the care and ongoing welfare of the children involved is of the utmost importance. | ACC Avery finished by reiterating that the care and ongoing welfare of the children involved is of the utmost importance. |
| A dedicated major incident public portal has been set up, and anyone with any information is asked to report it online here. | A dedicated major incident public portal has been set up, and anyone with any information is asked to report it online here. |
| A cordon is in place in Canal Lane as inquiries take place | A cordon is in place in Canal Lane as inquiries take place |
| Local MP Ed Argar, Conservative member for Melton and Syston, described the reports as "clearly shocking" and "deeply concerning". | Local MP Ed Argar, Conservative member for Melton and Syston, described the reports as "clearly shocking" and "deeply concerning". |
| "Our thoughts are with the young people affected, wishing them a full recovery," he said. | "Our thoughts are with the young people affected, wishing them a full recovery," he said. |
| "While, understandably, people will have a lot of questions about what has happened, it is important we remember this is a live police criminal investigation, so I would caution against people speculating while the police do that work. | "While, understandably, people will have a lot of questions about what has happened, it is important we remember this is a live police criminal investigation, so I would caution against people speculating while the police do that work. |
| "I would, however, encourage the police to provide as much information publicly as they can, as soon as they can, but without prejudicing that vital investigation." | "I would, however, encourage the police to provide as much information publicly as they can, as soon as they can, but without prejudicing that vital investigation." |
| Isaac Ashe, a BBC reporter at the scene, said there was little in the area aside from a hospice charity shop and coffee spot. | Isaac Ashe, a BBC reporter at the scene, said there was little in the area aside from a hospice charity shop and coffee spot. |
| Phil Dewey, 75, who was out walking his dog, said he was "quite surprised to find police cars and an incident going on. It seems very bizarre". | Phil Dewey, 75, who was out walking his dog, said he was "quite surprised to find police cars and an incident going on. It seems very bizarre". |
| Elvas Madanombe, from the Friday Apostles church in Sheffield - which has regularly visited Stathern Lodge in the past - described the news as "horrific". | Elvas Madanombe, from the Friday Apostles church in Sheffield - which has regularly visited Stathern Lodge in the past - described the news as "horrific". |
| He added it was "unimaginable" and said the group would have to re-evaluate visiting the lodge next week. | He added it was "unimaginable" and said the group would have to re-evaluate visiting the lodge next week. |
| Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. | Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. |
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