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Shannon police given extra time | Shannon police given extra time |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Detectives have been given more time to question a man suspected of abducting schoolgirl Shannon Matthews. | Detectives have been given more time to question a man suspected of abducting schoolgirl Shannon Matthews. |
The nine-year-old was found in a divan bed in a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, more than three weeks after she disappeared from nearby Dewsbury. | The nine-year-old was found in a divan bed in a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire, more than three weeks after she disappeared from nearby Dewsbury. |
Officers arrested her stepfather's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, formerly known as Paul Drake, on Friday. | Officers arrested her stepfather's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, formerly known as Paul Drake, on Friday. |
Police have rejected claims by an MEP that she could have been found faster. Shannon is now in social services care. | Police have rejected claims by an MEP that she could have been found faster. Shannon is now in social services care. |
Mr Donovan and Shannon were found by police in two concealed compartments under a divan bed at the flat in Lidgate Gardens, just one mile from Shannon's parents' home in Dewsbury, on Friday afternoon. | Mr Donovan and Shannon were found by police in two concealed compartments under a divan bed at the flat in Lidgate Gardens, just one mile from Shannon's parents' home in Dewsbury, on Friday afternoon. |
A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that specially-trained officers had interviewed Shannon on Saturday, and would continue to speak to her on Sunday. | A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said that specially-trained officers had interviewed Shannon on Saturday, and would continue to speak to her on Sunday. |
Police said she was "on the road to recovery following her ordeal". | Police said she was "on the road to recovery following her ordeal". |
Its use would have been wholly inappropriate in this case and the suggestion it could have somehow speeded up Shannon's recovery is totally inaccurate West Yorkshire Police | Its use would have been wholly inappropriate in this case and the suggestion it could have somehow speeded up Shannon's recovery is totally inaccurate West Yorkshire Police |
Yorkshire MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has said police should have carried out more checks on Shannon's family. | Yorkshire MEP Edward McMillan-Scott has said police should have carried out more checks on Shannon's family. |
He also said if police had used a missing child alert like those used in other countries, known as an amber alert, Shannon would have been found sooner. | He also said if police had used a missing child alert like those used in other countries, known as an amber alert, Shannon would have been found sooner. |
A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police defended the force. | A spokesman for West Yorkshire Police defended the force. |
He said: "We would like to make it clear that UK Police Forces currently have available the Child Rescue Alert scheme. | He said: "We would like to make it clear that UK Police Forces currently have available the Child Rescue Alert scheme. |
"This is designed for use in potential child abductions where a vehicle or partial vehicle details are known. | "This is designed for use in potential child abductions where a vehicle or partial vehicle details are known. |
"As such its use would have been wholly inappropriate in this case and the suggestion it could have somehow speeded up Shannon's recovery is totally inaccurate." | "As such its use would have been wholly inappropriate in this case and the suggestion it could have somehow speeded up Shannon's recovery is totally inaccurate." |
Karen Matthews celebrated being reunited with her daughter | |
The search operation was the force's biggest since the Yorkshire Ripper case. | The search operation was the force's biggest since the Yorkshire Ripper case. |
Shannon's relieved mother, Karen Matthews said on Saturday: "I never gave up hope and now she'll be able to come home and sleep in her room again. | Shannon's relieved mother, Karen Matthews said on Saturday: "I never gave up hope and now she'll be able to come home and sleep in her room again. |
"We've got her pink bedding which she'll love. | "We've got her pink bedding which she'll love. |
"We're just happy to be a family again. That's all we've wanted - Shannon back and safe - now the family is safe again," she said. | "We're just happy to be a family again. That's all we've wanted - Shannon back and safe - now the family is safe again," she said. |
West Yorkshire Police said Shannon had spent "a comfortable and settled night" on Friday watching films and playing with a kitten after she was found. | West Yorkshire Police said Shannon had spent "a comfortable and settled night" on Friday watching films and playing with a kitten after she was found. |
Shannon has been made the subject of an emergency police protection order, which will be in place "as long as is necessary", police said. | Shannon has been made the subject of an emergency police protection order, which will be in place "as long as is necessary", police said. |