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| Mother backs police over Shannon | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The mother of rescued schoolgirl Shannon Matthews says she understands why her daughter has not returned home. | The mother of rescued schoolgirl Shannon Matthews says she understands why her daughter has not returned home. |
| Karen Matthews said she understood police needed more time to speak to her daughter who was found on Friday three weeks after she disappeared. | |
| Police have rejected criticism of the length of time it took to find her in a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire. | |
| Ch Supt Barry South said if police knew where the nine-year-old was, they "would have been there in seconds." | |
| Shannon's stepfather's uncle, Michael Donovan, 39, was arrested on Friday. Shannon is in social services care. | |
| Police have been given more time to question Mr Donovan, formerly known as Paul Drake, who is being held on suspicion of abduction. | |
| Had we known at any time the whereabouts of Shannon we would have been there in seconds Ch Supt Barry South | Had we known at any time the whereabouts of Shannon we would have been there in seconds Ch Supt Barry South |
| Some local people have claimed they had raised suspicions about the address days before she was found. | |
| Ch Supt South of West Yorkshire Police made a statement outside a community meeting in Dewsbury. | |
| He said: "Let me put on notice... had we known at any time the whereabouts of Shannon we would have been there in seconds." | |
| He said Shannon's welfare was their "main priority" and she was "in safe hands". | He said Shannon's welfare was their "main priority" and she was "in safe hands". |
| "The big thing now is to get Shannon and her family back to normality," he said. | "The big thing now is to get Shannon and her family back to normality," he said. |
| "It's highly unlikely that she is coming home today." | "It's highly unlikely that she is coming home today." |
| Shannon Matthews was found in a flat on Friday afternoon | Shannon Matthews was found in a flat on Friday afternoon |
| Specially-trained officers interviewed Shannon on Saturday and Sunday. | Specially-trained officers interviewed Shannon on Saturday and Sunday. |
| Karen Matthews said: "I fully understand that the police need to keep speaking to Shannon to establish exactly what has happened during the time that she has been missing. | Karen Matthews said: "I fully understand that the police need to keep speaking to Shannon to establish exactly what has happened during the time that she has been missing. |
| "I appreciate that could take some time and is not something that is going to happen overnight. | "I appreciate that could take some time and is not something that is going to happen overnight. |
| "The most important thing is that Shannon is safe. | "The most important thing is that Shannon is safe. |
| "I have seen Shannon and I am completely happy that she is being very well looked after and is being given all the care she needs. | "I have seen Shannon and I am completely happy that she is being very well looked after and is being given all the care she needs. |
| "The police have been brilliant and I'm really grateful for all they have done for us." | "The police have been brilliant and I'm really grateful for all they have done for us." |
| She said a big party was planned for her return, to thank the community for all their support. | She said a big party was planned for her return, to thank the community for all their support. |
| 'Amber alert' | |
| 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. |
| The nine-year-old had been missing for 24 days, after she disappeared on the way home from school. | The nine-year-old had been missing for 24 days, after she disappeared on the way home from school. |
| Police have rejected claims by an MEP that she could have been found faster. | Police have rejected claims by an MEP that she could have been found faster. |
| 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. |
| West Yorkshire Police said it was "inaccurate" to suggest using the amber alert scheme would have resulted in Shannon being found any quicker. | West Yorkshire Police said it was "inaccurate" to suggest using the amber alert scheme would have resulted in Shannon being found any quicker. |