Girl abducted on way home from school prompting police appeal
A schoolgirl was abducted on her way home and driven for 90 minutes before managing to escape.
Schools across the Dudley borough have issued letters warning pupils to be vigilant after the 12-year-old was forced into a black taxi by four white men.
The vehicle stopped in Clent and the girl was able to get out and run away.
A member of the public found her and helped to call police. She was shaken but unhurt.
A letter issued by Earls High School in Halesowen warned parents to ensure that pupils do not commute to and from school alone.
It reads: “We have been made aware of a serious incident involving the abduction of a Year seven girl from a local Dudley Secondary School.
“The girl is safe and well but extremely distressed. The abduction involved a white male with a foreign accent who pushed a girl into a black taxi with two other white men.
“The taxi was then driven to Clent where the girl managed to escape from the men.
“Please can you be extra vigilant in the coming days and ensure that your child is not commuting alone to and from school.”
Officers are now interviewing the girl and conducting extensive CCTV enquiries to establish what happened.
Inspector Colin Mattinson, from Force CID, said: “The young girl is assisting us with this investigation and, although upset, she has not been physically hurt.
“We have had no reports of anything similar in the area and this would appear to be an isolated incident.
“I understand the concern and fear that such incidents raise in the community and I would urge anyone with information to contact us on 101.”