Jamie-Leigh Kelly: Child abduction arrest as police search for missing baby, toddler and mother

A man has been arrested on suspicion of child abduction, as police search for a missing mother and her two children.

Jamie-Leigh Kelly, 31, left a family assessment centre in north-west London on Tuesday (September 19) with her three-year-old daughter and newborn baby boy, the Met Police said.

Police say the children are under care protection orders and should not have been removed from the Colindale address which provides 24-hour social care support for vulnerable mothers and children.

At around 7.40pm Ms Kelly left the address with the children against the wishes of staff, who officers say were unable to prevent her from putting the children into a blue Ford Fiesta and driving away “at speed”. It is believed this was being driven by another woman.

Officers have now located the car and arrested a 30-year-old woman on Friday September 22 on suspicion of child abduction. She remains in custody.

A man in his 50s was arrested in connection with the investigation on Wednesday.

He was held on suspicion of child abduction and conspiracy to kidnap and remains in police custody for questioning in Essex.

Ms Kelly is described as white with green eyes, slim and about 5ft 4ins (1.6m) tall.

She was wearing a white long sleeved top, jogging trousers and trainers when she left the centre.

Ms Kelly has links to Thurrock in Essex and most recently Havering, east London, which is why the Met is leading the enquiries.

Det Sup Lewis Basford, who leads the Met’s Public Protection command in the East Area, said: “We are extremely concerned about the welfare of Jamie-Leigh and her children, one of whom is less than one-month-old.

“Jamie-Leigh, I am making a direct appeal to you to contact us so we can ensure the children are safe and well. We know you have no intention for the children to come to harm, so we are asking you to please pick up the phone and have a conversation with us so we can meet with you. The baby may need medical care as he is new-born, so please put him first and contact us on 020 7175 0793.”

Officers believe Ms Kelly is "being assisted" and has urged members of the public to call 999 immediately with any live sightings.