Police appeal to trace girl's parents

The girl is currently being looked after by West Sussex County Council Children’s Services, as her birth parents are unknown.

A statement from Sussex Police said: “Attempts so far to find her birth parents have been unsuccessful. She may have been separated from her parents some months before.

“The name of the young girl is unknown but she has been called Jade and responds to that name. She may also have the surname Alma or Nakabugo.

“Her age is unknown but she is thought to be approximately 19 months old.

“The parents are not in trouble. West Sussex Social Services, Cafcass and the police want to trace them urgently and speak to them about their child.

“Jade is of Afro-Caribbean appearance. She has brown eyes and dark hair. She is an affectionate, sociable, bright and happy toddler who enjoys music and likes to dance and sing. She is inquisitive, active and enjoys the outdoors, loving to explore her environment, and has a love of climbing.”

Detective Sergeant Alexis Witek said: “At this point we really need to find out who this little girl’s parents are. She may have connections to Crawley and West Sussex as well as Tooting or South London more generally. We ask that anyone who may know anything about her speaks to us.

“We are appealing in particular to those in the local Crawley and West Sussex area, the wider Ugandan community, or anyone who knows of a woman who has been caring for a young girl meeting the description until recently.”

A spokeswoman for Cafcass said: “It’s really important that we make every effort we can to find this child’s parents, so she has a chance of growing up knowing her family background, and so that the best possible decisions about her future can be made.”

Anyone who knows the child or has information about her parents is asked to contact Sussex Police via [email protected] or by calling 101 quoting Sussex serial 990 of 05/07.

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