Police believe missing couple and new born baby could be camping out in sub zero temperatures

The missing couple who police began searching for after their car caught fire on the M61 earlier this month are now believed to be sleeping in a tent in the London area

Met Police Detectives are urgently appealing to the public to help them find a newborn baby who they believe has been sleeping in a tent in sub-zero temperatures.

The team of officers working around the clock to trace Constance Marten, 35, Mark Gordon, 48, and their newborn baby, have established that they went into Argos on Whitechapel Road, E1, on Saturday, 7 January to buy camping gear.

Mark went in alone and bought two big bags full of items, paying in cash, including a blue two-man tent, two sleeping bags and two pillows.
He left the store then spent slightly more than three hours walking around the Whitechapel Road area.

They tried to flag down three black cabs, but were refused.

They then left the area on foot and were last seen walking along Brick Lane, towards Bethnal Green Road, at 10pm that night

Mark is often seen walking alone ahead of Constance and the baby.

This is the last official sighting of the family.

Detective Superintendent Lewis Basford, who is leading the investigation, said: “

We are extremely concerned that a newborn baby – less than a week old at the time on 7 January – has been exposed to sub-freezing cold temperatures if Mark and Constance have been camping out somewhere as our evidence suggests.

“No child, especially a tiny, newborn baby, should be forced to endure such dangerous, potentially life-threatening, conditions.

“This is why it is absolutely vital that anyone with information about their whereabouts contacts us as a matter of urgency – whether it is with a recent or older sighting. Every piece of information is crucial to enabling us to find the baby and ensure it is okay.

“My officers will continue working tirelessly behind the scenes to piece together the family’s movements and current whereabouts. It could be that they are trying to blend in with homeless communities, either here in London or further afield, or they could be camping in more rural or wooded areas.

“They could be absolutely anywhere in the country. Please keep your eyes peeled, especially while you are out and about in waste ground or beauty spots, or while you’re walking the dog, and report any information, no matter how insignificant you think it is, to us.”