Risk to aristocrat's missing baby 'extremely high’ with 200 officers searching

Police ‘hold hope’ that the missing baby of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon is still alive – but have warned ‘risk to the child is extremely high’.

More than 200 officers are hunting for the newborn following the mother and her partner’s arrests in Brighton last night after nearly two months on the run.

They were detained on suspicion of child neglect and remain in police custody.

An urgent hunt has been launched for the baby across a large area between Brighton and Newhaven amid cold weather.

Many officers are currently focusing on the Roedale Valley Allotments in the seaside city and surrounding woodland near Golf Drive.

Locals have been urged to remain ‘vigilant’ in areas of open land and check any outbuildings they own.

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In a briefing this afternoon, a Met Police spokesperson said: ‘Whilst we hold hope that the baby is still alive, we agree that the risk to the baby is extremely high.

‘More than 200 officers have been engaged in the search and officers arrived within 6 minutes after the 999 call yesterday that led to the arrests of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon.’

The couple had avoided police since the infant was born in early January.

They moved around the country, paying for everything in cash and covering their faces when on CCTV.

But a tip-off led to them being detained at around 9.30pm on Monday by officers from Sussex Police in Stanmer Villas.

Marten’s father has said it is a huge relief that his daughter has been found, but it is ‘very alarming’ that his grandchild remains missing.

Napier Marten, a former page to the late Queen, told the Independent he loves his daughter dearly.

But he added that it would have been ‘far better’ if the couple had handed themselves in earlier.

Police will hold a press conference to offer an update on the case at 4pm.

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