Volunteers searching for missing mum Sarah Wellgreen have slammed reports they have been "stood down" by police in recent days.

A statement released by a volunteer search co-ordinator on the Search for Sarah Wellgreen Facebook page has blasted claims that volunteers were asked to stand down and that a group decision was made not to run searches in order to allow increased police operations to run without interference.

It also read: "Kent Police have asked we remain very much active. Hence why in this quiet period of searches we've been doing our very best to raise awareness of Sarah on social media."

Sharon Brine, who is one of the volunteer search co-ordinators, told News Shopper she, as well as other volunteers, are still "very much in contact with the police" and that "police are using our intelligence."

Sharon also said that the campaign has had issues with the media, such as the reports which claim they have been stood down by police investigators, regarding their reporting of Sarah's disappearance.

"Everyone [volunteers] is slightly sensitive at the moment. We just want to protect Sarah's children ," she said.

Sharon is one of six locals who are coordinating the volunteer searches for the missing mum of five. As well as managing search parties, they also help run the dedicated Facebook page and act as liaisons between search parties and Kent Police.

"It's taking six of us, 24/7, to keep this page rolling. That’s one area we’re playing a role. We're keeping a door open for anyone with information," she said.

Ms Hines, of New Ash Green said she got involved with the search efforts as she knew of Sarah through the local school which both of their children attended. However, she told of volunteers who have no connection to Sarah whatsoever but have become "emotionally involved" in the case.

"Everybody is emotionally involved in this case. It’s a very small village. The community and the extended community have been so amazing. We have people who don’t know Sarah but would want people to go out if it were their mum who was missing," she said.

Ms Brine also said that O2, her network provider, had given a number of volunteers and herself free credit and data as they were using their own phones to help coordinate search parties.

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Sarah Wellgreen was last seen in the Bazes Shaw area of New Ash Green during the evening of Tuesday, October 9 and was reported missing on Thursday October 11. She has not been in contact with her family since.

 

Detectives investigating her disappearance, which is now being treated as a potential murder, have now received more than 2,000 hours of CCTV from various locations near to where she was last seen.

Detective Inspector Chris Greenstreet of the investigation team said: "Our officers are continuing with a number of searches and are pursuing numerous lines of enquiry.

"I would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents and businesses in the area for sending us a significant amount of CCTV from more than 80 locations," said Det Insp Greenstreet.