76-year-old man arrested on suspicion of poisoning eight children at summer camp

Police in Leicestershire, England have arrested a 76-year-old man on suspicion of poisoning children at a summer camp.

When officers arrived at Stathern Lodge camp on Canal Lane, medical checks were conducted on the children. Emergency services set up a triage center at Plungar Village Hall to assess the condition of all the children present at the camp. Eight of them were taken to hospital as a precaution. All have since been discharged and returned home.

The incident took place at a camp held at Stathern Lodge and authorities were first alerted about a potential incident on Sunday. However Leicestershire Police did not attend the scene until the following day, prompting some to question their response.

Police said the suspect was arrested Monday evening at a nearby pub. He remains in custody on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious substance with intent to injure, aggrieve, or annoy.

“We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community,” said Detective Inspector Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer. “We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.”

The investigation is now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s major incident team. Officers remain on the ground in Stathern, which is located in the Melton district of Leicestershire. Police said they are continuing inquiries and offering reassurance to affected families and the local community.

Meanwhile, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) has launched an investigation into the police response. A spokesperson told the BBC that a “conduct referral” was received on Tuesday regarding how Leicestershire Police handled initial those initial reports.

“Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC,” they said.

“The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour - namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities - that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police’s response to what was later declared a critical incident.”

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