Kent: 15-year-old girl raped in park next to nursery as manhunt goes on
A teenage girl was raped “by someone she knows” in a park next to a kindergarten in a quiet town.
The 15-year-old was attacked on Wednesday evening at 7:30 p.m. at King George V Playing Field in the small Kent town of Sittingbourne – where police dogs, forensic vans and emergency vehicles were seen on the following day.
The young victim and the perpetrator are said to have known each other, KentOnline reported.
The gruesome crime took place in a park near the Queenborough Primary School and Nursery, which was forced to close its park gates.
The school tweeted: “The park next to the school has been cordoned off by police.
“It’s not related to school, but we were asked not to open the park gates this afternoon. Only the entrance doors will be open.
No arrests have been made and the police are still investigating.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: ‘Officers received a report that around 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday 29 September a 15-year-old girl was raped in a field near Edward Road, Queenborough.
“The officers believe the victim and the suspect know each other and treat the incident as isolated.
“No arrests have yet been made and investigations are ongoing.”
It comes as the UK grapples with gruesome details about the kidnapping, rape and murder of Sarah Everard.
Boris Johnson told The Times that police forces failing to take violence against women and girls “seriously enough” is “infuriating.”
But he went on to say that he thought the police were “basically on our side”, there were just issues that needed to be addressed.
Home Secretary Priti Patal echoed similar thoughts when she told the Telegraph: “This is a very clear message to the police to raise the bar.
“Treat everyone the right way. Make sure that when these crimes or issues are reported, people are treated with respect, dignity and seriousness. ‘
Many have called for the resignation of Met Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick, but there is no indication yet of this happening.
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