Baby Elsa found in East London also has abandoned sister and brother

A newborn baby abandoned in sub-zero temperatures in Newham, east London, in January has two siblings who were found in similar circumstances in 2017 and 2019, a court heard.

On Monday, a judge at East London’s Family Court ruled that reporting restrictions could be changed to allow the bond between the three children to be published, following an application by the PA news agency and the BBC.

Elsa, named by the hospital staff in reference to the extreme cold in which she was found and the main character in the Disney animated film Frozenwas discovered by a dog walker at the junction of the Greenway and High Street South in Newham on January 18.

She was left in a shopping bag and was found about an hour after she was born.

DNA tests confirmed that Elsa has a brother and sister, known as Baby Harry and Baby Roman, who were found abandoned in similar circumstances in the same area of ​​the capital.

Judge Carol Atkinson ruled that the restrictions should be lifted to allow the relationship between the children to be reported, saying it was needed for “open justice”.

She said: “Abandonment of a child in this country is a very, very unusual event and there are years when there are no abandoned children and because of that the story of a child being abandoned is of public interest. “

She continued: “For the same reason, in our society today, of enormous interest and importance, people know that there is a mother and a father out there who felt the need to give up their children in this way, three times, and that is of considerable interest, it seems to me.

“If I restrict those rights and the reporting of that story, I think that has an impact on public awareness of these types of matters. It limits the openness of justice.”

A pilot scheme to increase transparency in the family court system, which started with three courts in 2023, was extended earlier this year to allow accredited journalists and legal bloggers to report on cases in 16 courts in England and Wales.

Reporting restrictions limit what can be published to protect the anonymity of those involved.

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The children’s parents have not yet been identified, as the Metropolitan Police’s investigation into their identity is ongoing.

Baby Harry was found abandoned in a park area off Balaam Street, Newham, at around 8.20am on September 17, 2017. He had been wrapped in a white blanket.

Baby Roman was found abandoned by dog ​​walkers in a small children’s play park on Roman Road, near the junction with Saxon Road, at approximately 10.15pm on 31 January 2019. At the time, freezing temperatures and snow capital.

Both children, who have been renamed, have since been adopted. But Elsa remains in foster care.

Solicitor Kate Claxton, representing Newham London Borough Council, previously told the court that the ongoing investigation meant Elsa’s birth could not be registered, so no final decision could be made about her care.

Officers believe a woman seen in the area just before Elsa was found may have vital information.

The woman was wearing a large dark-colored coat with a light-colored scarf or hood around her neck and was carrying a backpack.

The Met said it carried out extensive inquiries, including media appeals, reviewing CCTV, going door-to-door and examining forensic evidence.

Met Detective Inspector Jamie Humm said: “We understand the significant public interest that will come from lifting the restrictions that allow this information to be reported. It is significant news and our work has been focused on trying to locate the mother and provide her with support.

“We have been working 24/7 in each of these three cases to identify the parents, so far without success.

“We also had to be mindful of the sensitivities that exist now, all children are looked after. Their well-being, including their privacy, is paramount.

“We are continuing to investigate and will consider the next steps in our investigation.”

Additional reporting by PA news agency