Four-year-old vanishes at Haden Hill Park as police appeal

A four-year-old boy was missing for several minutes after a report of an abduction at Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath, and West Midlands Police are now asking anyone with footage to come forward. The incident happened shortly after 3pm on Thursday near the fish pond while the child’s mother was tending to a baby. The boy was later found in woodland close by, but the case has left officers reviewing CCTV and trying to establish exactly what happened.

The Bottom Line

• West Midlands Police say the reported abduction happened at 3:00 BST on Thursday, 18 June.
• The boy, aged four, was playing near the fish pond when he went missing for several minutes.
• He was later found in nearby woodland close to Haden Hill Park.
• The child’s mother was tending to a baby at the time, according to police.
• The person alleged to be involved is described as a black male in his late teens, short, clean-shaven, with curled hair and wearing black clothing.

Breaking It Down

Police say the call came in after a routine afternoon in the park turned into something far more serious. The boy was playing near the fish pond at Haden Hill Park, off Halesowen Road, when he disappeared for several minutes. He was then found in woodland nearby, which is the detail that has driven the force’s appeal for witnesses and phone footage.

The description police have released is specific: a black male, late teens, short in height, clean-shaven, with curled hair and dressed in black. That matters because investigators are asking the public to think back to the moments around the park at the time, especially anyone who may have seen someone matching that description move through the area.

West Midlands Police said the boy and his family are being spoken to by specially trained officers as they work through the earliest part of the investigation. The force also said it believes this is an isolated incident, but that line does little to reduce the sense of alarm for families who use the park every day.

Extra officers remained in the area on Friday to offer reassurance, while CCTV checks continued. Police are also asking anyone who was in the park at the time, or who filmed anything on a mobile phone, to contact them. For a local community, that is the crucial next step: turning a busy park on a Thursday afternoon into a timeline that can be pieced together minute by minute.

Why This Matters

Haden Hill Park is a public space used by families, walkers and children, so a report like this lands far beyond one family. When an incident involves a child, a baby, and a park in broad daylight, it quickly becomes a wider question of safety, visibility and how fast help can be mobilised.

There is also a practical side to the appeal. The key evidence may already be sitting on a phone, in a dashcam clip or in a video posted without much thought at the time. Police are asking people to check what they captured around the fish pond and the surrounding woodland, because even a short clip could help confirm who was in the park and when.

“We believe this is an isolated incident”

What Comes Next

Police say they will keep extra officers in the area and continue reviewing CCTV from around Haden Hill Park. They are also speaking to the boy and his family as they try to establish the sequence of events.

Anyone with information is being asked to call 101 and quote log number 3966-180626. Those who want to stay anonymous can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

FAQ

What happened at Haden Hill Park?
West Midlands Police say a four-year-old boy was abducted while playing near the fish pond in Cradley Heath.

When did the incident happen?
Police say it happened shortly after 3pm on Thursday, 18 June.

Where was the boy found?
He was later found in woodland close to Haden Hill Park.

What does police say the suspect looked like?
Police describe the person as a black male in his late teens, short, clean-shaven, with curled hair and black clothing.

How can witnesses help?
Anyone with information, CCTV, or mobile footage is asked to contact police on 101 and quote log number 3966-180626.

How can people report it anonymously?
Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555111.