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Police
have insisted they did not ignore tip-offs about the location of missing
schoolgirl Shannon Matthews.
Questions have been raised about why it took 24 days to find the nine-year-old
less than a mile from her home in Dewsbury.
But Chief Superintendent Barry South, who is leading the investigation, has
rejected the criticism of the inquiry.
He said: "Let me put on notice that, had we known at any time the whereabouts
of Shannon, we would have been there within seconds.
"Ch Supt South would not be drawn on when the schoolgirl would be allowed to go
home, saying: "That's not for me to decide upon. We have got specialist people
working with her.
"They will advise as to how that needs to happen and, more importantly, when it
happens."
Detectives have until lunchtime to question a 39-year-old man on suspicion of
abduction.
Shannon was discovered in the base of a divan bed at the suspect's flat in the
Batley Carr area of Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, on Friday afternoon.
Her mother, Karen Matthews, released a statement backing the police's decision
to take Shannon into custody, saying: "I fully understand that the police need
to keep speaking to Shannon.
"I appreciate that could take some time"
"I have seen Shannon and I am completely happy that she is being very well
looked after and is being given all the care she needs."
"The most important thing is that Shannon is safe."
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