Authorities have arrested a man in connection with the alleged rape of a schoolgirl in south-west London.
Kadian Nelson, 26, and is believed to reside in the Mitcham area, was arrested by officers at around 8:00 pm this evening after police circulated an appeal to trace him and received a call from a member of the public. He is now being held in police custody.
The arrest came when the Metropolitan Police were called to the North Place area of Mitcham just after 7:00 am on Tuesday following the suspected rape of a teenage girl. Specially trained officers are now supporting the girl.
“Police have been conducting extensive inquiries today to locate Kadian Nelson after an allegation of rape was received shortly after 07:00hrs to the North Place area on Tuesday, 3 November,” Det Supt Owain Richards said in a statement. “A teenage girl is being supported by specialist officers.”
“I am appealing directly to Kadian to attend his nearest police station immediately or to call the police and inform us as to his whereabouts.
This is for his safety, as well as members of the public,” he said. “I recognize that this is a shocking and distressing incident and emotions locally are running very high. We are of course aware of videos and images circulating on social media, and of groups of people attending various addresses.
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“I urge those people to go home. Do not try to take the law into your own hands or you may end up doing something you regret and potentially face police action yourself,” Richards explained.
“You must allow us to do our jobs. It is imperative that we follow the right processes as we investigate this incident as any interference could potentially affect proceedings further down the line.”
“A Section 60 Order has been authorized for the entirety of the Borough of Merton and Wandsworth, granting police additional stop and search powers, as a result of fears of serious violence.”