Police leading the search for a 14-year-old boy who has been missing for over a week have issued a plea for members of the public to stop flying drones in the area, as concerns for the teenager's safety intensify.
Search for Taylor Charlton
Taylor Charlton was last seen near a Tesco supermarket in the Seven Brethren area of Barnstaple, North Devon, on 8 May. Specialist teams from Devon and Cornwall Police, along with Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, the RNLI, and HM Coastguard, are conducting searches, particularly around the River Taw.
Hundreds of volunteers have joined the effort, sharing messages and pictures on social media or searching on the ground. However, the use of drones by some volunteers has raised concerns for authorities.
Police Warning on Drones
On Monday, Inspector Andy Wills stated: "We would kindly ask members of the public not to fly drones in the area while this search is ongoing. Drone flights are prohibited in the vicinity of the ongoing emergency service incident until further notice. The use of drones in or near the location poses a significant risk to the safety of emergency personnel and could hinder the investigation."
He added: "We know how much people want to help. If you are out looking, please take care and avoid putting yourself at risk, including entering unsafe buildings or going near the water." Wills also expressed gratitude: "I would like to sincerely thank everyone who has supported the search so far and those who have already shared information with us."
Description and Possible Leads
Taylor is described as approximately 5 feet 8 inches tall, of muscular build, with dark brown hair and a moustache. He was last seen wearing a bright blue fitted top, jeans, and bright blue Nike shoes. Over the weekend, the police force said it was "keeping all avenues of enquiry open," noting that one hypothesis is that Taylor may have entered the River Taw.
A pair of shoes believed to belong to Taylor were found near the river in the Tarka Trail area between Sticklepath and Bickington. A Facebook group called "Find Taylor Charlton" has amassed more than 8,000 members, sharing pictures of Taylor and locations that have been searched.
Anyone who sees Taylor or knows of his whereabouts is urged to call 999, quoting reference number 50260117084.
