Brantham searches continue for missing three-year-old Noah Woods

Searches are continuing today for a three-year-old boy who went missing in Brantham.

Police can now confirm the last confirmed sighting of Noah Woods was from CCTV in the park is at 2:37pm yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 15 September, when he became separated from a relative after visiting the playground in Merriam Close.

He is reported to have run off down the alleyway beside the playground towards nearby new-build housing estate.

Since Noah was reported as missing, officers have carried out multiple enquiries, including the deployment of specialist search officers and dog units.

Search efforts have been assisted by helicopters from the National Police Air Service and HM Coastguard. Additional assistance on the ground has been provided by HM Coastguard, Suffolk Fire & Rescue Service, Suffolk Lowland Search & Rescue, with a significant number of members of the public.

These searches are continuing today, Wednesday 16 September. Officers are continuing to review CCTV and doorbell opportunities, while further house-to-house enquiries are to be conducted. Additional foot, aerial and thermal searches are also planned.

Noah is described as non-verbal, has partial hearing loss and is currently undergoing an assessment for autism. As a result of these vulnerabilities, he will not respond to his name.

He is described as white, with curly ginger hair. He is wearing a white Bluey T-shirt, shorts and black Vans trainers with a white stripe.

Images and CCTV footage of Noah’s last movements at the playpark have now been released.

Superintendent Tom Pearse said: “It has now been around 24 hours since Noah was reported as missing to us and we are doing everything we can to find him.

“We are extremely grateful for the support shown by the public. If you are helping please report into the co-ordination centre to ensure the search continues to be done in a systematic and co-ordinated fashion. This will ensure we can carefully plan and take account of people supporting the search. We politely ask people to avoid open waters and railways – these are areas that require specialist and professional expertise. We also ask that personal drones are not used as these can interfere with specialist search equipment. 

“There may also be times when officers may need to restrict access to certain areas or move away from search locations. Please do not be offended if this happens; it is necessary to allow us to carry out our enquiries and search activity as effectively as possible.

“There may also be times when officers may need to restrict access to certain areas or move away from search locations. Please do not be offended if this happens; it is necessary to allow us to carry out our enquiries and search activity as effectively as possible.

“This is being treated as a missing person investigation at this stage and there is nothing to indicate anything sinister or any element of criminality has taken place although we keep an open mind as to the circumstances.  

“We continue to call on local residents to please check your gardens, sheds and outbuildings, or any other place a child may have be hidden or sought shelter.

“Please also review CCTV or doorbell cameras, and for motorists travelling in and around Brantham to review any dashcam footage from 3pm yesterday.”

Anyone who believes they have seen Noah or may know where he is is asked to contact Suffolk police. 

Anyone with any other information can report it via the following methods:

An incident online reporting form has been set up for any members of the public who wish to submit information. Public Portal

The public can also use this number 0800 051 6076 to report any related important information. The public are advised to use this number rather than 101.

Alternatively, you can use our Live Chat service by clicking the icon at the bottom right corner of our website here: Home | Suffolk Constabulary

Please note if you see Noah you should phone 999.