Greater Manchester Police intensify efforts to locate 14-year-old who vanished from Halliwell Road whilst wearing slippers and carrying backpack
Police have launched an urgent appeal to find missing teenager Carla, who has not been seen for six days after vanishing from a residential street in Prestwich, Greater Manchester. The 14-year-old girl was last spotted on Halliwell Road at around 6pm on Saturday, September 20, sparking growing concerns amongst officers and her family.
Greater Manchester Police confirmed that “extensive” investigations are underway to locate the missing teen, who was wearing a grey hoodie, grey leggings and brown slippers when she disappeared. Officers revealed that Carla, whose surname has not been released by police, was also carrying a backpack at the time she went missing.
The force has taken to social media to widen their search, with officers becoming “increasingly concerned” about the teenager’s welfare after nearly a week without contact.
Description and Last Known Location
Carla is described as a black female, approximately 5ft 7ins tall and of medium build. She was last seen in the St Mary’s ward area of Prestwich, a suburban town within the Metropolitan Borough of Bury that sits just north of Manchester city centre.
Halliwell Road, where the teenager was last spotted, is a residential street in Prestwich with a mix of social housing and private properties. The area has a notably high concentration of young families, with census data showing 26% of residents are under 15 years old.
“Officers are becoming increasingly concerned about her and want to make sure she is safe and well,” a Greater Manchester Police spokesperson stated in their appeal.
Wider Context of Missing Children
The disappearance comes amid concerning statistics showing someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK, with over 170,000 people reported missing every year. Of these, nearly 75,000 are children.
The timing of Carla’s disappearance is particularly worrying for investigators. Whilst 79% of missing children are typically found within 24 hours, and 90% within two days, less than 2% of children remain missing for longer than a week. With Carla now missing for six days, her case falls into this rare category that demands heightened urgency.
Missing children cases often involve complex circumstances. Research suggests that as many as 7 in 10 children are not reported to the police when they go missing. However, Carla’s case was reported promptly, allowing police to begin their investigation immediately.
Police Investigation Intensifies
Detective teams from Greater Manchester Police’s Bury division are coordinating the search effort from their district headquarters. The force has allocated significant resources to the investigation, with officers conducting door-to-door enquiries in the Prestwich area and reviewing CCTV footage from the vicinity of Halliwell Road.
The unusual detail that Carla was wearing slippers when she vanished has raised particular concern amongst investigators, suggesting she may not have intended to travel far from home initially. The presence of a backpack, however, indicates some level of preparation for her departure.
Sources close to the investigation suggest officers are examining Carla’s digital footprint, including social media accounts and mobile phone data, to establish any patterns or contacts that might indicate her whereabouts.
Community Response
The Prestwich community has rallied to support the search effort, with local residents sharing appeals across social media platforms. The town, which has a population of approximately 195,000 in the wider Bury metropolitan borough, has seen increased vigilance from residents checking local parks, shopping centres and transport hubs.
Local youth services and schools in the area have been alerted to watch for any signs of Carla. The proximity of Prestwich to Manchester city centre, connected by the Metrolink tram system with stops at Prestwich, has prompted Greater Manchester Police to extend their search parameters to include the wider metropolitan area.
National Statistics on Missing Teenagers
According to the College of Policing, over 170,000 people are reported missing each year in the UK, resulting in around 330,000 missing incidents for police to respond to. Almost two thirds of these incidents relate to missing children, who are at an increased risk of being victims of crime.
The National Crime Agency reports that teenagers aged 14-17 represent a significant proportion of missing children cases, often involving factors such as family conflict, mental health issues, or peer pressure. More than half of missing children have experienced conflict at home, with 1 in 5 feeling forced to leave.
Missing Persons charity experts emphasise that the longer a child remains missing, the greater the potential risks they face, including exploitation, harm from others, or exposure to dangerous situations.
Police Appeal for Information
Greater Manchester Police are urging anyone with information about Carla’s whereabouts to come forward immediately. The force has established a dedicated incident room and allocated the reference number log 2918 of 20/09/25 to the case.
“Have you seen Carla (14) from Bury?” the force posted on their official social media channels. “Any info? Call 0161 856 2476 quoting log 2918 of 20/09/25.”
Officers are particularly keen to hear from anyone who may have seen Carla in the Halliwell Road area on Saturday evening, or who has spotted someone matching her description in the days since. Police stress that even seemingly insignificant information could prove crucial in locating the missing teenager.
What Happens Next
As the search enters its seventh day, Greater Manchester Police are expected to escalate their efforts further. This may include expanding the geographical search area, increasing media appeals, and potentially involving specialist units trained in locating missing children.
The force’s Major Incident Team remains on standby should the investigation require additional resources. Police helicopters and dog units have already been deployed in targeted search areas around Prestwich and neighbouring districts.
Members of the public are advised not to conduct their own searches but instead to report any potential sightings immediately to police on 999 if they believe they have seen Carla, or 101 for non-urgent information that might assist the investigation.
Anyone with information can also contact the Missing People charity’s free and confidential 24/7 helpline on 116 000, or report sightings through their website.
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