South Wales Police have launched an urgent appeal to locate a missing 13-year-old schoolgirl who disappeared from Cardiff on Friday evening.
Jemimah was last seen at 8.52pm on Friday, 22 August, in The Hawthorns area of Cardiff. The teenager has not been seen or heard from since, prompting police to issue an immediate public appeal for information about her whereabouts.
The missing schoolgirl was wearing a cream kimono jacket, sweatshirt, leggings and white trainers when she was last seen. Police are particularly concerned given the young age of the missing child and the time elapsed since she was last sighted.
Police Issue Public Appeal
South Wales Police released details of the missing teenager on social media, urging anyone with information to come forward immediately. In their appeal, officers provided a reference number for the public to quote when contacting them.
“Last seen at 8:52pm yesterday (Friday August 22) in the area of The Hawthorns wearing a cream kimono jacket, sweatshirt and leggings and white trainers,” the police statement read. “If you have any info, please contact us quoting 2500270872.”
The specific time and location details suggest police have been able to establish Jemimah’s last known movements through witness accounts or CCTV footage, which is standard procedure in missing person investigations.
The Hawthorns Area Search
The Hawthorns is a residential area in Cardiff comprising several streets with postcodes including CF23 7AN, CF23 7AP, CF23 7AQ, CF23 7AR, and CF23 7AT. The area contains hundreds of residential properties, making a thorough search challenging for officers.
Located approximately three miles north of Cardiff city centre, The Hawthorns is a suburban neighbourhood that would typically be quiet during the evening hours when Jemimah disappeared. The timing of her disappearance, just before 9pm on a Friday evening in August, means there may have been residents returning home or out for evening walks who could have witnessed something significant.
Police searches in missing children cases typically begin with the immediate area where the child was last seen, expanding outwards in a systematic pattern. Officers will be conducting door-to-door enquiries, reviewing CCTV footage from nearby properties and businesses, and searching local parks and open spaces.
Standard Missing Person Protocols
When a child goes missing in Wales, South Wales Police follow established protocols designed to maximise the chances of a safe return. These procedures include immediate risk assessment, deployment of specialist search teams, and coordination with partner agencies including local authorities and child protection services.
Detective Sergeant Leanne Heaven, who works on missing person cases for South Wales Police, has previously explained that time is of the essence when vulnerable individuals go missing. The force uses multiple investigative tools including CCTV analysis, financial and phone enquiries, and interviews with family, friends and associates.
Social media appeals are deployed strategically when they can help reach large numbers of people quickly. However, police must balance the need for public assistance with safeguarding considerations and the missing person’s right to privacy.
Public Asked to Check Gardens and Outbuildings
Members of the public living in The Hawthorns area and surrounding neighbourhoods are being asked to check their gardens, sheds, garages and any outbuildings where a frightened child might seek shelter.
Parents in the area are also being urged to ask their children if they have seen or heard from Jemimah, as young people often confide in peers rather than adults.
Local residents with CCTV, doorbell cameras or dashcam footage from Friday evening are particularly encouraged to review their recordings and contact police if they capture anything that might be relevant to the investigation.
How to Help
Anyone who sees Jemimah should not approach her if she appears distressed but should immediately call 999, keeping sight of her if safely possible until police arrive.
Those with information about her whereabouts or who may have seen her since Friday evening should contact South Wales Police immediately on 101, quoting reference number 2500270872.
Information can also be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or via their website.
South Wales Police have emphasised that any information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, could prove crucial in locating Jemimah safely. Even sightings from earlier in the day or week could help officers build a picture of her movements and state of mind.
Missing Children Statistics
According to the charity Missing People, a child is reported missing every three minutes in the UK. The vast majority of missing children are found safe and well within 48 hours, but the first 24 hours are considered critical in any missing person investigation.
Young people go missing for various reasons, including problems at home, fear of punishment, peer pressure, or exploitation. Police stress that their primary concern is always the safe return of the missing child, regardless of the circumstances of their disappearance.
As the search for Jemimah continues, police resources will be focused on following up any leads and sightings reported by the public. The investigation will remain active until she is found safe and well.
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