Missing 13-Year-Old Anisha: East London to Devon Police Hunt

Key Points

• Police are appealing for help to trace 13-year-old schoolgirl Anisha, who is missing from the Ilford area of east London.
• Anisha was last seen on Wednesday, 10 December, and concerns are growing for her welfare.
• She was last seen wearing a navy school uniform when she disappeared.
• Devon and Cornwall Police have said Anisha has known links to Tiverton in Devon.
• Officers believe she may have travelled from east London towards Devon, and she could now be in the Tiverton area.
• The appeal has been launched jointly with colleagues in London due to Anisha’s connections across both regions.
• Police are urging anyone who has seen Anisha, or who has information about her whereabouts, to come forward immediately.
• Members of the public are being asked not to approach Anisha directly but to call police with any sightings.
• Officers have released a description of the clothes Anisha was last seen wearing to help potential witnesses.
• Police have emphasised that every reported sighting is being taken seriously and followed up as a priority.

Why are police searching for Anisha across London and Devon?

Anisha was first reported missing after she failed to return home in Ilford, an area in east London, prompting officers in the capital to begin enquiries locally and with her family, friends and school. As her absence continued and initial checks did not locate her, the case was escalated and neighbouring forces were informed as part of standard safeguarding procedures.​

According to police, further enquiries established that Anisha has known links to Tiverton in Devon, leading officers to consider the possibility that she may have travelled out of London. This connection prompted Devon and Cornwall Police to join the appeal and widen the search area beyond the immediate Ilford locality.

What details have officers released about Anisha’s last known appearance?

Anisha was last seen wearing what police have described as a navy school uniform, a detail officers hope will help members of the public recognise her if she is seen in either London or Devon. The reference to a school uniform underlines that she disappeared on a weekday, in term time, when she would ordinarily be expected either to be in school or travelling between school and home.​

While police have not publicly set out a full physical description in the brief appeal information available, they have stressed her age and the distinctive clothing she was last seen in as key identifiers. Officers are expected to provide a more detailed description and potentially images through official channels as the investigation progresses, in line with safeguarding policies.​

How have Devon and Cornwall Police become involved in the case?

Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that Anisha has links to Tiverton, a town in Devon, and this information has significantly widened the scope of the search. This kind of cross-force cooperation is common when a missing person may have connections, family or friends in another part of the country, or when travel out of the original area is considered likely.​

By issuing an appeal that references both Ilford and Tiverton, police are signalling that sightings across a broad geographic area could be relevant. The force in Devon is working alongside colleagues in London to coordinate information, assess any reported sightings and allocate resources where they are most needed.​

What are police asking the public to do to help?

Officers are urging anyone who believes they may have seen Anisha, whether in Ilford, Tiverton or elsewhere, to contact police immediately with as much detail as possible about the time, location and circumstances of the sighting. Members of the public are typically advised to call the non-emergency number if they have information, or 999 if they believe Anisha is in immediate danger or can be seen at that moment.​

Police generally advise that people should not attempt to approach a missing child directly if it could put the child or themselves at risk, but instead should remain at a safe distance and contact officers at once. Every call is logged and assessed, and credible sightings can lead to rapid deployment of local officers to the area.​

How are forces likely coordinating the investigation?

In missing child cases that span more than one police force area, officers commonly share information through established national systems, while a lead force typically coordinates overall strategy. In this situation, the London force handling the original missing report and Devon and Cornwall Police, who are managing the Tiverton link, would be expected to exchange updates on lines of enquiry, digital and transport checks, and interviews with relatives or associates.​

This kind of coordination helps prevent duplication of work and ensures that any new information from one area is quickly shared with officers elsewhere. It also allows police to request assistance from transport operators, local authorities and community organisations in both London and Devon where appropriate.​

Why is the navy school uniform detail significant?

The mention of a navy school uniform is important because it provides a visual cue that can make Anisha more recognisable to people who may have seen her on public transport, in shops or on the street. Uniforms are often distinctive to particular schools or areas, and that can help jog the memory of potential witnesses who might remember seeing a pupil who appeared distressed, alone or out of place at an unusual time or location.​

In addition, the fact she was last seen in school clothing suggests her disappearance occurred in the context of a normal school day, which can guide police in retracing her movements from morning registration through to the point she was last confirmed to have been seen. Investigators commonly review CCTV from routes between schools, bus stops, train stations and town centres in such cases.​

What is known about the timing and circumstances of her disappearance?

Anisha has been missing since Wednesday, 10 December, a detail that places her disappearance firmly in the middle of the school week and has now led to a sustained period without confirmed contact. As each day passes without a safe sighting, police typically escalate their level of concern, particularly when the missing person is a child.​

Although detailed timings have not been publicly set out, the fact that an appeal has been issued shows that routine checks with friends, relatives, local hospitals and usual addresses have not led to her being found. When such checks are exhausted or fail to provide answers, forces generally turn to the public to broaden the search and generate new leads.​

How do appeals like this fit within wider missing child procedures?

Standard guidance for missing children in the UK stresses the need for swift action, careful risk assessment and close communication with families and partner agencies. Police classify cases based on the level of risk, with age, vulnerability and the circumstances of disappearance all contributing to how urgently resources are deployed.​

Public appeals, such as the one concerning Anisha, are a key part of these procedures when officers believe wider awareness could assist in locating a child safely. They also serve to reassure communities that the case is being taken seriously and that the force is actively seeking information rather than waiting passively for the child to return.​

What should anyone with information do now?

Anyone who has information that could help locate Anisha is urged to contact police without delay, quoting the relevant missing person reference if it has been issued publicly by the force. Even details that may seem minor or uncertain can be useful when officers are piecing together a child’s movements over time.​

People who believe they have seen a child matching Anisha’s age and clothing description in the Ilford or Tiverton areas, or on routes between London and Devon, are encouraged to share what they know as soon as possible. Timely information can be critical in missing child investigations, and police emphasise that community awareness can make a decisive difference in bringing a young person home safely.