POLICE have said they are concerned about the welfare of a woman after medical items were discovered in woodland near Stroud.


An investigation is underway after the discovery of medical items, including a placenta, in a wooded area in South Woodchester.

According to police the items were found shortly before 7pm yesterday evening, July 26, by a woman who was walking her dog along a track that leads from Bospin Lane to Selsley Common.

The woman’s dog disturbed a plastic bag containing a bowl, within which was a placenta and some medical equipment.

Police have said the materials have been examined by a midwife, but it is impossible at this stage to say whether the placenta is from a human or an animal.


However, if it is from a human, the placenta is suspected to be from the birth of a baby of around 20 weeks gestation.

Enquiries have been made with local maternity units but none of them have admitted a woman who has given birth to a baby of that age.


DI Steve Bean, who is investigating the discovery, said: "Our overall concern is that there may be a woman who has medical needs, and equally there may be a very premature baby requiring urgent medical attention. 

“We need to hear from whoever left the items there or, alternatively, anyone who has information about who left them there straight away. I can guarantee that all calls will be dealt with sensitively. This is not a criminal investigation, it is purely aimed at ascertaining the welfare of whoever was involved in leaving the materials there."

Anyone with information is asked to ring 101 quoting incident number 433 of July 26.