Teenage girl missing in Wales: police issue urgent appeal 2026

Key Points

• The Gwent Police is searching for Lacey, a 13-year-old girl from Tredegar, who went missing in the area of Nantybwch at about 5.50am on Friday, 11 September 2026.
• According to the police, Lacey is connected with Bath and Bristol and have asked for any information on her whereabouts to be passed onto them by using the log reference 2600298094.
• Lacey is described as being approximately 5ft 5in tall with black hair, wearing a grey sweatshirt with red writing on it, black leggings and a large black-blue shoulder bag.
• Members of the public are asked to contact Gwent Police on 101, via the force’s website or through social media messages and Lacey herself is advised to contact the police to assure that she is safe.
• This report was published by WalesOnline and the South Wales Argus on 14 September 2026 with additional reports on social media and news aggregators on 15 September 2026.

Wales (Wales Times) September 15, 2026 — Gwent Police have issued an urgent appeal for information after a 13-year-old girl from Tredegar was reported missing having last been seen in the early hours of Friday, 11 September 2026.

What do we know about the missing teenager Lacey?

Lacey, who is 13 years old and from Tredegar, was last seen in the Nantybwch area at approximately 5.50am on Friday, 11 September 2026, according to Gwent Police. Officers say she has connections to Bath and Bristol in England, which they highlighted as part of their appeal.

As reported by WalesOnline, police described Lacey as around 5ft 5in tall with black hair. She was last known to be wearing a grey sweatshirt with red writing, black leggings, and carrying a large black-blue shoulder bag.

How can the public help Gwent Police find Lacey?

Gwent Police are asking anyone with information about Lacey’s whereabouts to contact them by calling 101, visiting the force’s website, or sending a direct message on social media. When providing information, the public should quote the log reference number 2600298094.

In addition, officers have directly urged Lacey to get in touch with police to confirm that she is safe and well.

Where was Lacey last seen and what was she wearing?

According to the South Wales Argus, Lacey was last seen in the Nantybwch area at around 5.50am on Friday, 11 September 2026. The report, which included an image issued by Gwent Police, reiterated the description of her clothing and the large black-blue shoulder bag she was carrying.

WalesOnline similarly reported that she was last seen in Nantybwch in the early hours of 11 September and provided the same physical description and clothing details.

Which media outlets have covered the police appeal?

The missing person appeal was first covered in detail by WalesOnline on 14 September 2026 in a report headlined “Girl, 13, from Tredegar missing for days”. The South Wales Argus published a closely aligned account on the same day under the headline “Gwent Police appeal as Tredegar girl, 13, reported missing”.

Further dissemination of the story occurred on 15 September 2026 via news aggregators and social media, including a post on X (formerly Twitter) that linked to the WalesOnline report and noted the girl had been missing for days.

What details have Gwent Police provided so far?

Gwent Police have confirmed that Lacey has been reported missing since early on Friday morning, 11 September 2026. A police spokesperson told the South Wales Argus that Lacey is known to have links to the Bath and Bristol areas.

WalesOnline quoted the force as saying anyone with information should contact Gwent Police via 101, the website, or social media direct messages, quoting log reference 2600298094. Both outlets carried the same description of Lacey’s height, hair colour, clothing and bag.

Background to the development

Missing person appeals involving teenagers are a recurring feature of policing in south Wales, with forces regularly issuing public requests for information when young people are uncontactable for extended periods. In recent weeks, other cases involving missing adolescents have been reported across the UK, including in the New Forest, Stroud and Westmeath, illustrating the broader context in which Gwent Police are operating.

In this instance, the timing of the appeal—issued several days after Lacey was last seen—underscores the concern of both police and family, and the reliance on public assistance to establish her current location and welfare. The inclusion of potential links to Bath and Bristol suggests investigators are considering the possibility that she may have travelled some distance from Tredegar.

Prediction: how could this development affect the local community and wider audiences?

If Lacey is found safely, the case is likely to reinforce community confidence in the effectiveness of police appeals and the willingness of local and regional media to amplify such messages. For residents of Tredegar, Nantybwch and surrounding areas, the incident may prompt heightened awareness of safeguarding issues involving teenagers and increased vigilance when unfamiliar young people are seen in public spaces.

For families with adolescents, the coverage may serve as a prompt to review safety plans, including agreed check-in times and clear guidance on what to do if a young person goes missing. For Gwent Police and partner agencies, the outcome of the search—whether swift resolution or a prolonged investigation—could influence future resourcing and communication strategies around missing children cases.

Beyond south Wales, the story contributes to an ongoing national conversation about missing children and the role of cross-border cooperation, given Lacey’s reported links to Bath and Bristol. Should similar cases arise, the methods used in this appeal—including social media direct messaging and specific log references—may be adopted or adapted by other forces seeking to maximise public engagement.