Key Points
- People are requested by North Wales Police to get in touch with investigators if they had visited the streets of Bangor in the Siliwen Road and Ashley Fields areas from 30th August to 27th September.
- Pictures and videos taken close to the waterside of the Menai Strait in Siliwen in this timeframe are sought after, even those which might not appear to be significant.
- This comes in the wake of the recovery of a body of a newborn girl found near the shoreline in the area of Siliwen Road on 27th September.
- According to a post-mortem, the baby may have been in the water for about two or three weeks; further investigations and testing are being carried out.
- A special phone number for the baby’s mother to reach a professional confidentially: 07974 241223.
- Information can be provided to police by telephone on 101 with regard to Operation Melex, or by using the Major Incident Public Portal online service. The information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers.
Bangor (Wales Times) October 2026 — North uk/police/">Wales Police have renewed their appeal for information in the investigation into the discovery of a newborn baby girl’s body on the Menai Strait shoreline, asking local walkers to provide photographs or videos taken in the area during the weeks before she was found. Officers say even images that appear to show nothing significant may assist their enquiries.
The girl was discovered close to Siliwen Road in Bangor on Sunday, 27 September. As reported by David Powell of the Daily Post, detectives are seeking images recorded between 30 August and 27 September, and are also asking anyone who routinely walked around Siliwen Road and Ashley Fields during that period to get in touch.
Superintendent Llinos Davies said officers were continuing local enquiries and consulting national experts to establish what happened. She asked people to submit relevant images to the Major Incident Public Portal, saying investigators would review them to assess whether they could help.
The renewed request is one part of a wider investigation known as Operation Melex. Police have not publicly established the circumstances of the baby’s death or identified her mother. They have said their concern includes finding the mother and ensuring she can receive appropriate support.
What images and information do police want?
Investigators are asking for photographs and videos taken around the Menai Strait shoreline at Siliwen from 30 August to 27 September. They also want to hear from anyone who regularly walked in the Siliwen Road and Ashley Fields areas during those weeks, whether or not that person recalls seeing anything unusual.
The appeal is not limited to images that clearly show a person or an event. Superintendent Davies said even material that seems insignificant should be submitted, so officers can assess whether it has investigative value.
The police portal identifies the discovery area as the coastal area near Gorad Road, Bangor. The Daily Post and Hits Radio coverage describes the shoreline near Siliwen Road. The public appeal refers to images taken in and around the Menai Strait shoreline at Siliwen.
People can upload information through the Major Incident Public Portal. Those who prefer to speak to police can call 101 and quote Operation Melex. The police portal also advises that anyone with urgent information or immediate concerns about an individual should call 999.
What is known about the discovery?
North Wales Police said a member of the public reported finding the newborn’s body at 16:51 on Sunday, 27 September, in the coastal area near Gorad Road, Bangor. The force said it was working with partner agencies to establish the circumstances.
A post-mortem examination identified the baby as a girl. In earlier reporting, BBC Wales journalist Antonia Matthews said police had been told the newborn may have been in the water for up to a few weeks before she was found. Further tests were planned to establish more information about the baby.
That finding has not resolved where or when the baby entered the water. The police investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced a conclusion about the circumstances surrounding her death. Details beyond those released by police should therefore be treated cautiously.
Why are police appealing directly to the mother?
Police have repeatedly asked the baby’s mother to contact them, emphasising that her welfare and safety are a priority. A specialist phone line has been established specifically for her to speak with a trained professional confidentially. Superintendent Davies said the specialist’s role was to listen and help, and urged the mother not to be afraid to reach out.
The number is 07974 241223 and is intended strictly for the mother to seek specialist help. Police have said that if calling feels too difficult, she could consider telling someone she trusts—such as a friend, relative, neighbour or healthcare professional—who may help her make contact.
The appeal also includes the baby’s father and anyone who might have relevant information, including friends, family, neighbours or colleagues. Police have asked people to come forward if they know of a woman or girl who may have been pregnant or whose behaviour changed in a way that concerned them. BBC reporting quoted Superintendent Davies as saying names would be treated with discretion and that people should not speculate about the circumstances of the baby’s death.
How can people share information?
Anyone who has relevant photographs or videos can submit them through the Operation Melex public portal. The portal is intended for information that could assist the investigation.
Other contact routes reported by police and local media include:
- Call 101 and quote Operation Melex for non-urgent information.
- Call 999 if there is urgent information or an immediate concern about an individual.
- Contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
- The baby’s mother can call or text the dedicated specialist line on 07974 241223. That line is reserved for her support.
The request for images covers the full four-week period before the baby was found. Police have not suggested that every image will contain relevant evidence; they are asking the public to let investigators make that assessment.
Background: How the investigation developed
The investigation began after the member of the public reported finding the newborn’s body on the Bangor shoreline shortly before 17:00 on 27 September. Police notified the coroner and began working with partner agencies to establish what had happened.
After a post-mortem examination revealed the baby was a girl and initial indications suggested she may have been in the water for up to a few weeks, police renewed their appeal for her mother to come forward. They also sought information from people who might know someone who had recently been pregnant or whose behaviour had changed.
The force subsequently established the dedicated phone line for the mother. Its latest appeal adds a specific request for photographs and videos of the Siliwen shoreline from 30 August to 27 September, as well as information from people who regularly walked nearby. The investigation remains active, and the latest police appeal does not announce that the mother has been identified or that the circumstances have been determined.
Prediction: What could the appeal mean for local residents?
For Bangor residents and people who visited Siliwen during the specified period, the practical effect is a request to check photographs and videos already taken in the area and share anything relevant with police. An everyday image may record a detail that is difficult to recall later, but investigators—not the public—will decide whether it matters.
The appeal may also lead to further police contact with people who regularly used the area or submitted material. That is part of information-gathering and does not, by itself, indicate wrongdoing. Residents should avoid speculation about individuals or the circumstances of the baby’s death and use official police channels for information. The investigation’s outcome remains unknown.
