Ashya King and family

Hants police Chief Constable says Ashya situation ‘is not right’ (updated)

BBC reporter Jo Palmer has recently tweeted that Hampshire Police chief constable, Andy Marsh, said the Ashya King situation “is not right”, and his parents should be with him.

Many have accused the police of being heavy handed in the Ashya King case, after a European operation was sparked last week when the five year old’s parents removed him from hospital where he was receiving treatment for a brain tumour.

Media releases from Hampshire Constabulary reported the boy had been taken from Southampton Hospital “without consent”. The family were located in Spain and his parents, Brett and Naghemeh, are currently being held in custody by Spanish police.

In a letter to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), the government, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton General Hospital, Andy Marsh said:

“It is my view as chief constable that the situation today is not right.

“Irrespective of what has happened it is our view that Ashya needs both medical treatment and for his parents to be at his side.”

Hospital withdraw objections
Penny Mordaunt MP says,

“Southampton Hospital have now withdrawn objections to treatment do nothing should bar Ashya’s transfer to treatment centre of parents’ choice.”

Arrest warrant withdrawn
Simon Hayes Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire comments on developments in Ashya King case

Mr Hayes said:

“The Crown Prosecution Service has made the correct decision to withdraw the European Arrest Warrant. Now Mr and Mrs King can be reunited with Ashya and other members of their family.

“This is a very complex situation and I understand why Hampshire Constabulary took the action it did to request the issuing of the warrant. In light of today’s announcement by the CPS, I now need to be assured as to the quality of the information given by Southampton General Hospital to Hampshire Constabulary.

“Now that Ashya is receiving the medical assistance he requires and Mr and Mrs King will be reunited with him, this is the time to analyse decisions that were made.

“What is important is that the Ashya’s family can continue with their quest to get the medical support that he requires.”

Petition to reunite the family
A whopping 162,000+ people have now signed an online petition to reunite Ashya with his parents. You can find the petition at Change.org

Brett King explains
Ashya’s father, Brett, released the following video on YouTube on Sunday, explaining the reasons why they removed him from Southampton.

http://youtu.be/14ETQn9ZPwk