A woman has been arrested on suspicion of infanticide, neglect, and concealing a birth following the tragic discovery of a newborn baby boy’s body outside a church in Notting Hill, west London.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that the arrest comes after a baby was found dead inside a black Marks & Spencer bag—decorated with avocado images—outside All Saints’ Church on Talbot Road on Tuesday, 25 March 2025.
The discovery was made shortly before 1pm by a local council refuse worker, who immediately alerted emergency services. Officers and London Ambulance Service personnel arrived at the scene but, tragically, the baby was pronounced dead.
Metropolitan Police superintendent Owen Renowden spoke during a televised press conference on Wednesday, issuing a heartfelt appeal directly to the baby’s mother. “We are really worried about her well-being,” he said. “She will have recently given birth and may be in urgent need of medical attention.”
Renowden continued: “If you are the baby’s mother, I want to appeal directly to you to come forward and seek help. My priority is to help you and ensure you receive medical assistance. You can approach any hospital, police station or contact emergency services.”
The baby was confirmed to be a newborn boy. Authorities believe he had only recently been born before being placed in the shopping bag and left outside the church.
Deputy church warden Marcia Haynes, who was present during a church service when the baby was discovered, described the scene as “shocking.” She said: “The police came in and searched everywhere. I think they believed the mother might still have been inside the church. They checked the toilets and the whole building. My prayers are with the family and the poor baby.”
The woman, whose identity has not yet been released, is currently in custody while the investigation continues.
The area surrounding All Saints’ Church was cordoned off throughout the afternoon while forensic teams examined the scene.
Police continue to appeal to the public for information and are asking anyone who may have witnessed suspicious activity in the Talbot Road area or who has relevant CCTV or dashcam footage to contact them via 101, quoting reference CAD 3431/25March.
Support Services:
If you have been affected by this incident or are in crisis, contact Samaritans free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org. For support with pregnancy or parenting issues, you can also contact Tommy’s or Birth Companions for specialist help.
This incident remains under active investigation. Further updates will follow as they are released by authorities.
