We wish to thank the Metropolitan police, the people of London and the wider online community for the kindness and support afforded to us when our son, who has a learning disability, went missing in Covent Garden on the evening of 21 October (Boy, 15, found safe after 36 hours missing, theguardian.com, 23 October).
The Met recognised his vulnerability and launched a large search, with sustained effort over the following two nights. We cannot praise them enough for their effort, professionalism and compassion. The officers we encountered were superb and we know many more were searching strenuously – often, I understand, staying on after their shifts in their anxiety to find him.
It is only now that we are learning of the extraordinary number of people around the country who worried and acted to help in any way they could. Police, charities, friends and family engaged with the media, putting out his photo, and I know there were thousands of messages across social media spreading the word, with ultimate success.
Any parent can understand what a nightmare this was, and as we searched we were shown compassion and a willingness to help by people in all parts of the city. The kindness of strangers was a support beyond words and sustained our hope that, with so many good people around, he would be found. Every encounter helped lift our spirits. I would particularly praise the homeless people I met. I am sorry they were disturbed at night in the searching, but heard few complaints and saw a genuine interest and sympathy in their offers to watch for him, which was humbling. I suspect also some people may have helped by feeding Benjamin, thinking him homeless but without realising his true circumstances.
The efforts of everyone in spreading the word on social media eventually paid off when he was found by a Christian man looking in Waterloo. To him, his wife who had sent him Ben’s photo and the unknown web of messages that led to her, we are particularly grateful.
We cannot know all those who participated in helping us but would like to extend our thanks to them, the good people of London and the excellent Metropolitan police. We are sorry to have caused such worry and work to so many and also are aware of our fortune in this happy outcome. In a world that seems sometimes less certain and secure, it is good to know decency and kindness are abundant and remain what binds us together when it matters most.
Jim and Brenda Moorcroft
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
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