Hunt for shopper after young boy in superhero outfit 'physically abused' outside GP surgery

Police have published CCTV footage in an effort to track down a female shopper after a boy wearing a superhero outfit was allegedly assaulted outside a GP surgery.

A 56-year-old woman has already been arrested on suspicion of assault causing actual bodily harm, but police are still appealing for witnesses to identify the other parties involved in the incident.

Surrey Police received several reports of a woman being verbally and physically abusive towards a boy, believed to be aged between five and seven years old, in the car park near the Cranleigh Medical Practice at about 4pm last Thursday.

The force said it wanted to track down a “second woman”, and published a CCTV image of her in a shop.

It said the boy was aged between five and seven and was wearing an outfit that featured Marvel superhero The Hulk.

In a statement, Surrey Police said: “We are appealing for witnesses following a child protection incident in Cranleigh on Thursday, 2 September.

“At about 4pm on Thursday, 2 September, police received several reports of a woman being verbally and physically abusive towards a boy in the car park near the Cranleigh Medical Practice.

“A 56 year-old woman has since been arrested for assault causing actual bodily harm, but enquiries are ongoing and we are still looking for witnesses to this incident to help us identify the other parties involved.

“The boy is described as white, aged between five and seven, with cropped, dark brown hair.

“He was wearing a two-piece or onesie with Marvel character The Hulk on the front and long blue sleeves. He was also wearing Timberland-style boots.

“The second woman is described as white, wearing black trousers and a white short-sleeved top with ruffles over the shoulders.

“Were you in Cranleigh close to the medical practice or the high street on Thursday, 2 September at around 4pm?

“Did you see or hear anything that might assist our investigation? If so, we want to hear from you.”

Anyone with information about the incident can call Surrey police on 101, quoting PR/45210093597, or they can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Information can also be reported online, at police.uk via webchat or at https://www.surrey.police.uk/ro/report/ocr/af/how-to-report-a-crime/.