Police confirm action after witness reports man and young girl in car in Oswestry

A safeguarding concern was raised following an incident on Church Street in Oswestry on 1 July 2026 at around 4:00 PM.

They saw a car pass by with two people inside. The passenger appeared to be a young girl aged approximately 12 to 14. The driver was described as an adult man. No individual has been charged in connection with the incident at the time of publication.

999 call

They called 999 to report what they had seen.

The operator asked whether the girl looked distressed, suggested the driver could be a taxi driver, took their details, and ended the call without providing a reference number or any further information about what would happen next.

Witness enquiries

They carried out their own enquiries after the incident. These linked the driver to a registered business at an address on Rochdale Road in Manchester. Companies House records on GOV.UK list the director's nationality as Pakistani.

They found four other businesses registered at the same residential address. Each lists a single director. Companies House records on GOV.UK list all four directors' nationalities as Pakistani.

This research also led them to public Facebook posts linked to the driver. They described one post as endorsing "jihad against leaders of disbelief."

They also found a separate public Facebook post, dated approximately one year before the Church Street incident, showing the man looking to rent a flat in Oswestry.

Visit to Oswestry police station

They then went in person to the West Mercia Police station in Oswestry.

They spoke with a local police officer, James Morgan Richardson, who listened to their account and took down the information. No reference number was provided.

Contacting elected representatives

They heard nothing further after reporting the matter to the police. They contacted James Owen, a local councillor, and Helen Morgan, the Liberal Democrat MP for North Shropshire, to ask for help raising the concern.

Both replied in less than 24 hours.

Councillor James Owen

In an email to the witness, seen by English Vanguard, Councillor Owen wrote: "Thank you for your email and your concern around this matter. As you can imagine, this topic is something that must be taken seriously."

He said police often do not follow up with informants after reports are made, and that this "does not mean that nothing is being done to act on the intelligence provided." He explained that officers may be unable to discuss individual cases because of data protection rules, and that he may not be able to share information even if police brief him in his role as councillor.

Councillor Owen recommended continuing to pass any relevant information to the police. He wrote: "Despite this, I will try and find out any information I can to ensure that this is followed up as it involves the safeguarding of a child."

MP Helen Morgan

Ms Morgan contacted West Mercia Police on the witness's behalf. In an email to the witness, seen by English Vanguard, she wrote: "I have now received a response to my contact with West Mercia Police on your behalf."

She said Inspector Matt Painter, the neighbourhood policing inspector for North Shropshire, had told her that action had been taken in the matter. She added that police would not routinely get back in touch with the informant unless further information was required.

English Vanguard has not received a direct response from West Mercia Police. This article is based on the witness account and correspondence seen by this publication.

Editorial note

English Vanguard reports on the basis of witness accounts and public official correspondence. We distinguish between allegations and confirmed facts.

We have not published any name, vehicle registration, business records, or other detail that could identify an individual connected to the witness's report.

English Vanguard does not publish information that could unlawfully identify a child victim or compromise safeguarding. No identifying details about the girl have been included in this report.

If you have relevant information about this incident, contact our newsroom or use our secure tip channels. Safeguarding concerns in Oswestry can be reported to West Mercia Police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.