'Government needs to do more for missing people abroad'

The mother of Ben Needham, the British toddler who disappeared on the Greek island of Kos in 1991, has called on the government to do more to support missing people abroad.

Ben, from Sheffield, vanished aged 21 months old from a farmhouse his grandfather was renovating in the village of Iraklis 35 years ago.

South Yorkshire Police said a family liaison officer and a detective remained allocated to Ben's case and its resources had not changed, but Needham said she had been told any lines of inquiry would now be investigated by the Greek authorities.

She said: "To receive this news that the crime happened in Greece so it's solely down to the Greek police to further investigate - I know that they're not going to do that."

Needham added: "They haven't done in 35 years, so why would anyone think that they're going to do that now? I was horrified, gutted. Heartbroken. I can't allow this to happen."

In a statement, South Yorkshire Police confirmed the investigation was being led by the Greek authorities.

"The role of South Yorkshire Police, as it always has been, is to be a conduit for information sharing between the UK authorities, Interpol, and the Greek authorities as we seek to support Ben's family in the continued search for answers. The investigation itself is led by the Greek authorities.

"As we approach the 35-year anniversary of the disappearance of Ben, we have reviewed our processes to ensure these remain fit-for-purpose and can withstand any increase in information flow," a statement said.

Needham said she believed the government needed to step in to allow extra resources for the case and called for special missing person units that are not under the remit of local police forces to be created.

"If South Yorkshire Police have not got the funding, the resources or the time, give me the officers that have then.

"Give me a police force that can. Give me that, because that's what my son deserves and that's what I deserve," she said.

"It's coming up to 35 years this year – I shouldn't have to keep fighting like this. I'm a mother who is heartbroken, whose life has been destroyed, it's had a massive impact on all of my family and still continues to do so.

"I need help, I'm a mother alone fighting a huge battle and I need help," she added.

The force said it believed the Greek investigation would remain open until a conclusion is reached.

"We remain committed to supporting Ben's family and the investigation and fully appreciate the distress and trauma the family have been through and continue to go through," it added.

A Home Office spokesperson said it expected "every case to receive a thorough response from the police".

"Our thoughts are with Ben's family – a child going missing is a heartbreaking incident that no family should ever have to go through," they said.

"We will always support the police in their investigations and ensure that families receive appropriate support."

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North