Third person arrestted is known to Swanage Gaia Pope

Detectives investigating the disappearance of Swanage teenager Gaia Pope have arrested a third person. The 49-year-old man from Swanage was arrested this afternoon, Thursday 16 November 2017, on suspicion of murder. He is currently assisting police with enquiries. It is believed he was known to Gaia. At 10.28am today, Thursday 16 November 2017, items of women’s clothing were found in a field near Swanage. The discovery was made by a member of the public in an area of open land north of the coastal path. The owner of the clothes has not yet been identified, but detectives involved in the search for missing Gaia Pope have informed her family of this discovery. Gaia, 19 and from Langton Matravers, was staying at an address in Swanage when she disappeared on the afternoon of Tuesday 7 November 2017. Since her disappearance searches of the land and coastline in the Swanage and surrounding area have been ongoing involving Dorset Search and Rescue, the coastguard, NPAS helicopter and specialist units from neighbouring police forces. On Monday 13 November 2017 search warrants were carried out at two addresses in Swanage and searches there remain ongoing. As part of our investigations, three vehicles have been seized. A 19-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman, both from the Swanage area, were arrested on suspicion of murder. They are both known to Gaia. Both individuals have been released under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at www.dorset.police.uk, via email [email protected] or by calling 101, quoting incident number 14:108. Alternatively contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via www.crimestoppers-uk.org.