Officers searching for a boy who has now been missing from Maidstone for a week are urging residents to check gardens, garages and any other areas surrounding their properties

Russel Burrdett-Deakin, 17, was reported missing from his home near Sutton Road, at around 6.30pm on Wednesday 6 September 2023. Since that time police have been making extensive searches of the local area, including locations near the River Medway, the town’s parks and footpaths, and public transport systems.

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Detective Chief Inspector Julia Pexton said: ‘We have teams of officers working around the clock with experts, including volunteers from Kent Search and Rescue, to try and safely locate Russel. We are now appealing to Maidstone residents to also help where possible. It is possible Russel is taking refuge in someone’s garden or outbuilding, so please just take a few minutes to make some checks.’