28 Sep 2014

Abduction prompts tighter security

2:23 pm on 28 September 2014

Additional security measures have been put in place at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital following the abduction of a five day old baby.

Middlemore hospital

Middlemore hospital Photo: RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

The infant, who was taken on Thursday night, was found safe and well by the police early the next morning and reunited with her parents.

A spokesperson for Middlemore Hospital said extra, short-term security measures were now operating in the hospital's maternity section following the abduction.

She would not give any further details.

The hospital is carrying out an urgent review of the incident which has put other DHBs around the country on their guard.

Waikato DHB said the abduction triggered heightened awareness of safety but it was confident in its security programmes.

And Wellington's Capital and Coast DHB said it was happy with current procedures.

A 31-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were charged with kidnapping the baby and are due back in court next month.

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