BBC News, East Midlands<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n A 76-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of administering poison after children fell ill at a summer camp in Leicestershire.<\/p>\n Police said an investigation was under way after eight children at the camp at Stathern Lodge were taken to hospital on Sunday. All have since been discharged.<\/p>\n Officers had gone to the camp, in Canal Lane, with East Midlands Ambulance Service after receiving reports about the children feeling unwell.<\/p>\n The arrested man was detained on suspicion of administering poison or a noxious thing with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy. He remains in custody.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it was investigating Leicestershire Police’s handling of the incident.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Police said once emergency services had arrived at the scene, a triage centre was set up at Plungar Village Hall to assess all children present at the camp.<\/p>\n Following an initial assessment, eight children were taken to hospital as a precaution and all have since returned home.<\/p>\n The force said the investigation was now being led by the East Midlands Special Operations Unit’s major incident team.<\/p>\n Officers remain in Stathern, in the Melton district of Leicestershire and roughly eight miles from Melton Mowbray.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n They are carrying out further inquiries and providing reassurance to families affected.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, an IOPC spokesperson said it received a “conduct referral” on Tuesday from the force “relating to their handling of concerns passed to them over the wellbeing of a group of children”.<\/p>\n “Our assessment team has examined all available evidence and concluded the matter should be independently investigated by the IOPC,” they said.<\/p>\n “The investigation will look at whether there were any breaches of professional behaviour – namely a failure to carry out duties and responsibilities – that resulted in a delay in Leicestershire Police’s response to what was later declared a critical incident.” <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Det Insp Neil Holden, the senior investigating officer, added: “We understand the concern this incident will have caused to parents, guardians and the surrounding community.<\/p>\n “We are in contact with the parents and guardians of all children concerned.<\/p>\n “Please be reassured that we have several dedicated resources deployed and are working with partner agencies including children’s services to ensure full safeguarding is provided to the children involved.<\/p>\n “This is a complex and sensitive investigation and we will continue to provide updates to both parents and guardians and the public as and when we can.”<\/p>\n At a press conference on Thursday afternoon, Assistant Chief Constable James Avery took questions from the media.<\/p>\n The first, from the BBC, asked what substance the children came into contact with.<\/p>\n He replied that, other than the fact that they came down with symptoms of feeling unwell, the police could not elaborate further for now.<\/p>\n He also refused to comment on the ages or gender of the children involved.<\/p>\n ACC Avery finished by reiterating that the care and ongoing welfare of the children involved is of the utmost importance.<\/p>\n![\"NEMM](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/34b6\/live\/171fc280-6e03-11f0-8dbd-f3d32ebd3327.jpg.webp\")
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