An urgent investigation was launched yesterday after a 12-year-old girl was kept in police cells for nearly three days while social services refused to collect her, allegedly because one official declared they were "not a taxi service".

The child was arrested on Saturday at Bluewater shopping centre, near Dartford, on suspicion of shoplifting.

She was taken to Gravesend police station and on Sunday her mother was contacted at home in Lewisham. She told police she could not afford the money for the journey to Gravesend.

The social services at Lewisham, who accepted responsibility for the child, were contacted by police but did not come to collect her.

The girl spent a second night alone in police cells. After being charged with the theft of a mobile phone she appeared before magistrates in Dartford.

They immediately released her and demanded an explanation from the social services involved.

The girl was eventually escorted home by members of Kent social services young offenders team.

Solicitor Robin Murray, who dealt with the girl's case, said: "I spoke to the duty social services officer at Lewisham and her attitude was either 'put her on a train' or 'we are not a taxi service'."

A spokesman for Lewisham council said: "We regret what happened to the girl."

Used courtesy of the London Evening Standard