South Yorkshire Police 'committed' to Ben Needham search after 'heartbroken' mum raises concerns
Ben Needham went missing on the Greek island of Kos in 1991
Last updated 18th May 2026
South Yorkshire Police say the investigation into the disappearance of missing 1 year old Ben Needham remains open and will stay open 'until a conclusion is reached'.
It comes after Ben's mum Kerry Needham spoke to press, telling them she was "heartbroken" at being told South Yorkshire Police's major crimes unit was no longer looking into the case.
21 month of Ben vanished without a trace in July 1991 while staying at a farmhouse owned by his grandparents on the Greek island of Kos.
His whereabouts remain unknown, with officers previously working to the assumption Ben is no longer alive.
South Yorkshire Police officers have been over to the island several times to assist Greek police in the investigation.
Today the force have responded to the family, writing in a statement: "The role of South Yorkshire Police, as it always has been, is to be a conduit for information sharing between the UK authorities, Interpol, and the Greek authorities as we seek to support Ben’s family in the continued search for answers."
"The investigation itself is led by the Greek authorities.
"As we approach the 35 year anniversary of the disappearance of Ben, we have reviewed our processes to ensure these remain fit-for-purpose and can withstand any increase in information flow.
"Our resource allocation has not changed, as we continue to have a designated family liaison officer and detective inspector as the points of contacts for all of the relevant agencies and Ben’s family.
"The Greek investigation is open and we believe it will remain open until a conclusion is reached."
"We’re deeply sorry for any confusion this review may have caused but wish to reassure all involved that this has not resulted in a change to our approach, it only sought to confirm we had the right approach to provide the best possible support within our jurisdiction."