A TEENAGER who had a blazing row with her mum was talked out of jumping from a multi-storey car park yesterday by three police officers and one of her friends.

The girl, thought to be 16, had been led away from The Charter car park, in Abingdon, earlier in the day by a passer-by who saw her in tears on the top level.

She returned there four hours later and again threatened to jump after being released from the town's police station. Streets surrounding the car park were closed to traffic as police and one of her friends WPC Jocelyn Clewley, PC Alan Robertson, PC Gordon Richardson and one of the girl's friends spent an hour talking her out of jumping.

Pc Roger Lakeman, of Abingdon police, said: "It would appear that the girl in question had had a row with her mother and that was why she was so upset."

"We did get her from the top of the car park with a lot of effort.

"We spent a lot of time talking to her both on top of the car park and later, back at the police station, offering our help and support.

"It was very much a team effort on our part and we are just very glad we were able to help on this occasion."

The girl's mother and sister, who live in Abingdon, were called to the scene by police and watched from a distance as she was eventually led away from the roof.

The teenager had first been spotted in tears on the top level of the car park at about midday by a woman passer-by who was returning to her car.

The stranger approached the girl and asked her what was wrong, while police and an ambulance were called to the scene.

The woman successfully managed to persuade the teenager to walk away from the edge of the car park and the girl was taken to Abingdon Police Station for her own safety.

She was eventually released, though. PC Roger Lakeman said: "She hadn't committed any offence."

At about 4.30pm, the police received three calls from members of the public saying the teenager had been spotted again on the roof of the car park.

Again, police, ambulance crews and the fire service were put on standby, and the town's CCTV system was called upon to monitor the situation.

Eventually, after an hour, the girl was brought down from the car park and Social services staff were last night discussing matters with the family.

PC Lakeman said: "It is always quite tense in these situations. The police officers involved did a good job in very difficult circumstances."

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