Search for missing person Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto

• On Tuesday 3 March, Vitoria met a friend at the University of Essex in Colchester.
• Just after 1pm, she boarded the number 87 bus from Boundary Road, Wivenhoe.
• Around 1.30pm, she got off the bus at Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea.
• Shortly after 2.30pm, she was seen on doorbell CCTV in the Hurst Green area.

Clothing at the time she was last seen:

• Dark coat
• Blue turtleneck jumper
• Light blue jeans
• Black trainers with light soles
• Carrying a white shoulder tote bag with the words “people over profit”

We’re continuing to work with international partners to seek access to Vitoria’s communication and financial data, which we hope will help us pursue other significant lines of investigation.

Alongside this, we have also expanded our Brightlingsea CCTV search for Vitoria, specifically in the hours between her being in the Hurst Green area, at about 2.35pm on March 3, and 12.16am on March 4 when we know she was in a boat yard close to Copperas Road.

As a result of officers’ CCTV searches, we now believe we have a sighting of Vitoria on land between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street. The sighting is from private CCTV and shows the person believed to be Vitoria at 3.33pm on the afternoon of March 3, one hour after she is seen in Hurst Green.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“Our CCTV work has rightly focused on capturing Vitoria around her last known location, in a boatyard area off Copperas Road.
“We’re working to narrow the CCTV gap from 12.16am on March 4 and the time at which we know a person unmoors a fishing boat from a pontoon, at about 12.36am.
“However, we now have CCTV which appears to show a person alone in a field between Back Waterside Lane and Mill Street at 3.33pm on March 3.
“We have always worked on the likely premise that Vitoria has made her way towards Copperas Road from Hurst Green through this greenspace. Although this footage is captured from a distance, we do believe it is likely to be her.
“This means it is quite possible that walkers in that area may have seen this person. Where you in the area the time and do you remember seeing this woman?
“It also means, as we have always suspected, that she is likely to have travelled to the greenspace either through Back Waterside Lane or through the residential area immediately to the south of Hurst Green.
“Can you help us build a better picture of her movements on the afternoon of Tuesday 3 March?”

Our work is also focused on accessing Vitoria’s communication and financial data. Whilst all our requests have been made through the correct international channels, at this stage we are yet to receive any data.

“We know this international work has the support of the Vitoria’s loved ones and the Brazilian Embassy.
“Vitoria’s banking and communications being registered outside of the UK does pose a challenge and we have sought to gain access to these through the correct channels as quickly as possible.
“Although our physical searches of land, coastline and water continue to be finalised, I hope it is clear that our work to find Vitoria has not stopped.
“We continue to receive reports of sightings, which are followed up with particular focus and Vitoria’s loved ones are being kept up to date with all our work.
“We remain determined to provide them with the answers they need.”

“We remain determined to be able to provide Vitoria’s loved ones with the answers they need.”

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger is overseeing the search for Vitoria Barreto and was speaking as our vast physical searches of land, coastline and water begin to be finalised.

This in no way means our determined work to find Vitoria is stopping.

We’re continuing to pursue a number of investigative avenues and we’re working with international partners to ensure no stone is left un-turned as we seek to build a full picture of the days and hours before and after Vitoria was reported missing.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“It is now more than two weeks since Vitoria was reported missing to us and we have searched vast areas of land, coastline and water and, unfortunately, we have not yet located her.
“This is not a position anyone involved in the search wanted to get to – and I’m acutely aware of the pain her loved ones are feeling at the moment.
“Although the vast majority of our physical search work has been completed, with some key areas subject to repeated searches, our work to find Vitoria is not stopping. We remain determined to be able to provide her loved ones with answers they need.
“We are continuing to pursue a number of avenues including, among others, her communication and financial data. Both of these enquiries have proved complex due to her being a Brazilian national and do require international liaison which we’re continuing to work through with the support of Vitoria’s loved ones and the Brazilian Embassy.
“I would again appeal to anyone who may have information on Vitoria’s whereabouts to please come forward.
“At the heart of all this is Vitoria who is a much-loved daughter, sister, partner and friend. Her loved ones are desperate for answers and with each day that passes their concern and the pain of not knowing grows deeper.”

We’ve secured new CCTV in Brightlingsea which officers are continuing to work through as our search for Vitoria continues.

The footage, which covers the harbour area, shows a number of vessels present on the water as part of regular marine work patterns between 12am and 6am on 4 March.

This period covers the points where we believe Vitoria may have entered the harbour area and unmoored a boat from a pontoon.

From then, we know the vessel does not appear to have its engine started and, over the next few hours, it began drifting out of the harbour before ultimately coming to a rest close to Bradwell-on-Sea later in morning.

At this stage, there is still no clear and visible footage to conclusively state it was the 30-year-old Brazilian who unmoored the boat. However, we know Vitoria was seen walking alone in the waterfront area at 12.16am, having climbed over a nearby metal fence, which is close to where the boat was unmoored.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“Today, we’re urging anyone who was working in Brightlingsea harbour or returning from work to the harbour between 12am and 6am to please come forward.
“Appreciating this will have been in darkness, did you see a lone individual unmooring a boat from a pontoon or appearing to be acting out of character in the area. Did you see anything which made you stop and think? Or something you may not have expected to see at that time of night and early morning?

Det Supt Granger added:

“We’ve made a promise to Vitoria’s family that we will follow every reasonable lead. So, please, if you were on the water working in this time period, please come forward and speak to us.”

As our search for Vitoria enters its fourteenth day, our efforts to locate her remain determined.

A vast amount of land, coastline and water has been covered by specialist search teams since the 30-year-old was reported missing to us on March 4 after she did not meet her friend as planned on March 3.

Those searches are continuing today in the Brightlingsea and Bradwell-on-Sea areas, including officers following up as-yet unconfirmed reports of sightings.

Since Vitoria was reported missing, we have seen strong support from the Essex public and that has resulted in a significant amount of information being reported to us.

To ensure this flow can continue, we have now created a dedicated portal through which information can be reported straight to the teams directly involved in the search.

Any sightings in real time should still be reported to us on 999.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“The community concern for Vitoria is obvious for everyone to see and I know her loved ones have felt that support.
"The opening of this portal means we can continue to receive that information and work through it at pace.
"I would again appeal to anyone who believes they have seen Vitoria, whether that’s in the Brightlingsea and Bradwell-on-Sea areas, to please report these sightings directly to the police.
"Our search teams have covered a really significant area over the last two weeks including in some extremely challenging environments.
"This is a search investigation which is continuing to evolve day-by-day, and I am acutely aware Vitoria’s loved ones naturally still have many questions, and I promise that every single person involved in this work is doing everything they possibly can to provide those answers."

We can confirm that as part of our search for Vitoria Barreto, a laptop which we believe to be hers has been found in Brightlingsea.

It was located on Saturday 14 March.

Her family have been updated and continue to be supported.

We are also aware of a number of reported potential sightings of Vitoria in the Bradwell area. We have had a policing presence in Bradwell and in the Dengie area throughout the weekend and these reports are being progressed appropriately alongside other lines of enquiry which we must also continue to work through.

On Sunday 15 March, our Marine Unit crew has taken Vitoria’s loved ones on the same boat journey we believe she may have taken in the early hours of Wednesday 4 March.

One of a number of lines of enquiry that we’re continuing to explore is whether Vitoria unmoored a boat from a Brightlingsea pontoon in the early hours of 4 March.

Whilst this possibility was explored significantly in the days after her disappearance, our focus on this area of the town intensified after a bag owned by Vitoria was found close to Copperas Road on Monday 9 March.

We know the boat was subsequently located on a drift in the water close to Bradwell-on-Sea. We have reason to believe it was missing a horseshoe-shaped buoyancy aid.

Vitoria’s loved ones are also urging the Brazilian community in Essex to display Brazilian flags which they hope will attract Vitoria’s attention and create a safe and welcoming space for her.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger added:

“Sunday 15 March is of course Mother’s Day in the UK. I am a mum myself and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain Vitoria’s mother Gleyz has experienced since Vitoria’s disappearance.
“Every single officer, staff member and volunteer involved in this search would love nothing more than to reunite Vitoria with her mum – and we’re working around the clock to do that. 
“We have seen first-hand the support from the community in Brightlingsea, and further afield, which has been offered to Vitoria’s loved ones.
“Equally, we know many people from the community have been involved in raising the profile of Vitoria’s disappearance and that has helped to ensure a significant number of people across Essex now recognise her face and her clothes and I would urge our whole community to please keep looking out for her and report any sightings or CCTV information to us as soon as possible.”

Our search for Vitoria Barreto is being extended as we continue to appeal to boat owners in the waterfront area of Brightlingsea.

As part of our work exploring the possibility of Vitoria having taken a boat from a pontoon in Brightlingsea, we’re extending our land search area to Bradwell-on-Sea, close to where we know that boat was found on Wednesday morning, 4 March.

That area was already subject to significant searches from the air last weekend. Now, there will be significant searches on the ground.

We’re now able to share that an orange horseshoe-shaped buoyancy aid does appear to be missing from the boat and has not been located.

In a further appeal today, Vitoria’s mum Gleyz Barreto said:

“I know Vitoria would tell us, ‘don’t give up, please keep going’, so that is what we are doing.
“We are doing everything we can to find her and we know the police and the community are doing everything they can.
“We know Vitoria is probably not feeling herself, she might be scared. To anyone who sees her, please make her feel welcome, make her feel loved and help her feel calm.
“We are here for you Vitoria – please come home. You have done nothing wrong and you are loved.”

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“The search for Vitoria has now extended to the Bradwell-on-Sea area and there will be policing presence there for the coming days.
“Whilst we know it is a rural area, we also know there will have been walkers on Wednesday morning who may have seen something which is significant to our search.
“If you live in Bradwell, particularly those close to the Bradwell Beach area, please check CCTV and doorbell footage if you have it. And please get in touch is you have any information.
“We’re also continuing to appeal to the Brightlingsea boating community, particularly in the waterside area to please check your vessels. If you have CCTV in that area and you haven’t spoken to us, please check it and please get in touch.
“We know Vitoria was walking alone in the Brightlingsea Creek pontoon area after midnight on Wednesday and there is a 20-minute period between 12.16am and 12.36am where there are no sightings of her.
“Even the smallest bit of information could help us plot her further movements.”

5.45pm

Searches for Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto have continued today, with a vast amount of area having been covered on land and along the coastline.

Today, Wednesday 11 March, our search expanded from Brightlingsea, to the River Blackwater, the Dengie peninsula and River Crouch coastlines and to Mersea Island.

Unfortunately, we are yet to locate the 30-year-old and our search activity will continue into tomorrow, Thursday 12 March.

Officers leading the search are also aware of a boat having been taken from its mooring in Brightlingsea in the early hours of Wednesday 4 March. This report has consistently formed part of our enquiries, alongside numerous others which are also continuing to be explored diligently.

We know the boat had been located on a drift in the water close to Bradwell-on-Sea and returned to Brightlingsea. It is the subject of a police search.

The discovery of Vitoria’s bag off Copperas Road on Monday, which is close to where the boat was unmoored, has meant that our focus on this line of enquiry has clearly intensified.

We now know the last sighting of Vitoria on CCTV was at 12.16am on Wednesday 4 March.

With the business owner’s permission, we’re releasing an image from that footage.

Between 12.16am and 12.36am, when we know the boat was unmoored, Vitoria is not seen on CCTV and at this stage there is no clear and identifiable footage of the person who unmoored the boat.

However, we are exploring the possibility that it is Vitoria. The boat’s route from Brightlingsea to where it was found close to Bradwell has consistently informed the searches which have been carried out.
Significant search
Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“Since Vitoria was reported missing to us, we have searched a hugely significant area of land and coastline.
“Today, with the help of air support services, our marine unit and specialist search officers, the coastline along the River Blackwater, Dengie peninsula and River Crouch were searched, along with 2.5km on the southern coast of Mersea Island.
“We will continue to focus on specific search areas tomorrow.
“I would also urge anyone with CCTV of the harbour area that we are not already aware of to please check it and let us know. Equally, to the owners of boats moored in Brightlingsea, please check your vessels. Is there anything there that shouldn’t be there. Is there anything to lead you to believe someone has been on your boat? Please get in touch.”

You can report sightings, CCTV information or any details which could be important to us by calling 999.

Det Supt Granger added:

“Our determination to find Vitoria remains incredibly strong. We know the huge concern her loved ones have for and that is what’s driving on each and every officer involved.”

Our search for missing woman Vitoria Figueiredo Barreto is continuing with a number of police specialisms involved.

The 30-year-old Brazilian was reported as missing to us on Wednesday 4 March by a friend who she had been with at Essex University on the previous day, Tuesday 3 March.

As a result of our investigative work, we know that after she met with her friend she got on the number 87 bus in Boundary Road, Wivenhoe, just after 1pm and got off 30 minutes later in Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea.

Once off the bus, she was then seen on doorbell footage in the Hurst Green area shortly after 2.30pm.

We’re now able to release CCTV footage of her boarding and exiting the bus as well as footage of her in Hurst Green.

Vitoria was wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans and black trainers.

She was carrying a white shoulder tote bag with the words “people over profit”.

We are now able to confirm a bag matching that description has been located close to Copperas Road, in Brightlingsea.

It was located by a member of the public shortly after 2pm on Monday 9 March. Vitoria’s family have been updated and continue to be supported by specialist officers.

We’ve also now identified CCTV which appears to show a person jumping over a fence close to where the bag was found into a boatyard. This happened shortly after midnight on Wednesday 4 March.

At this stage, we do believe that person is Vitoria.

Our efforts are concentrating on the Brightlingsea area, where dedicated teams are conducting thorough and methodical searches.

This includes search officers on foot, drone capability, specialist search dogs and volunteers from Essex Search and Rescue.

Speaking for Vitoria’s loves ones, close friend Liliane Silva, said:

“We are really concerned; we’re really worried.
“We know she is probably not in a good place. We don’t know really why and we don’t want to judge it now, we just want her with us.
“[This] was never her behaviour which is why we are so scared.
“To the Brightlingsea community, please help us to find this amazing person who makes such a huge difference in this world.
“We are very grateful to the police here and the community and we know they are doing everything they can to find Vitoria.”

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“Whilst this is a very significant police investigation, at its heart is a missing daughter, partner and friend who is clearly loved.
“Each officer who is a part of this search is determined to do all we can to find Vitoria.
“To date, our work has focused on CCTV review and we’ve been able to track her movements, firstly, on the bus from Wivenhoe to Brightlingsea and, secondly, in Hurst Green when she exits the bus.
“The discovery of her shoulder bag close to Copperas Road is of course now a focus for us and each search group is working diligently, covering the ground with careful attention to detail, ensuring that no potential lead is overlooked.”

D/Supt Granger added:

“I would also like to continue to appeal to the Brightlingsea community. Have you seen Vitoria? Have you checked your CCTV? Even the smallest bit of information can be significant.
“And finally, to Vitoria’s loved ones - I promise we are doing all we can to find her."

If you have any information, please call 999 as soon as possible, quoting incident 622 of 4 March.

“Every day that Vitoria’s missing, our concerns for her grow”.

That’s from the officer leading the investigation to find Vitoria Figueiredo-Barreto who’s missing.

The 30 year-old was staying in the Southend area but was last seen at the University of Essex campus in Wivenhoe on Tuesday 3 March.

We know she got on the number 87 bus in Boundary Road just after 1pm and got off 30 minutes later in Bellfield Avenue, Brightlingsea.

And it is also our belief that she may have been in the Brightlingsea Harbour area that evening.

She was last seen wearing a dark coat, a blue turtleneck jumper, light blue jeans and black trainers. She was carrying a white shoulder bag with the words “people over profit”.

Detective Superintendent Anna Granger said:

“Vitoria’s been missing for almost a week now and every day that she’s missing our concerns for her grow.
“We have been studying CCTV, we’ve got officers going to door-to-door in the area she was last seen, and we’ve been speaking to her friends and family.
“Vitoria, if you’re reading this, please get in touch. We just need to know you’re ok.
“I need anyone living or working in the Brightlingsea area to check their CCTV, doorbell or dash cam footage to see if they may have captured her movements.”

If you have any information or have seen Vittoria, please call 999 quoting incident 622 of 4 March.