A police investigation which lasted 11 days and involved a heavy police presence as well as forensics teams excavating a piece of land in Newport found nothing but a heap of "soil, rubble, boulders and rocks". Gwent Police received an unusual report of disturbed ground at St Julian’s Wood adjacent to Christchurch Cemetery in Newport last month.
Forensics and officers were sent to the scene. Initially, officers used equipment to screen the land and then began an excavation operation. While such reports might usually not be taken so seriously, given the land's proximity to the cemetery the force couldn't rule out the possibility of illegal burials.
After first attending the scene on Wednesday, April, 27, residents reported seeing a number of police vehicles and forensics at the site, a metal fence had been built blocking visibility from the cemetery and markers had been positioned across the field behind. But over the weekend Gwent Police called off the investigation when they found nothing but rubble.
