Blue spot: Mum held in police cell after birthmark mistake

Det Ch Insp Gemma Anacora, from Hampshire Constabulary, said police automatically become involved when a case was referred as a child safeguarding issue.

She said: “I do sympathise, it must be a very difficult situation, however we do follow procedures, so her arrest was necessary for us to obtain evidence by questioning and to safeguard the child through bail conditions.”

Independent child protection researcher Dr Bernard Gallagher, from the University of Huddersfield, said it was an “appropriate expectation” for agencies to intervene when child abuse was suspected.

“Sometimes they make mistakes and maybe they are acting too drastically or too quickly, but it’s a very difficult balance to strike,” he said.

Ms Thapa said she had received a verbal apology from a doctor at the hospital.

She is working with local campaign group Basingstoke Unites Against Racism on an official complaint.

In a statement it said: “We are committed to addressing all concerns within the BAME community. This includes collaborating with external organisations, as we did in this case, to ensure comprehensive support.”

Ms Thapa said: “I am going through this situation that was unacceptable and I don’t want others to,” she said.

“I don’t want anyone to be separated from their baby like I was.”