POLICE say they will not apologise for the way they conducted a hunt for a terminally ill child who was removed from a UK hospital by his parents against medical advice.
Hampshire Police said the medical advice was that five-year-old Ashya King, taken from Southampton General Hospital without doctors' consent, was in "grave danger".
The boy, who has a brain tumour, was found in Malaga, Spain, on Saturday following a global search.
Brett King, his father, recorded a video explaining why they had gone on the run, hours before he was found by police.
In the footage, posted on YouTube, Jehovah's Witness Mr King, 51, called for police to stop the "ridiculous chase". He said their son was "perfectly healthy" and the family wanted to be "left in peace".
Assistant Chief Constable of Hampshire Police Chris Shead said: "I'd much rather be standing here facing criticism over being proactive than do nothing and explain why a child has lost his life."
The boy's grandmother Patrica King criticised police for arresting the couple. She said they had "gone over the top", using a warrant to search her flat in Southsea, Portsmouth.
"I'm very angry, I think it's been taken too far, much too far," she added.
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