image copyrightKentOnline
image captionJulia James was a serving PCSO with Kent Police
A serving police community support officer found dead in woodland was last seen taking her dog for a walk, the BBC has been told.
A murder investigation was launched after the body of Julia James, 53, was found in Akholt Wood, Snowdown, near Dover, just after 16:00 BST on Tuesday.
Ms James had been off duty at the time.
Police have been carrying out fingertip searches of woodland and nearby fields, the BBC’s Simon Jones said.
A white police tent is still in place in the woods, which is popular with dog walkers, after Ms James’ body was discovered and there is a “heavy police presence” in the area.
“Just a few hundred metres away a house with a car and a van parked on the drive is still under police guard,” the BBC’s Jo Burn said.
image captionPolice are searching woodland and nearby fields following the death of Julia James
Kent Police colleagues confirmed Ms James had served on the force as a PCSO and said they were pursuing “a number of lines of inquiry” into her death.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said she had been “so saddened” to learn of the death.
Detectives have appealed for anybody who was in the area on Monday or Tuesday to come forward.
The hunt for Julia James’ killer is continuing this morning.
It’s a fast-moving investigation but also a difficult investigation for Kent Police officers because of course they are looking into the murder of one of their own officers.
She was last seen by a neighbour leaving her home on Tuesday afternoon as she went to walk her dog.
We’ve seen a lot of searches of fields – this is a very rural area and a lot of places are cordoned off as officers carried out fingertip searches.
Assistant Chief Constable Peter Ayling said it had been “a tough day for many” on the force.
There were “some shattered people today following the loss of one of our own,” he said.
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The death of Julia James is being treated as murder after her body was found in woodland.
