Missing Persons Flashcards
The key factors, as defined by the COP, to be considered during a missing person investigation are:
Protecting those at risk of harm
Minimising distress and ensuring high quality of service to the families and carers of missing persons
Prosecuting those who perpetrate harm or pose a risk of harm when this is appropriate and supported by evidence.
Initial Actions
An agreed minimum level of investigation must include the following points:
Create a record on the force command and control system, and/or the force missing person reporting system.
Complete a risk assessment and use this to inform what actions will be taken and when (if risk levels change the response should be reviewed).
Create and record a plan of immediate actions, which may include checking friends/relatives etc. It should be agreed and documented if these actions will be undertaken by police or the reporting person, depending on the circumstances of the incident.
Set the latest time to review the risk assessment and activity, based on the circumstances of the report. The reasoning for this time frame should be clearly documented and the informant advised. The review may take place before the latest time if new information comes to light.
Circulate the person as missing on PNC and check to determine if the person may be in custody.
If the missing person is aged under 18, local children’s services must be notified (immediately if deemed to be at high risk).
Risk Assessment
The initial risk assessment would categorise the report into one of four areas…
no risk, low risk, medium risk, or high risk and determine the nature of any investigation.
Definition of ‘Absent’
“Any person not at a place where they are expected or required to be and there is no apparent risk”
It is crucial that the risk assessment is constantly reviewed.
Risk of serious harm has been defined as:
“A risk which is life threatening and/or traumatic, and from which recovery, whether physical or psychological, can be expected to be difficult or impossible.” Home Office 2002 and OASys 2006
There are four other categories of person search.
What are they?
Wanted / missing from agencies - i.e. armed forces / Courts / Immigration services.
Tracing a lost relative.
Concern for Welfare - e.g. a call is received where there is concern for the life/ limb of someone. A Missing person report is not a suitable way to deal with this type of incident.
Children Missing from Education - this would be best dealt with through multi-agency partnership working unless there is information that the young person is actually missing.
Initial Response
The initial response is a crucial stage of the investigation and should be based around the following action framework:
Begin the investigation – identify places where the person might be; check information and assumptions; corroborate what they have been told; review the risk assessment; and seek and secure evidence.
Conduct appropriate searches – places where the missing person might be such as hospital, custody, friends and / or relatives homes.
Conduct appropriate intelligence checks – e.g. through Police National Computer (PNC), Force Intelligence Systems, Violent and Sex Offenders Register (ViSOR)
Continually reassess the level of risk using the risk principles.
Assess the level of support required for the missing person’s family, residential worker or foster carer as appropriate.
The role of the Missing Person Coordinator is to:
Collate information relating to missing reports, to identify indicators or patterns of absence which raise concern that the individual may be at risk.
Identify safeguarding priorities / considerations
assist in the independent oversight of cases at force and/or local level.
Act as a point of contact for partners, and ensure an effective working relationship is maintained, encouraging the two-way exchange of information.
Liaise with other agencies and care providers to ensure that protocols are in place and are being applied by all parties.
Assist the force to understand the nature of risk and demand associated with missing people.
