3 Answers
Missing people - help and support
Find out what the police will do when you report someone as missing and what support is available. If you have gone missing, find out how to get back in contact with family and friends.
If you think someone has gone missing
If you are concerned that someone has gone missing, you can contact your local police station straight away. However, it's a good idea to make your own enquiries first. Contact anyone who you think might know the whereabouts of the missing person before you go to the police.
Find a police force Opens new window
Reporting someone missing – what the police will do
When you report someone as missing, the police will take a report from you. The report will be used to flag up the person as missing on the Police National Computer. This means information about the missing person will be available to all police forces across the UK within 48 hours.
For the report, the police may ask for information from you like:
photos of the missing person details of events that may have led to their disappearance places the missing person is known to have visited details of other friends or relativesyou might be asked to provide something that the missing person’s DNA can be taken from, like a toothbrush
It may be necessary for the police to search your home. This is normal procedure and doesn’t mean you are under suspicion.
Missing people – charities that can help
Missing People confidential freephone helplines
Missing People: 0500 700 700
Runaway Helpline: 0808 800 70 70 or text 80234
Message Home: 0800 700 740
There are several charities that help both people searching for missing adults and children, and people who have gone missing.
Missing People charity
The charity Missing People supports missing children and adults and those left behind. It runs three confidential, 24-hour, freephone helplines:
Missing People – support for families and friends of missing people, and help for people who go missing – call 0500 700 700Runaway Helpline – for anyone who has run away from home or care, or been forced to leave home – call 0808 800 70 70 or text 80234Message Home – allows anyone who has gone missing to send a message to family or friends – call 0800 700 740 or email messagehome@missingpeople.org.uk
Missing People also produces and circulates posters of missing people and generates publicity by making appeals through the internet, TV, newspapers and magazines. In addition, it has a range of resources and guidance surrounding the legal and financial repercussions of having a family member go missing.
Missing People - guidance for families Opens new window
12 years ago. Rating: 5 | |