Missing Persons: How Police Respond

When a person is reported missing, the police must carry out an initial risk assessment to determine the appropriate level of response. The College of Policing's APP on missing persons sets out three risk categories: absent (low risk, the person is not where they are expected to be but there is no apparent risk), missing (the risk is assessed as having been identified), and high-risk missing (there is an immediate risk of serious harm or danger to life).

For a high-risk missing person, the response is immediate and intensive. A senior investigating officer (SIO) is appointed, a dedicated team is assembled, and all available resources are deployed. This may include: house-to-house enquiries, CCTV trawls, ANPR checks, social media monitoring, phone data analysis (cell site location), media appeals, helicopter and drone deployment, search teams (including specialist search-trained officers and volunteers), and coordination with other agencies such as the coastguard or mountain rescue.

For medium-risk cases, a proportionate investigation is conducted with regular reviews. The investigating officer will carry out initial enquiries (checking hospitals, friends, relatives, social services, and other locations the person is known to frequent), set out an investigation plan, and escalate the risk category if new information warrants it. For absent cases, the report is recorded and monitored, with a review after a set period.

Certain categories of missing person trigger specific protocols. Missing children are always treated as at least medium risk. Looked-after children (in local authority care) who go missing frequently may be subject to a "return home interview" protocol. Vulnerable adults and those with mental health conditions are treated as higher risk. The police work closely with the National Crime Agency's Missing Persons Unit, which maintains the UK Missing Persons database (previously known as the Missing Persons Bureau). Long-term missing cases may be reviewed periodically and may eventually be reclassified as suspected homicide investigations.