missing persons contents - west yorkshire police

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Missing persons

Contents

Policy statement .......................................................................................................................... 2 Principles ..................................................................................................................................... 2 Responsibilities all missing persons cases ................................................................................... 6

Communications staff / report taker .............................................................................. 6 District control room staff (DCRs) ................................................................................... 8 Attending officer ............................................................................................................. 8 Duty or response sergeant ........................................................................................... 10 Hub Commander / duty Inspector ................................................................................ 11 Missing person co-ordinator......................................................................................... 14 Dedicated missing person investigator ........................................................................ 15 Safeguarding Detective Inspectors ............................................................................... 16 District Commander / duty district Operational Commander / PACE officer .............. 17 Protective Services Crime Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) ....................................... 17 District Detective Inspector (DI) ................................................................................... 18 District Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) ........................................................................ 18 Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) or Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) .......................... 19

Notifications and circulations .................................................................................................... 19 Person returns or is located before officer despatched to take report .................................... 20 Person is found before Misper 1 report completed ................................................................. 22 Missing person is located .......................................................................................................... 23

Prevention checks ......................................................................................................... 23 Mental health patient ................................................................................................... 24 Young person in local authority care ............................................................................ 25 Filing missing person reports ........................................................................................ 25

Long term missing persons........................................................................................................ 27 Persistent missing persons ........................................................................................................ 27 Herbert Protocol ........................................................................................................................ 29 Other protocols ......................................................................................................................... 29 Transferring ownership of the report between districts / forces ............................................. 30

Requesting enquiries in another district ...................................................................... 31 Additional Information .............................................................................................................. 31



Policy statement

Summary West Yorkshire Police is committed to effectively and efficiently safeguarding the public and in order to do so must correctly assess risk to differentiate between people who are at genuine risk of harm and those who are not and conduct high quality investigations in line with the risk to the person.

This policy details how the Force will respond to reports of missing persons including cases where the person is at no apparent risk (absent).

Scope This policy applies to all police officers and police staff.

Principles

Definitions West Yorkshire Police use these definitions:

Definition of ‘missing’ ‘No apparent risk (absent)’ is included in the definition of ‘missing.’ References to missing people includes individuals who are defined as ‘No apparent risk (absent).’

Missing: “Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established will be considered as missing until located and their wellbeing or otherwise confirmed.” or

No apparent risk (absent): “There is no apparent risk of harm to either the subject or the public.”

No apparent risk (absent) cases should not be ignored and must be monitored over time and consideration given to escalating it if there is a change to the circumstances that has increased the level of risk.

Risk All reports of missing people sit within a continuum of risk (see below) from no apparent risk (absent) to high-risk cases that require immediate, intensive action.



• If high risk, i.e. the risk of serious harm to the subject or the public isassessed as very likely – potential critical incident).

• If medium risk, i.e. the risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessedas likely but not serious.

• If low risk, i.e. the risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed aspossible but minimal.

• If ‘no apparent risk (absent), i.e. there is no apparent risk of harm toeither the subject or the public.

Risk assessments

The risk assessment and categorisation of a report or review must be based on in the National Decision Model.

The grading of an incident should be based on the THRIVE model. Call takers are empowered to make the decision on grading although it is anticipated that generally: • a high risk missing person would attract an immediate response (Code

690)• a medium risk would attract a priority response (Code 691),• a low risk a standard response (Code 692), and• for ‘no apparent risk – absent’ police deployment should not be necessary

(Code 696),unless qualified with an appropriate comprehensive rationale to justify otherwise. In such cases the incident should be brought to the attention of the district hub commander/duty inspector to review the incident.

No apparent risk (absent) There is no apparent risk of danger to either the subject or the public.

In addition to recording the information on PNC, actions to locate the subject and/or



In considering whether a person is missing or no apparent risk (absent)’: • children who are at risk

of child sexualexploitation or abuse(whether flagged or not);or

• children or adults whoare at greater risk due totheir vulnerability(consider protectedcharacteristics, mentalhealth, forced marriage,honour based violence,trafficking, female genitalmutilation),

should not be considered to be at ‘no apparent risk.’

gather further information should be agreed with the reporting person.

Note: West Yorkshire Police will undertake a set of minimum actions in all cases as detailed under Responsibilities – Hub Commander / duty Inspector.

A review time to reassess the risk must be set (at least every eight hours up to a maximum of 18 hours from the point of reporting).

Low risk – anticipated standard deployment The risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed as possible but minimal.

Proportionate enquiries should be carried out to ensure that the individual has not come to harm.

Medium risk – anticipated priority deployment The risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed as likely but not serious.

This category requires an active and measured response by the police and other agencies.

High risk – anticipated immediate deployment The risk of serious harm to the subject or the public is assessed as very likely.

Treat as a critical incident. This category almost always requires the immediate deployment of police resources – action may be delayed in exceptional circumstances, such as searching water or forested areas during hours of darkness. A member of the senior management team must be involved in the examination of initial lines of enquiry and approval of appropriate staffing levels. Such cases should lead to the appointment of an investigating officer (IO) and possibly an SIO and a police search adviser (PolSA).



There should be a press/media strategy and/or close contact with outside agencies. Family support should be put in place where appropriate. The MPB (National Crime Agency (NCA) Missing Persons Unit should be notified of the case without undue delay. Children’s services must also be notified immediately if the person is under 18.

Risk of serious harm has been defined as (Home Office 2002 and OASys 2006): ‘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.’

Increased risk to children

Children are particularly vulnerable to suffering harm while missing and missing incidents are recognised as a significant indicator that a child is at risk of being sexually exploited. It is imperative that staff have proper regard to this vulnerability when risk assessing initial reports and making deployment decisions.

Current flagging that a child is at risk of CSE must be given particular weight. When conducting prevention checks with children, staff must use all sources of information to determine why a child went missing and take proactive steps to prevent repeat incidents including making appropriate referrals to other agencies. They must be alert to warning indicators that the child may be suffering abuse and regard prevention checks as a key opportunity to ensure that necessary child protection interventions take place.

Force undertaking

West Yorkshire Police is committed to the management, recording and investigation of missing persons in line with the Code of Ethics and the Public Sector Equality Duty. (Under the general equality duty ‘public authorities’ must eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the Act).

Employee undertaking

West Yorkshire Police staff must handle the management, recording and investigation of missing persons in line with the Code of Ethics and the Public Sector Equality Duty.

To effectively safeguard people who go missing, it is vital that staff understand risk factors, assess the individual circumstances and document the rationale for any decisions made. In particular, in considering the level of risk for a person staff must take into account: • The vulnerability of a person, e.g. a child or vulnerable adult.

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• Any increased risk or vulnerability based on protected characteristics:o Ageo Raceo Transgendero Disabilityo Sex (gender)o Pregnancy and maternityo Sexual orientationo Religion or beliefo Marriage or Civil Partnership

• Any unconscious bias, e.g. when considering the risk of child sexualexploitation this should not be affected by the gender of the missingperson.

• The ability / inability of a missing person to safeguard themselves.• The fact that a vulnerable child or adult has a history of going missing,

including in circumstances of no apparent risk (absent) and returning doesnot mitigate the risk to the missing person on subsequent occasions.

• Terminology such as ‘street wise’ must not be used as it is misleading andoften misinterpreted that a missing person is able to identify risk and takeaction to safeguard themselves.

Responsibilities all missing persons cases

Important The force or district that receives the initial missing person report must record the fact that a report has been received in line with this policy. The reporting person must not be told to contact another force or to wait until they get home and report the missing person to their local police station. This is regardless of where the reporting person resides.

Communications staff / report taker

Responsibility Communications staff or report takers are responsible for: • Creating an incident log and obtaining relevant information as follows:o Name, aliases and gender of the missing person.o Date of birth and age.o Description of person and the clothing they were wearing.o Home address and location missing from.o Has a Herbert Protocol Missing Person Form already completed? Can

it be emailed to the district control room (DCR)? The Herbert Protocolencourages family and friends to complete and retain a form recordingall vital details such as medication required, mobile ‘phone numbers,places previously located, a photograph etc. In the event when a



resident does go missing the form can be immediately handed to a police officer (and if possible emailed to DCR) to ensure a speedy police response.

o Circumstances of going missing:− When were they last seen and who was the last person to see them?− Is this out of character, i.e. have they been missing before, if so, how

often? o Any signs of pre-planning:− Have they taken any money, bank cards, passport, driving licence,

clothing? − Did they tell anyone they intended to leave or leave a letter or note? o Do they have any illnesses or take any medication, if so, when was it

last taken / when is it due again?o Are there any issues with alcohol/drug misuse?o Any mobile ‘phone number:− Have they taken their mobile phone?− Has any contact been made or has it been turned off?− Has a text message been sent a message or a voicemail left on theanswer machine?o Does the missing person use social media, if so, which social media

sites are used?o Details of any vehicle they have access to or other transport used.o Locations where the person may have gone:− Which places do they normally frequent?− Where were they found previously?o Details of any friends and associates they may be with and are there

any contacts that the reporting person is concerned about?o What has been done so far to trace the missing person?o For missing children please obtain the following additional

information:− Has there been an increase in the child’s phone use? − Has the child received unexplained cash or other items? − Has the character or mood of the child changed recently? − Has the child come to the attention of police recently? o Name, address and ‘phone number of the reporting person and their

relationship to the missing person.• asking questions to establish the level of risk:o high;o medium;o low; oro no apparent risk (absent),

• grading the response and forward the incident log to the respective DCR.

Return Misper process

• 2018 STORM will be amended to include a new opening and disposal codeof 101 RETURNED MISPER FOLLOW UP LOG.

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• This code should only be used when the initial log reporting a Misper hasbeen closed and the ongoing enquiries are being tasked via Niche. If theinitial log is still open when a call is received, advising that the Misper hasreturned home etc. the update should be placed on the original incidentand transferred to the relevant District.

• The call taker should apply NDM and THRIVE to assess the appropriategrade for any incident opened with a new 101 code. When the call istransferred to the relevant District, they can reassess the grading basedon any additional information or local knowledge that may be relevant oravailable to them.

• Any logs opened as a 101 RETURNED MISPER FOLLOW UP LOG should beclosed with a 101 disposal code and not use a high, medium or low Mispercode.

District control room staff (DCRs)

Responsibility District control room staff are responsible for: • Immediately notifying the district Hub Commander or duty Inspector.• If the Hub Commander directs, deploying a police officer. Only a police

supervisor can authorise a change to the recommended response aboveand this should only be done in exceptional circumstances where the:o reasons for that decision are recorded on the incident log; ando the Hub Commander/Duty Inspector must be informed;

• if it appears as though there is no available resource to attend within theappropriate response time:o seeking the assistance of a control room supervisor, resource sergeant

or response supervisor to identify a resource must be sought; ando informing the Hub Commander/duty Inspector.

• Broadcasting the description over the radio and notify CCTV ifappropriate.

• Where the report is taken about a vulnerable adult, e.g. a person withdementia, notifying the attending officer if the home has completed aMissing Person Incident Form (via Storm flag).

• Pushing the log to Niche to create the missing person occurrence once theattending officer had determined that the incident is a missing personreport and supplying the officer with an occurrence number.

• Finalising the incident log so that it reflects the risk level at which theincident has been dealt (which may differ to the original code).

A guide on call management can be accessed via this link.

Attending officer



Responsibility Attending officers are responsible for: • Determining that the incident is a missing person report and obtaining as

much information as possible to help locate the individual. This aidememoire provides a useful checklist.

• Checking for any flags, reporting strategies, trigger plans or CSE plans(Misper 18).

• Determining whether the Misper is at risk of sexual exploitation,trafficking, forced marriage, honour based violence or female genitalmutilation and, if so, obtaining full details to establish if an immediateinvestigation is required.

• Making all necessary enquiries at the scene to locate the missing person asquickly as possible including any actions detailed in the reportingstrategies, trigger plans or CSE plans.

• Obtaining details of any vehicles that the person may have access to andrequest markers on relevant vehicles on the PNC without delay.

• Considering the benefits of requesting that the Missing People charity senda ‘TextSafe’ message to the missing person’s mobile telephone.

• Making a thorough search of the missing person’s home and other relevantlocations, e.g. where the missing person has been reported missing from ahospital.NB It is the responsibility of organisations, e.g. hospitals to conductsearches of their premises, before making a report to the police, in orderto confirm that the individual is in fact missing. Once officers are inattendance, all subsequent investigations are their responsibility and thisincludes confirming that the individual is in fact missing by making athorough search of the location(s) which is equal to the risk levelidentified. Do not accept people’s claims that they have searched aparticular premises/location and the person is not there.

• Being aware of the risks posed to themselves by missing persons who havecommitted chemical suicide.

• Ensuring during searches of premises that they also search for items whichwill assist in subsequent enquiries to locate the missing person or informthe risk assessment, e.g. suicide notes, diaries, banking details, ‘phonesand laptops.

• If officers are unable to complete a sufficient search, either because of thearea to be searched, e.g. the grounds of a hospital, or access issues, e.g. aloft area, liaising with the duty Inspector who will decide whether todeploy additional or specialist resources, e.g. a POLSA.

• If the search to locate the missing person is not successful, completing aMissing Person Incident Form (Misper 1), if relevant, and the latestavailable photograph and endorsing it with full details of searches theyhave conducted. Note: there should be one Misper occurrence createdper Misper. The person should be linked as “Misper”. If they areaccompanied by other Mispers, the person should be linked as “MisperAccompanied”, and the OCCURRENCES for each of these people linkedtogether. When they are found, the “Located” link should be added as a

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link for that person. “Found” occurrences should NEVER be recorded; this is a defunct category for recording occurrences but still exists on Niche for the purposes of searching historic records.

• Making the reporting person and other significant individuals aware ofwho to contact if they require an update from the police and establishingthe frequency of that contact which will be on at least a daily basis in theinitial stages of an enquiry until agreed otherwise and reassuring them thatthey will be notified of significant developments as soon as possible.

• Requesting the DCR to create a missing person occurrence, provide themwith the number and updating Niche. Officers must not manually create amissing person occurrence but deal with the report on the occurrencecreated by the Storm to Niche interface. Information on updating Nichecan be accessed via this link.

Duty or response sergeant

Responsibility Duty or response sergeants are responsible for: • Being aware of any new missing person’s reports that are received.• Monitoring the deployment of attending officers and ensuring that:o they are deployed in accordance with the assessment of risk; ando enquiries are made to establish if there is a Missing Person Incident

(Herbert Protocol) Form.• Liaising with attending officers at an early stage to ensure all necessary

initial enquiries have been identified and actioned in a timely manner.• Confirming that any initial searches have been completed and identifying

if additional resources are needed to complete a thorough searchcommensurate with the identified level of risk.

• In appropriate cases, attending the scene and directing initial enquiries inperson.

• Monitoring the progress of identified actions, initiating fresh ones asnecessary.

• Ensuring that active reports are allocated to specific staff with detailedenquires identified for them to complete.

• Liaising with and updating the Hub Commander on the circumstances ofthe report, the risk level identified, resources deployed and initial lines ofenquiry initiated.

• Where a special operations room (SOR) is in use, ensuring they carry outadditional responsibilities as listed below.

• Ensuring that a correctly completed Misper 1 report has been forwardedto PNC.

• Liaising with the Safeguarding Unit (SGU) missing from home co-ordinators to monitor and co-ordinate with ongoing SGU enquires.

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• Monitoring the report to ensure that relevant parties, e.g. family orreporting person, have been updated with the current position ofenquires on a daily basis, unless agreed otherwise.

• Briefing on-coming sergeants about the current status of active missingperson reports and current position re enquiries.

Hub Commander / duty Inspector

On being informed

Hub Commanders and duty Inspectors are responsible for: • Checking and confirming or changing the call taker's initial risk assessment

and grading.• For children and adults in care, information from multi-agency

safeguarding partners should be sought in order to inform the riskassessment and ongoing activity.

• Carefully note the meaning of high, medium and low risk and no apparentrisk (absent) above when assessing risk of harm cognisant of:o the missing person’s vulnerability;o any unconscious bias;o protected characteristics; ando the ability / inability of a missing person to safeguard themselves.Children are by the fact of being children vulnerable and the rationalesupporting an assessment of low risk (no immediate concern forwelfare) or no apparent risk (absent) must be fully recorded on theincident log.Any child who has been identified and flagged as currently at risk of CSEshould be considered as at least medium risk unless there areexceptional circumstances which can be detailed on the log and thereshould be a presumption of deployment in these cases.

• In determining the initial risk assessment ensure that DCR staff researchCorvus, Niche and PNC and provide them with details of:

a. any warning flags (e.g. at risk of CSE/self-harms/ suicidal/ailment etc.);b. the number of previous missing incidents and risk assessments.

NB in the case of a child an increasing number of incidents is likely toindicate an escalating risk and the fact that the child has hithertoreturned safely should not serve to reduce the level of risk identified;

c. relevant intelligence which may indicate the person is at risk of harmfrom self or others (including any reports or intelligence linked totrafficking, forced marriage, honour based violence or female genitalmutilation);

d. details of any risk assessments contained on CSE risk management orMisper Agency Intervention occurrences. (If present a Misper 18 willprovide an up to date list of potential fast track actions); and

e. in the case of a child whether previous harbourers have been issued orthe child is linked to a sexual or other dangerous offender.



• In all cases, request PNC circulation of the missing person by sending theStorm log to the PNC bureau.

If high risk: Hub Commanders and duty Inspectors are responsible for: • Ensuring that officers are immediately despatched to meet and speak with

the reporting person.• Dealing with as a critical incident. There is no requirement to notify district

Operational Commander(DOC)/PACE cover or a Detective Inspector untilan officer has attended to confirm the circumstances and risk.

• In all cases, ensuring that there is effective and intrusive supervision ofattending officers. E.g. where appropriate this may include deploying aSergeant to the scene to co-ordinate initial enquiries and searches.

• Ensuring that sufficient resources are made available:o in order to start immediate house/ground searches; ando for other fast track investigative lines of enquiry.

• Once a high risk missing person is confirmed, immediately informing theduty Detective Inspector and District Operational Commander(DOC)/PACEcover;

• Co-ordinating and record all police activity. The setting up of a SpecialOperations Room (SOR) is seen as good practice.

• If the missing person is aged under 18, notifying local children’s servicesimmediately.

• Following the Force protocol for requests for initial media releases of highrisk missing persons. The decision as to whether to request a mediarelease should be carefully considered and documented and specificallyaddress whether this would reduce or increase the risk of harm to themissing person. The rationale for the decision as to whether to request amedia release should be documented.

• Ensuring that BTP are notified if:o BTP has placed a suicide related information marker on the PNC;o there is a risk of suicide (particularly if the missing person resides,

frequents or was last seen within the vicinity of a railway line); oro there is specific information that the missing person is likely to visit or

use the railway system.

If no apparent risk (absent)

Hub commanders and duty Inspectors are responsible for: • Determining if the person is in custody.• Requesting a PNC circulation by sending the Storm log to PNC bureau.

Note the person should still be circulated as a missing person.• Initiating other actions as required, e.g.:o Broadcasting the description over the police radio;o Notifying CCTV;

• Agreeing will the caller what minimum actions should be undertaken andby whom (the police may provide valuable assistance in guiding the

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reporting person’s activities to trace the person. It is important to assure the person that the police care about the person and that updates on progress are expected).

• Agreeing with the caller when further contact will be made and updatesgiven.

• Recording their rationale for identifying the person as no apparent risk(absent) as opposed to higher on the continuum of risk.

• Deciding and recording when the incident should be reviewed next.Deployment must be reviewed at least every eight hours.

• In the light of new information as it is received, deploying a police officeras soon as there is any significant concern for the person’s welfare, or thesafety of others, and in any case where the person is not located within 18hours from the point of being reported to the police.

NB You must never take demands on police resources into consideration when deciding whether to delay attending the log.

For the purpose of no apparent risk (absent) review timescales, these start at the point of the report to the police. NB If the person has been seen for a significant period before being reported then no apparent risk (absent) is unlikely to be a suitable grading.

Risk assessments and reviews

Hub Commanders, duty Inspectors and safeguarding detective inspectors (DIs) are responsible for the risk assessments, reviews and supervisory oversight of the management, recording and investigation of missing persons supported by missing person investigators.

The assessment of risk should be regularly reviewed at every point of handover such as the beginning and end of each shift. This should be documented on the Niche OEL or in the case of no apparent risk (absent) on the Storm incident log.

Hub commander reviews

Every 24 hours: • checking that enquiries have been completed satisfactorily;• deciding what further enquiries need to be done;• ensuring the enquiries are allocated to a specific officer;• considering whether to inform the district DI;• ensuring the reporting or other relevant person has been updated with

the current position at least daily and any significant developments unlessagreed otherwise with them; and

• ensuring that the occurrence is updated and a review form is completedon Niche.



Special Operations Room responsibility

Duty DIs, Hub Commanders and duty/response sergeants must: • ensure that, through the deployment of a dedicated researcher,

despatcher and loggist, all lines of enquiry are:o identified;o tasked out; ando recorded;

• co-ordinate searches, ensuring that they:o consult a POLSA trained officer; ando use appropriate Protective Services - Operations staff;

• ensure appropriate circulations are made via PNC and to surroundingdistricts and forces; and

• ensure all relevant agencies, that may assist in locating the missingperson, are identified and contacted.

Missing person co-ordinator

Responsibility District missing person co-ordinators are responsible for: • Assisting the district in assessing and identifying high risk missing person

reports at the earliest opportunity and monitor all district missing reportsto identify potential threat, risk and harm and initiate appropriatepartnership interventions to mitigate and reduce the risk and preventrepeat reports.

• Establishing and maintaining appropriate contacts with partner agencies,attending regular ‘missing problem solving meetings’, developing apartnership problem solving approach to reduce the likelihood of regular,long term and particularly vulnerable missing persons going missing againand reducing the risk to such individuals should they do so. Where there isconcern for an individual’s welfare, considering whether to trigger a multi-agency meeting see APP Major investigation and public protection/Missingpersons/Strategic responsibilities 1.4 Prevention and InterventionStrategies.

• Where it is assessed that the individual is at risk of going missing again,ensuring that information gathered is used to create a plan outlining keyactions to be taken if the person is subsequently reported missing.

• Ensuring that the Herbert Protocol is offered for those at risk of becoming arepeat missing person so that, should they do so, the Force and partneragencies have the optimum amount of information readily available tosecure an early and safe location of the missing person.

• If the missing person is aged under 18, notifying children’s services if thishas not already been done.

• Ensuring referrals to social care are completed in line with APP thresholds:o the individual is a ‘repeat missing person’(reported as missing three

times in a rolling 90 day period);o the individual has experienced or is likely to experience significant

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o for children, the parent or carer appears unable or unwilling to work tosupport and meet the needs of a child that has gone missing.

• Supporting staff dealing with missing person investigations by offeringadvice and guidance on all aspects of the investigation to ensure an earlyand safe location of the individual missing.

• Developing procedures and processes to ensure the district effectivelymanages missing person investigations. Identifying and addressing thetraining needs of personnel in relation to missing person investigations andensuring relevant training is made available to all relevant staff.

• Gathering, collating and ensuring that all intelligence gathered during thecourse of an investigation is recorded on Niche and analysed and thatinvestigations are initiated into those who harbour and encourage children,young people, vulnerable adults and mental health patients to go missing.

• Ensuring that reviews of investigations are flagged for completion inaccordance with Force Policy schedules, including those that have beenfiled without the individual being found, for completion by the district DCI.

• Managing the process for PNC locate/information reports for persistentmissing persons.

• Ensuring local information sharing protocols are in place and compliedwith. Ensure effective prevention checks are shared with partners todevelop a deeper understanding of relevant issues so that the individualcan be safeguarded and repeat incidents minimised.

• Ensuring that the correct Storm closing codes and occurrence types havebeen used to reflect how the investigation has been conducted andconcluded.

Dedicated missing person investigator

Responsibility Dedicated missing person investigators are responsible for: • Researching and interrogating the full range of police IT systems and social

media ensuring all relevant information is available to inform missingperson investigations.

• Ensuring missing persons investigations are informed by existing reportingstrategies, trigger plans and CSE plans ( as detailed on a Misper 18);

• Undertaking enquiries set by the relevant inspector (Hub Commander/dutyInspector/safeguarding inspector/PWA inspector) ensuring all actions areexpedited in a thorough and timely manner and that all relevantinformation and intelligence is obtained to assist in the location of missingpersons.

• Initiating telecoms/computer enquiries as required through Charter,ensuring that any information pertinent to the location of missing person isobtained at the earliest opportunity.

• Initiating and expediting enquiries with external agencies including banks,CCTV, Interpol, Immigration, foreign embassies ensuring that any



information pertinent to the location of Missing Person is obtained at the earliest opportunity.

• Undertaking and completing prevention checks with missing persons thathave been located as directed by relevant Inspector to seek to establishwhy the individual went missing; what they did; where any offencescommitted against or by the missing person; where they went; aphotograph of the person; and what action now needs to be taken toprevent a reoccurrence.

• Identifying any criminal offences that may have been committed during thetime a person has been missing to maximise the safeguarding of vulnerablepeople through harbouring and human traffic legislation, ensuringharbourers warnings are served on perpetrators of offences whereappropriate.

• Initiating and completing partnership referrals as appropriate to ensurethat individuals are signposted and referred to relevant agencies for theirfuture safeguarding.

• Ensuring that all relevant information/intelligence gathered through thecourse of a missing person investigation is recorded on an intelligencereport as appropriate.

• Supporting the District Missing Person Co-ordinator in problem solving ofrepeat locations/subjects to reduce the likelihood of people going missing.

Note: Risk assessments, reviews and supervisory oversight of the management, recording and investigation of missing persons are the responsibility of the relevant Inspector (Hub Commander/duty Inspector/ safeguarding inspector).

Missing person investigators have a role in supporting Inspectors in these functions through providing information, intelligence and research but should not undertake risk assessments or reviews.

Safeguarding Detective Inspectors

Responsibility Safeguarding DIs are responsible for: • Maintaining an overview of missing persons and ensuring that intervention

opportunities and problem solving are addressed at the earliestopportunity.

• Ensuring this policy is complied with in the district.• Supporting and advising the district missing person co-ordinator to enable

them to fulfil their responsibilities.• Ensuring that effective joint interagency working arrangements are in place

to protect missing children from harm and that police contribute to theseprocesses.



• Ensuring regular ‘missing problem solving meetings’ are held with partnersto maximise opportunities for early intervention in order to minimise risksfor:o vulnerable people who go missing;o persistent missing persons; ando the top ten short and long term missing persons.

• Ensuring crime prevention work is undertaken, where appropriate, aroundrepeat locations using the skills of specialist officers.

• Identifying deficiencies in this policy and giving feedback to the Forcemissing person co-ordinator.

Risk assessments and reviews

Safeguarding DIs are responsible for the risk assessments, reviews and supervisory oversight of the management, recording and investigation of missing persons supported by missing person investigators.

District Commander / duty district Operational Commander / PACE officer

Responsibility District Commanders, duty district Operational Commander and PACE officers are responsible for: • Risk assessing and reviewing every report of a missing person (including

cases of no apparent risk (absent) daily, during the morning meeting.• Ensuring all missing reports are attended no later than 18 hours after the

initial receipt;• Providing and effectively deploying sufficient resources and ensuring there

is clear ownership of actions.• Effectively supervising and managing investigations.• Releasing staff to attend relevant training to enable them to accomplish

these tasks.

Protective Services Crime Senior Investigating Officer (SIO)

Responsibility SIOs are responsible for: • Reviewing all referred missing person investigations.• Deciding whether to take responsibility for managing and supervising

referred investigations.• Supporting and advising districts if you decide not to accept responsibility

for managing and supervising the investigation.• Ensuring that high risk investigations have direction and focus and all

relevant lines of enquiry are identified and actioned as quickly as possible.



• Ensuring that all appropriate Force resources are made available to theinvestigation and using the services of other specialist agencies andresources when and where appropriate.

• Directing any media circulations.• Reviewing cases where districts have requested advice in considering

whether a case should be filed under the option all reasonable enquiriescomplete.

• Recommending what enquiries ought to be conducted before finalisingunder the option all reasonable enquiries complete.

An SIO can amend the review timetable, if appropriate – see DCI supervisory reviews below.

District Detective Inspector (DI)

Supervisory reviews

DIs, within 48 hours from the report of a missing person and then every seven days, must: • review the risk assessment on behalf of the SIO;• ensure that the investigation is being conducted diligently;• consider if CID should be involved in the investigation and whether to

inform an SIO;• maintain contact with the reporting or other relevant person as agreed,

keeping them updated with the current situation and any relevantdevelopments, and endorse the occurrence accordingly; and

• ensure a review form is completed on Niche.

Responsibility Duty DIs must: • take command of the investigation, and ensure resources are identified to

staff and manage the Special Operations Room (SOR);• ensure that all relevant lines of enquiry are identified and actioned as

soon as possible;• continuously monitor the risk posed and the potential involvement of

others;• immediately make the duty PACE officer aware and, if relevant, the

district SIO or Protective Services - Crime;• ensure that all lines of enquiry are accurately recorded; and• maintain the continuity of the investigation until the missing person is

located.

District Detective Chief Inspector (DCI)



Supervisory reviews

DCIs (after seven days from the report of a missing person; then every month for the first three months; then after six months; then after twelve months; and annually thereafter) must: • reconsider the risk assessment;• review the investigation on behalf of the district senior leadership team;• seek specialist advice from Protective Services Crime SIO if required;• decide the investigation strategy;• decide the appropriate level of resources to commit to the investigation

based on what further enquiries are required;• ensure that ongoing contact with the reporting or other relevant person is

taking place as agreed with them and the occurrence is endorsed; and• ensure a review form is completed on Niche.

For long-term cases, the DCI should contact an SIO if specialist advice and review of the case is needed.

Detective Chief Inspector (DCI) or Senior Investigating Officer (SIO)

Amending review timetable

A DCI or SIO can amend the review timetable, if appropriate, e.g. in: • high risk cases it may be appropriate for a DI review to be conducted every

24 hours; or• some long term cases where there are very few active enquiries and there

is little change from day to day, it may be appropriate for the inspector'sreview to be conducted every seven days.

Any decision to amend the review timetable must be recorded in the policy log alongside the rationale for that decision and/or on the OEL.

Notifications and circulations

UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU)

If a missing person has not returned within 72 hours of the initial report to the police, case details must be submitted by the District Safeguarding Unit to the MPB within the next twelve hours of all: • persons reported missing in the UK;• foreign nationals reported (via Interpol or by any other means) as missing

in the UK; and• UK residents reported as missing abroad.

Where there is particular concern for the missing person, the case should be sent to the Unit immediately. In such cases consideration should also be



given contacting the NCA Specialist Operations Centre (SOC), either via the MPB or directly

Any significant case update for existing Unit submissions must be forwarded to the Unit within 48 hours.

Missing person cancellations must be submitted to the Unit within 24 hours of confirming the missing person’s return or location.

Notifications will be made either by using the Missing Person’s Report tab on the Missing Person Report field of Niche or by email

All reports of missing children and young persons will be referred to local authority children’s services in accordance with local reporting arrangements.

All unidentified body/people reports must be sent to the MPB within 48 hours of discovery. This requirement is to help major crime investigations and bring closure to the families of missing people who are deceased. Cancellation of such reports must be submitted to the MPB within 24 hours of an identification being made.

Details of what the UKMPU can do to assist police investigations can be accessed here.

Non-governmental organisations

District missing person co-ordinators should notify the relevant non-governmental agencies in accordance with the information sharing agreements that are current at the time of the initial report.

Person returns or is located before officer despatched to take report

Log finalised Where a person who has been no apparent risk (absent) returns before an officer has been despatched to take are report, the following process will be followed:

Communications staff

Communications staff will: • obtain the following information from the caller reporting the return of

the missing person, record the answers on the Storm log and inform theHub Commander:

1. What time did the person return home?2. What addresses has the person visited while absent?3. Who has the person been with?

mailto:[email protected]

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/forcepolicy/Force%20Performance%20Improvement%20Unit/Linked%20documents/Missing%20persons%20-%20UKMPU%20Investigation%20Support%20To%20Police%20Forces.doc



4. Does the person have any injuries?5. Have they been subject of crime or come to any harm?6. Is there any further relevant information?• If the missing person has dementia, advise the caller about the Herbert

Protocol guidance and form.

Hub commander / duty inspector

The Hub Commander/duty Inspector will review the Storm log and consider whether the person has been subject of a crime, exploitation or harm and in such cases direct what action should be taken.

In all missing no apparent risk (absent) cases they will determine whether it is appropriate for a prevention check to be completed and provide a rationale if this course of action isn’t taken. (Note – finalisation as no apparent risk (absent) prior to deployment is only meant to be for very short term absence or a mistaken report).

Consideration should be given to the long term safeguarding of the missing person and whether a prevention check will assist in the gathering of intelligence, securing and preserving evidence and the subsequent ability to direct fast-time actions.

The Hub Commander/duty Inspector will update with the review template stating:

“I am satisfied the person has returned and I have considered the following:

1. Has the person been subject of a crime? Yes/No - what action taken2. Has the person been subject to sexual exploitation or human trafficking?

Yes/No - what action taken3. Has the person been exposed to harm? Yes/No - what action taken4. Is partnership involvement/ referral required? Yes/No - what action

taken. (If Yes – ensure referral made to social care direct.)

An officer should / should not* attend to undertake a prevention check and complete a Misper 7. The rationale for this is….”

DCR operator The DCR operator will: • once the Hub Commander has updated the log with their final review,

finalise the log as absent (code 696). This will automatically create a Nicheoccurrence and send a task to the missing person’s mailbox.

• before closing the log, pass it to PNC to cancel the missing person reporton PNC and endorse the log that this has been done (as updating theabsent occurrence does not generate an automatic task). The log must notbe finalised until it has been endorsed that this has been done.



Safeguarding Unit (SGU)

Safeguarding will review and update the Niche absent occurrences with: • occurrence between dates, first date and time when the person went

missing, and date/time when they returned;• link the person as located;• link reporting person if details contained on log;• link address found at;• link any other involved persons e.g. person missing with/found with; and• link any other relevant addresses.

Person goes missing again

If a missing person who has returned goes missing again before the initial Niche occurrence has been created an initial absent occurrence must be created in relation to the first instance and the second missing instance of absence: • recorded on Storm;• risk assessed; and• managed as a new missing incident.

Person is found before Misper 1 report completed

Introduction It may be appropriate, in order to minimise the risk of harm, to conduct immediate enquiries when attending a report of a missing person which will speedily locate them (for example an area search of the immediate vicinity) before full details of the missing person are recorded on a form Misper 1.

Where the reported person is located in these circumstances and before full details have been taken on a Misper 1 form, it is not necessary for the attending officer to complete the Misper 1 form.

However in these circumstances:

• a missing person occurrence must be created with full details of themissing and reporting persons;

• the full circumstances of the incident must be detailed on the occurrenceOEL;

• a Misper 7 report must be completed and attached to the occurrence;• a copy of the incident log must be attached to the occurrence; and• if the missing person has dementia, advise the caller about the Herbert

Protocol guidance and form.NB Such immediate enquiries must not be protracted and, in all circumstances where the missing person is not located quickly, a Misper 1 report must be filled out with the reporting person to ensure accurate




details are obtained and submitted within four hours of the officer’s initial attendance at the scene.

Note: “Found” occurrences should NEVER be recorded; this is a defunct category for recording occurrences but still exists on Niche for the purposes of searching historic records.

Missing person is located

Procedure Where an officer has attended a report and recorded a Misper 1, the following describes the procedure once a missing person is located:

Initial call taker The initial call taker must: • create a new incident log to ensure the response is timed;• grade as immediate if the person is:

o currently exposed to immediate risk or poses an immediate risk; oro vulnerable or dangerous and is about to leave now.

• grade as priority if the person is vulnerable or dangerous and is likely to gomissing again before police attend;

• grade as standards if the person is not currently exposed to immediate riskor pose an immediate risk and not expected to go missing again beforepolice attend.

PNC Cell The PNC Cell must: • change the Master Task – Investigate Misper on the relevant Niche

occurrence to Master Task – Interview• Misper. Do not cancel the PNC circulation at this stage until after a

prevention check form has been attached to the occurrence.

Attending officer

The attending officer must attend within 4 hours to conduct the prevention check unless it is considered in the circumstances more appropriate to make a mutually convenient appointment.

However, any delay beyond four hours must be authorised by the Hub Commander or Missing Person Co-ordinator.

Prevention checks



Within four hours

Where a Misper 1 report has been recorded and the police are informed that the missing person has been found or located, a police officer, PCSO or Investigating Officer (IO) must attend to conduct a prevention check (and complete a Misper 7) within four hours of their return unless the missing person: • returned or was found by the carer before initial police attendance;• is a mental health patient (see below); or• is in the care of the local authority and a prevention check strategy has

been agreed between the district missing person co-ordinator and localauthority (see below).

Purpose The prevention check should be completed in full and must seek to establish: • why the individual went missing;• what they did;• where any offences committed against or by the missing person;• where they went;• their demeanour (e.g. sad, defiant, unconcerned or relaxed). This is

particularly important where the person refuses to engage;• their appearance (e.g. clean, dirty, hungry, torn clothes or in possession of

new clothing/possessions);• a photograph of the person; and• what action now needs to be taken to prevent a reoccurrence, e.g. sexual

exploitation or human trafficking investigation, referral to DistrictSafeguarding Unit.

People with dementia

If the missing person has dementia or Alzheimer’s disease and is at risk of going missing again, you should advise them about the Herbert Protocol.

Further investigation

If it is suspected that the missing person has been a victim of sexual exploitation or human trafficking etc., then full details must be obtained to establish if an immediate investigation is necessary.

Updating Niche The Misper 7 form must be attached to the occurrence once all the relevant sections have been completed and every effort has been made to safeguard the person and prevent them going missing again.

Mental health patient

Who conducts interview

It is usually more appropriate for a trained mental health carer to conduct the prevention check of a mental health patient unless there are allegations that




the patient has been the victim of a crime or the patient has made allegations against staff.

If the mental health patient: • has returned to the hospital of their own accord or by another person, there

is no requirement for a police officer or PCSO to attend providing a mentalhealth carer conducts the prevention check; or

• is located elsewhere, a police officer or PCSO must attend to conduct aprevention check, but there is no requirement to conduct a prevention checkproviding a mental health carer conducts the prevention check on thepatient’s return to hospital.

Recording Misper 7

A prevention check form must still be completed by the police officer, PCSO or IO obtaining details over the telephone from staff or by obtaining a copy of the completed form from the hospital. This form must: • be attached to the occurrence; and• indicate the action taken to prevent a further missing incident before the

occurrence is filed.

Young person in local authority care

Who conducts interview

A police officer, PCSO or IO must always conduct a prevention check of a young person who was categorised as missing when they are found or return no matter how many times they have been missing before unless the district missing person co-ordinator has agreed a prevention check strategy with the local authority whereby it is considered to be in the best interests of the child or young person that it would not be beneficial or appropriate for a prevention check to be completed by a police officer and that a comprehensive return interview can be conducted by a professional from another agency.

Where this has been agreed, a strategy report confirming this arrangement must be completed and linked to a 'Misper - Agency Intervention' occurrence.

Joint protocol West Yorkshire Police has signed a protocol with the five local authorities on children missing from home or local authority care which covers prevention checks and you can access it via this link.

Filing missing person reports

Information MFH occurrences may be filed and closed where:

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/WYP%20%20Miscellaneous%20Reports/Joint%20Procedure%20for%20Children%20Missing%20from%20Home%20and%20from%20Local%20Authority%20Care.pdf



• the missing person has been located, spoken with by an officer, PCSO or IOand a prevention check conducted. The Misper 7 must be attached to theoccurrence so that PNC cell can cancel any circulation;

• a missing person has returned to a care setting or hospital and aprevention check has been conducted by an appropriate person inaccordance with an agreed prevention check strategy. The reportingofficer must endorse the details of the interview on a form Misper 7 andattach this to the occurrence so that PNC Cell can cancel any circulation;

• where a missing person who is aged 16 and over who is capable ofindependent living has not been located by police or returned to a hospitalor other care setting the district DCI may authorise the closing and filing ofthe report without the requirement for ongoing review where there:o is reliable corroboration that the person is safe and well;o are no apparent suspicious circumstances;o are no grounds to believe the person has suffered harm;o is no apparent risk that the person will suffer harm; ando is no apparent risk that the person will cause harm to another personThe DCI should endorse the occurrence with their decision makingrationale and also that any outstanding PNC circulation has beencancelled.

Filed but subject to review

Where a missing person has not been located by police and the above criteria are not met the district DCI may authorise the occurrence to be: Filed Subject to Review where: • taking into account the circumstances and risk assessment, all reasonable

enquiries have been completed;• it is not justifiable to continue to commit significant resources to the

investigation;• an accredited (PIP level 3) SIO has been consulted; and• the recommendations of the SIO have been complied with,or• a person has been declared legally dead, but their body has not been

found.

Once a Long Term Misper has been filed subject to review it is for the reviewing officer (DCI/SIO) to set the next date for formal review. Where all lines of enquiry are complete or it appears that the person may not be found timeframes may be set accordingly.

So for example if after 10 years someone is declared legally dead it may no longer be appropriate to carry out any further reviews but they will remain on the PNC, the Long Term Missing Report and NCA DNA database.



For other filed cases, it may be appropriate to set review timeframes longer than 12 months for example 2, 3 or even 5 years depending on the circumstances.

Active investigations will remain subject to annual reviews.

Found deceased Where a missing person’s body has been found and formally identified the district DCI must file the occurrence as ‘Found Deceased’.

A final report must be attached to the occurrence by the district DCI (or nominated deputy) with confirmation that the body has been formally identified and also that any PNC circulation has been cancelled.

Long term missing persons

Information A long term missing terms is defined within West Yorkshire as a person who has been missing in excess of 28 days.

Persistent missing persons

Criteria A person will be considered as persistently missing, including cases of no apparent risk (absent) if they go missing on: • four or more occasions within a month; or• six or more occasions within three months.• It is not necessary that all these incidents were reported to the police.

Notifying the missing person co-ordinator

If a police officer, member of police staff or a member of the local authority considers that a person meets the criteria, the district missing person co-ordinator must be notified and a request made to create a report. The procedure below must be followed:

District missing person co-ordinators

District missing person co-ordinators will: • monitor all missing occurrences, including cases of no apparent risk

(absent) and if a person meets the criteria obtain an inspectors authority to forward a Misper 13 form to PNC cell to place a‘locate/information’ report on PNC, using the most recent relevant occurrence number as a reference (this may be a Misper agency intervention occurrence).



This will highlight to police officers who stop and check such a person that they may be missing from home; • ensure the Misper 13 includes details of a 24/7 contact number for the

carer that the officer can use when checking flagged individuals to ensurethat they are not currently missing;

• ensure that all locate/information reports are kept up to date andremoved if the person does not go missing for a period of six months;

• review, persons identified as being persistently missing givingconsideration to what multi agency action is required to prevent repeatincidents and convene strategy discussions and planning meetings asappropriate, recording all such action on a Niche Misper agencyintervention occurrence report;

• create a report, if requested by an officer, member of staff or a member ofthe local authority who considers that a person meets the criteria; and

• when placing a missing marker on PNC consider:o informing relevant Safer Neighbourhood Teams and response officers;o creating a briefing item with photograph to inform response and SNT

officers; ando sending a photograph and details of the person to any appropriate

CCTV control rooms with clear advice on when to contact the police ifthis person is seen.

PNC Cell PNC Cell will: • create a locate/information report containing standard text:

o persistent missing person; ando contact (name and telephone numbers of carer); and

• notify the district missing person co-ordinator before thelocate/information report is automatically weeded from PNC to establishwhether:o the ‘persistent missing’ criteria still apply; and if soo obtain authorisation of an Inspector to extend the report by 12

months.

Person with marker is checked

The officer must: • ensure the carer is contacted to check if the person is currently missing;

and• if currently missing, request the carer to arrange their return and finalise

the missing report and PNC circulations other than the persistent missingmarker.

If not currently missing, submit an intelligence report with details of the time, date and place stopped, any associates present, any vehicles used and any other relevant information.



Herbert Protocol

Introduction The Herbert Protocol is an initiative with regards to missing people and is named after a resident of a care home, George Herbert.

Purpose It is intended to speed up and simplify the response of the police and other agencies when a vulnerable person with dementia/Alzheimer’s is reported missing, ensuring that the right information is readily available so that the search can be targeted appropriately.

Care homes It was initially designed for care homes so that they could predetermine vulnerable adults who they consider most at risk of going missing and complete and retain a form recording all vital details such as: • medicines taking;• mobile ‘phone numbers;• places previously located; and• up to date photograph etc.

In the event that a resident goes missing, they can immediately hand the form to a police officer (and, if possible, email it to the DCR) to ensure a more speedy police response.

A list of care homes that have signed up to the Herbert Protocol can be found on the intranet site

Extended to sheltered accommodation or own homes

The initiative has now been extended to include people with dementia living in sheltered accommodation or in their own homes.

Individuals do not need to register with anyone or sign up to the protocol, but simply complete the Missing Person Incident (Herbert Protocol) Form and keep it in a safe place with family, friends and neighbours. If they go missing then the information can be quickly passed to the police.

Living at home with dementia

You can print off or email the Missing Person Incident (Herbert Protocol) Form and the Herbert Protocol Guidance Notes and share them with any member of the public who you feel would benefit from the Herbert Protocol.

Other protocols

http://staging-wyp-intranet/divisionsdepartments/RA/PIT/herbertprotocol/






Joint procedure and protocols

West Yorkshire Police has: • signed a joint protocol for children missing from home or local authority

care with the five local authorities in the county and it can be accessed viathis link. It describes how we will work in partnership with other agenciesto safeguard children who may be missing from home.District missing person leads should raise concerns over another agency’slevel of response via Local Safeguarding Children’s Boards or relevantlocal partnership working arrangements.

• agreed a protocol with:o the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service re the deployment of

WYFRS personnel to assist with searches for missing persons and,where appropriate, resources should be requested via the Force DutyOfficer; and

o Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust for the management of missingpatients.

Transferring ownership of the report between districts / forces

Introduction ‘Ownership’ of the missing from home report and the direction of enquiries to locate the missing person will remain with the police area which records the missing from home report (usually where the report is first made).

Left the area It may be apparent that the missing person has left that area and is now likely to be in a different force or district area where the: • majority of enquiries are likely to be made; and• person is in fact believed to be.

For example, a child placed in residential care in South Yorkshire may abscond and return to their home area in Keighley.

In this case, ‘ownership’ of the report and the responsibility for directing enquiries may be transferred from one force or district to another as follows.

NB For a child placed out of area, the home local authority retains legal responsibility for the child and there is a need for the police to liaise with both the home local authority and the host local authority.

Transferring responsibility

Between West Yorkshire Police districts This may only be done in West Yorkshire where the Hub Commander or Duty Inspector in the receiving district has agreed to the transfer and the formal transfer has been recorded on the missing from home report. In cases


http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/WYP%20%20Miscellaneous%20Reports/Protocol%20-%20WY%20Fire%20and%20Rescue%20Service%20Assistance%20to%20WYP%20in%20Search%20for%20Missing%20Persons.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/WYP%20%20Miscellaneous%20Reports/Protocol%20-%20Leeds%20Teaching%20Hospital%20Trust%20and%20WYP%20re%20missing%20adult%20patients.doc



where transfer is not agreed between Hub Commanders/duty Inspectors, the matter must be referred to duty district Operational Commander/PACE cover.

Between forces Where it is proposed to transfer responsibility for managing an investigation between police forces, the matter must be referred to an officer of at least chief inspector rank of the relevant district in WYP.

Other forces may have a different authority level.

Purpose of transfer

The purpose of transferring is to improve the management and supervision of the investigation in order to ensure maximum efficiency and effectiveness.

Requesting enquiries in another district

Make request To request for enquiries to be made in another WYP district, you must: • create a Storm log requesting the necessary enquiries and forward it to the

appropriate DCR; and• endorse the Niche MFH report that the enquiry has been requested.

Receiving district

The district receiving the request must: • action the request;• endorse the original Storm log; and• return it to the originating district’s public enquiry counter.

Originating district's public enquiry counter

The public enquiry counter in the district which made the request must: • must update Niche;• must notify the originating officer; and• may then close the log.

IMPORTANT Ownership of the report and responsibility for initiating and co-ordinating enquiries remains with the originating district unless ownership is formally transferred from one district to another as above.

Additional Information



Compliance Department for Education statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care Department for Education guidance on safeguarding children who may have been trafficked Home Office guidance for frontline officers about victims of human trafficking APP Investigation APP Major investigation and public protection – Missing persons Joint protocol between WYP and five local authorities on children missing from home or local authority care

Related policy procedures and other useful links

Child sexual exploitation Forensic identification samples in missing person cases Safeguarding vulnerable adults Regional Underwater Search Unit UK Missing Persons Unit

Policy database administration

Item Details Document title: Missing Person Policy title here Owner: FPIU, Safeguarding Governance Unit Author / Reviewer: Date of last review: 11/04/2017 Date of next review: 11/04/2019 The Equality and Human Rights Assessment for this policy is held on Force Registry which can be accessed via this link. This policy has been approved by the Force Crime Registrar ☒ (approval must be sought at every interim and full review)

The table below details revision information relating to this document: Topic title Date

Email change for the notifications and circulations from SOCA, Missing Persons Bureau. Page 18.

30/09/2016

Various changes – return interview = prevention checks, crime manager = DCI, inclusion of protected characteristics, vulnerable adults, mental health, trafficking, forced marriage, honour based violence or female genital mutilation as risks to consider, pg 22 included demeanour and appearance, Investigating Officer allowed to do prevention checks, new – definition of long term missing persons, ‘missing absent’ grading unsuitable if person seen for a significant period before being reported,

05/10/2016

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/GD%20%20Department%20for%20Education/Statutory%20guidance%20on%20children%20who%20run%20away%20or%20go%20missing%20from%20home%20or%20care%20-%20Jan%202014.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/GD%20%20Department%20for%20Education/Statutory%20guidance%20on%20children%20who%20run%20away%20or%20go%20missing%20from%20home%20or%20care%20-%20Jan%202014.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/GD%20%20Department%20for%20Education/Safeguarding%20children%20who%20may%20have%20been%20trafficked%20-%20Practice%20Guidance.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/GD%20%20Department%20for%20Education/Safeguarding%20children%20who%20may%20have%20been%20trafficked%20-%20Practice%20Guidance.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/HO%20%20Other%20Correspondence%20and%20Reports/HO%20-%20Guidance%20%20Codes%20of%20Practice%20and%20Best%20Practice/Victims%20of%20human%20trafficking%20-%20guidance%20for%20frontline%20staff.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/registry/HO%20%20Other%20Correspondence%20and%20Reports/HO%20-%20Guidance%20%20Codes%20of%20Practice%20and%20Best%20Practice/Victims%20of%20human%20trafficking%20-%20guidance%20for%20frontline%20staff.pdf

https://app.college.gsi.gov.uk/app-content/investigations/?s=

https://app.college.gsi.gov.uk/app-content/major-investigation-and-public-protection/missing-persons/



http://wyp-infoshare/sites/forcepolicy/Crime%20Division/Child%20sexual%20exploitation.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/forcepolicy/Crime%20Division/Child%20sexual%20exploitation.pdf

http://wyp-infoshare/sites/forcepolicy/Crime%20Division/Safeguarding%20vulnerable%20adults.pdf

https://intranet.portal.wypnt.wypnet.org/NewsHub/NewsArchive/Regional-Underwater-Seach-And-Marine-Unit--There-For-When-You-Need-Them.aspx

http://missingpersons.police.uk/en-gb/



additional duties for hub commander, duty inspector re rationale for action and long term safeguarding, DCI to review filed occurrences after 7 days and which local authority retains legal responsibility for the child. Updated regarding ‘No apparent risk (absent)’ and timescales for reviews in these cases, updated definitions, explanations of risk levels, deployments, prevention instead of safe and well checks and amended prevention section, absent replaced with missing, added obtaining details of vehicles and TextSafe messaging, seeking information from safeguarding partners, notifying children’s services if under 18, notifying BTP, checking not in custody, review of risk assessments at handovers, triggering multi agency meetings, referrals to social care, supervisory reviews within 48 hours, DCI to be a trained SIO for long term cases, contacting NCA SOC via MPB, sending unidentified body reports to MPB, added links to APP Major investigations and public protection/Missing persons including 1.4 Prevention and intervention strategies and amended compliance documents.

11/04/2017

Typo on page 25 – should have said ‘safe and well’ instead of ‘prevention.’

02/06/2017

Policy amended to update Missing Persons Bureau to UK Missing Persons Unit, and a link added under Additional Information. Further link added for information regarding the Regional Underwater Search Team. The DI responsibilities have altered slightly not needing to attend the SOR, and that the DI should contact an SIO if specialist advice and review of a long term case is needed, page 18. Return Misper Process section has been added under the Communications staff responsibilities.

17/08/2018

Addition of new information regarding timeframes for review under the Filed but subject for review section, page 26. This will provide clarity when individuals review a long term Misper and decide that they should be filed subject to review.

31/08/2018

Addition of the linked document under the UKMPU section, to explain what they can do to assist police force investigations.

18/09/2018

missing persons contents - west yorkshire police

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