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Find links below to useful information and organisations to help you if you:

Need to report someone missing?

If you think someone is missing, it is important to respond to this quickly, especially if you think that they are at risk of harm. You can find advice about what to do here and information is provided by other organisations and can be found by following the below web links. The first point of contact should be the police but other organisations may also be involved. For further information about what to do, see below.

UK Missing Persons Unit provides advice in relation to reporting someone missing and have a section dedicated to this.

Missing People is a charity that provides people who can help you, whether you’re currently a missing person or you are trying to find someone who’s missing. This section of their website gives specific advice about what to do when someone goes missing.

Action to take if you think someone is missing

If you have made all the common enquiries, such as, tried to phone them, checked places they might be or people they might be with and you are concerned for their safety and welfare, you should report your concerns to the police. If the missing person is under the supervision of mental health services, it is important that they are informed of the disappearances.

Be clear about why you are concerned as the police will have to decide if the circumstances are appropriate for them to get involved. Try to organise your thoughts so that you can present them in a clear manner.

In the most cases, the person will be found safe and well in a short space of time, but this is not always the case.

What does the process look like?

• Initial report to police when they will decide if it is appropriate to deal with this as a missing person.
• If the police decide it is a missing person case, basic information will be taken.
• Visit from police officer to obtain all relevant information.
• Searching – this will be determined by the circumstances, but it is normal practice to conduct searches at the home address and/or place last seen. The search area may be widened as necessary.
• Investigation – it may be necessary to speak to family, friends, work/school contacts and anyone else who may have relevant ctiontotake
• Phone, computer etc – these may hold valuable clues and access may be requested as is necessary and proportionate.
• Media – it may be relevant to make appeals in the media, but this should be done in consultation with you.
• How much is done will depend on the risk assessment and seriousness of the case and how long the person is missing for. Hopefully they will be found quickly.

In longer term or more serious cases:

• The investigation and search parameters will be expanded.
• Additional resources may be appropriate but will depend on the circumstances.
• A point of contact or family liaison officer should be appointed so you know who to speak to.
• Samples from which to obtain DNA or fingerprints may be requested as a good practice precaution.

What should you do?

Make a note of any information that comes to mind. You will not think of everything straightaway, and it is important to share this with the police when it does come to mind.

Keep notes of what has happened, especially in longer-term cases. Information will become muddled in your memory, and it is useful to be able to refer to what has happened and when. Remember that it is always better to write things down as they happen and not later. It is useful to keep a timeline of what has happened since their disappearance. Keep any email and other correspondence in case you need to refer to it later.

Some questions you might need to ask:

• What is the incident reference number?
• Who will be my point of contact?
• What can I do to assist in finding the missing person?
• What risk grading are you giving this and why?
• Will you keep in regular contact?
• Which police station is dealing with this?

Point of Contact

This is important. If you are not given a point of contact, ask for one as you do not want to feel isolated and not knowing what is happening. You may need to share new information with the police that may assist the investigation and it is useful to know who you are asking for when you need to do this or get an update. At the very least you should have a reference number for the incident that you can quote.

Be aware that this is something that is not always fulfilled by the police but making a point of asking should help.

What will the police do?

For the police to be able to respond correctly, they will need to ask a lot of questions about the missing person and the circumstances of their disappearance. We will give a brief outline of what will happen and why but for a detailed description of the police response in the UK, go to detailed guidance published by the College of Policing.

You need to be prepared to give as much information as possible, including a detailed description of the person and their clothing, a recent photograph, full personal details, why you are concerned, details of friends, places they might go and any physical or mental issues the person may have. The more information the police have, the better chance they have of finding them. Be prepared for the possibility that the investigation will be detailed and intrusive.

While gathering this information the police will be deciding about whether the person should be reported as missing and, if so, how urgent the response should be. This decision-making will also determine which are the most appropriate resources to use. Some cases will be obviously urgent, e.g., when a young child or person with dementia is missing. Other cases will be harder to assess.

Who is responsible for missing person investigations?

Part of the duties of the police are to protect vulnerable people and detect crime and, for these reasons, they have the responsibility for dealing with missing person cases, but other agencies may have a part to play as well. It may be that after making some initial enquiries, it becomes clear that it is not a police matter. This could be because the person is an adult, has gone somewhere of their own volition but do not want anyone else to know where they are. See also Right to go missing and notification to families. It could also be that the person has moved away, and it is a lost contact case, which, if there are no suspicious circumstances, is not likely to be a police matter.

Agencies that are likely to be involved

Who, apart from the police, becomes involved in the case will depend on the circumstances of the disappearance. Some agencies, such as health or social services, may have information about the missing person as they have been involved with them or used their services; search resources from the police, fire service or voluntary organisations may be required to locate the person; contact may be made with the media to appeal for information, witnesses or for the missing person to come forward.

Unfamiliar names and terminology

If you are not familiar with policing and missing person issues, it is likely that you will not understand some of the acronyms, terms and language used. To assist with this, look at Explanation of Terms on this website where these are discussed.

You know or care for someone who is at risk of going missing.

What if someone you know went missing? Some people, such as those in care, living with dementia or suffering depression, are at increased risk of going missing. When someone goes missing it is crucial that the police have information about the person readily available, to help them locate the missing person as soon as possible.

Police forces have protocols in place to assist in locating missing persons. These protocols comprise a questionnaire about the person, which can be filled in beforehand, and can be shared with the police if the person goes missing. This can assist in locating and safeguarding people if they do go missing.

If you are a carer for, or family member of, someone who is at increased risk of going missing, completing one of these forms can make the difference that keeps them safe from harm. Look online for the relevant protocol published by the police force for the area in which the person lives.

The protocols are:

Herbert Protocol

This is a national scheme in the UK, managed by the police, and is a process for improving the response to persons living with dementia going missing.  Unfortunately, people living with dementia are vulnerable to going missing and need to be found quickly.

Family, friends, and carers of vulnerable people with dementia are encouraged to complete a form that contains descriptive and other information about the person that will assist the police in locating them should they go missing.  It is better that this is done in advance, as it can be hard to recall vital information in the stressful situation of reporting someone missing. It will also the save police time by having the information written down.

It is strongly recommended that a form is downloaded from the local police website and completed just in case the person should go missing.  What to do with the form once completed will made clear on the website.

This is currently being made available by Safe and Found Online in many police force areas, with more preparing to do so in the very near future. It is in a digital format on the Safe and Found website and is intended to be adopted by all UK police forces in due course.

Philomena Protocol

This is like the Herbert Protocol above and follows similar processes but asks carers of children and young people who are at risk of going missing to complete a descriptive form. National Philomena Form and Guidance on completion of the form.

Forcer Protocol

The Forcer Protocol was initially rolled out with Greater Manchester Police in an online format with Safe and Found Online. It is planned as a national scheme that is already in place in many police forces, with more joining up. Its aim is to reduce the risk of harm to service veterans, reservists and currently serving members of the armed forces who go missing, by enabling swift access to key information that can help the police find the person more quickly.

Purple Alert

A community minded app for people with dementia if they are missing. Purple Alert is a free mobile app which sends an alert to the community if someone with dementia is missing in their area. Currently only available in Scotland.

At risk of going missing form

This is designed for any person who is at risk of going missing and information can be recorded that can be shared with the police where necessary. It does originate from the Kent Police and Fire and Rescue Service but can be used anywhere.

When there is a risk of a person going missing, it is better to be prepared and record the relevant information beforehand than try to remember everything in a time of crisis when the person has gone missing. It will save valuable time and enable the police to respond more quickly.

Concerned about a missing person or need help dealing with their disappearance?

Coping with the disappearance of someone you know or care about, whether as a family member or a friend/acquaintance is often incredibly difficult, not knowing what has happened. You will find links below to organisations that can provide help and assistance, either in the immediate aftermath of someone going missing or in the longer term.

The Missing People charity provides a range of services to assist missing persons and others connected with their disappearance and can be of immense help in this difficult situation. There is also a forum where you can talk to others who are looking for a missing person or have been through the process of trying to find someone in the past. This is a safe space to meet others, talk, get advice, support and share your own story with those who have walked a similar path to you.

If you encounter someone who appears lost and confused, Alzheimer’s Society give useful advice about what you can do.

Locate International is a charity that offers a free and independent review and investigation service for the families of missing people. Their team of specialists apply innovative solutions to advance missing people cases but only deal with ‘cold cases’, which are those that were reported to the police more than 12 months ago.

People who go missing outside of the UK will be dealt with by the police in the country of disappearance, although they can be reported to the UK police if the person reporting is in that country. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office have a unit that is responsible for dealing with UK citizens missing abroad.

Unless there are particular risks to the person, the police are not normally able to undertake missing persons cases that concern the tracing of lost family members. This is a service that is provided by the Salvation Army, where you can find details of how to apply for this assistance.

Other organisations that may be able to help can be found under the heading Organisations on this website.

If you are under 18 years, you can also find useful help and advice, together with a list of helplines on this section of The Children’s Society website.

Are you missing or thinking of going missing?

Sometimes, when a situation gets difficult and seems to be too hard to cope with, going missing or running away seems like a good option. There are organisations that exist to help in that situation and it is often good to talk. Missing People are available 7 days per week, between 9am and 11pm. Call or text 116000 or email 116000@missingpeople.org.uk or for further information see their website.

Long-term cases

It can be difficult to understand the impact of someone going missing until it is experienced personally. To try to give this some context, everyone will have had the experience of not knowing where someone is, even if for a short period of time. It might be that they are not where they said they would be, have not arrived home as expected, are late for a scheduled meeting or appear to have got lost. If you recall how that felt, even for a short period of time and then try to project those feelings to when they extend for hours, days, weeks or even years.

This is sometimes known as ambiguous loss and was first written about by Dr Pauline Boss. There are links to her publications and several others that also relate to this in the library section of this website.

For many people who experience this, they are unable to move on from the time at which the person went missing and, for example, they are unable to make any changes to their missing child’s room. Their point of reference in life becomes the moment when the person was last seen. Unlike other forms of loss, there is no closure to what has happened, with no explanation as to what has happened.

People deal with these matters in different ways and have different reactions. This is perfectly natural. Some people are driven to try to find answers and can be very public about the way they do this, and others take a much more private position.

Whatever the situation and people’s reaction, the charity Missing People is there to help and advise. Some people may prefer to seek the assistance of other organisations and charities, some of which are listed in the organisations section of this website.

Managing the affairs of a long-term missing person

Not only is it difficult to cope with a personal absence, managing that person’s affairs will present challenges, for example, paying bills and managing other aspects of their finances. After significant amounts of lobbying, it is now possible to obtain a guardianship order in respect of a missing person, with detailed information here.

In some cases, it will be necessary to consider obtaining a declaration of presumed death.

Further advice and support can be obtained from the Missing People website.

If the person is found deceased it will be necessary for there to be an inquest, which is a legal hearing held by a Coroner to determine the cause of death.

Siblings of missing persons

Brothers and sisters of missing persons, especially those of a younger age, can feel left out as parents deal with the situation. You are not alone and you may find assistance at International Siblings of the Missing.

Child Abduction

Abduction of a child can be by a parent, or another person, as set out below:

Abduction of a child by a parent to another country is known as international parental child abduction and relates to either wrongful removal or wrongful retention.

Wrongful removal is when a child is taken out of their home country without the consent of both parents or a court order. 

Wrongful retention is when both parents agree their child can leave the country for a short period of time, such as a holiday, but the child does not come back at the end of the trip.

There is also a criminal offence of abduction by other persons, usually known as stranger abduction. It relates to child under the age of 16 years being taken, without lawful authority or reasonable excuse, from anyone who has lawful control of that child.

If you believe that this is the case it is important that you report the matter to the police as soon as possible.

For further explanation of child abduction, go to the website of the Reunite International Child Abduction Centre.

Organisations that can help if the child has already been taken abroad this government website will assist you in determining what action to take. Alternatively, contact Reunite as above.

Struggling to cope and need help?

Shout 85258 is a free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging support service for anyone who is struggling to cope. They are there for people who are anxious, stressed, depressed, suicidal or overwhelmed and who need immediate support.

The Hope Narrative is a world-first therapeutic tool to help the loved ones of missing people. Developed in Australia but with world wide applicability.

How to help a stranger who seems lost or confused?

Follow this link to a useful article published by the Alzheimer’s Society that explains how to respond to someone you believe has dementia or memory problems, why people with Dementia may wander or get lost and how to assist the police. The advice is also likely to be of benefit to police and other professionals.