“Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established will be considered as missing until located, and
their wellbeing or otherwise confirmed.” (College of Policing, 2016)
“Anyone whose whereabouts is unknown whatever the circumstances of disappearance. They will be
considered missing until located and their well-being or otherwise established (ACPO, 2005)
“A person not at a place where they are expected or required to be.” (CoP, 2013)
What counts as missing?
Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are out of characters
or the context suggests
62% of 406 officers surveyed criticised the College of Policing (2016) definition
- There is no legal definition of a missing person under international law however it is
understood that a missing person is one whose whereabouts are unknown to their relatives
and/or who, on the basis of reliable information, has been recorded missing in accordance
with national legislation in connection with an international or non-international armed
conflict, situation of internal violence, or disturbances, natural catastrophes, or any other
situation that may require the intervention of a competent State authority.
The police received over 330.000 reports of missing people during the year 2021/2022, numbers had
dropped to 241.000 during covid-19 but they have now almost resumed to their pre-covid level of
359.000
Statistics of missing people
- 60% of missing incidents related to under 18 year olds
- the majority of people who go missing will return or be found within 2 days (85%)
- More males are reported as missing
- 12-17 year olds are most likely to go missing, then 18-39, 40-59, 60+, and then 0-11
- Most missing reports are for repeats in the UK
● 63.1% for children
● 23.9% for adults
- 330,571 calls
- 294,220 incidents
- 151,845 individuals
Why do people go missing?
Children and young people
● run away
○ familial issues
○ related to mental health
○ commit suicide
○ gang involvement
● abductions
their wellbeing or otherwise confirmed.” (College of Policing, 2016)
“Anyone whose whereabouts is unknown whatever the circumstances of disappearance. They will be
considered missing until located and their well-being or otherwise established (ACPO, 2005)
“A person not at a place where they are expected or required to be.” (CoP, 2013)
What counts as missing?
Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established and where the circumstances are out of characters
or the context suggests
62% of 406 officers surveyed criticised the College of Policing (2016) definition
- There is no legal definition of a missing person under international law however it is
understood that a missing person is one whose whereabouts are unknown to their relatives
and/or who, on the basis of reliable information, has been recorded missing in accordance
with national legislation in connection with an international or non-international armed
conflict, situation of internal violence, or disturbances, natural catastrophes, or any other
situation that may require the intervention of a competent State authority.
The police received over 330.000 reports of missing people during the year 2021/2022, numbers had
dropped to 241.000 during covid-19 but they have now almost resumed to their pre-covid level of
359.000
Statistics of missing people
- 60% of missing incidents related to under 18 year olds
- the majority of people who go missing will return or be found within 2 days (85%)
- More males are reported as missing
- 12-17 year olds are most likely to go missing, then 18-39, 40-59, 60+, and then 0-11
- Most missing reports are for repeats in the UK
● 63.1% for children
● 23.9% for adults
- 330,571 calls
- 294,220 incidents
- 151,845 individuals
Why do people go missing?
Children and young people
● run away
○ familial issues
○ related to mental health
○ commit suicide
○ gang involvement
● abductions
