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If the missing person is in immediate danger, is a young child or vulnerable to harm, call 999 now. If you have a hearing or speech impairment, use our textphone service 18000 or text us on 999 if you’ve pre-registered with the emergencySMS service .
- Overview
- Knowing when someone is found
- Organisations that help find missing people
- People missing abroad
- Report a sighting of a missing person
If someone goes missing, contact anyone you think may know their whereabouts - if you’re still concerned, contact your local police.
You do not have to wait 24 hours before contacting the police.
The police may ask you:
With a relative’s permission, they may also ask to search the person’s home.
If the police find a person aged under 18, their parents or guardians will usually be told their whereabouts unless police believe the child’s safety is at risk.
If the person is aged over 18, the police will not pass on their whereabouts without their permission.
If someone goes missing abroad you should contact:
•your local police - they will contact the police force in the relevant country (through Interpol)
•the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 020 7008 5000 (ask for ‘Consular Assistance’)
Find out about call charges.
If you spot a missing person contact the police.
If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Missing People to report the sighting.
May 25, 2023 · The contact should be a 2-way process and any contact by the child with a carer, parent etc, should be fed back to the police. The police should ensure that a point of contact is available at all times within their force.
If you need to report someone missing, please call your local police on 101 or visit your nearest police station. If there are immediate welfare concerns, call 999.
The force should contact the UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) to review the case, ensure that no unidentified bodies or remains have been located and provide reassurance to a court that the person subject to the application is no longer alive. The missing person case review process
When a child runs away or goes missing it can be very upsetting for any parent or carer. Try not to panic. Instead, follow these three steps: Check: check for signs of where they might have gone. Check their room, check social media, call their friends, check their friends' social media.
People also ask
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Police investigators can contact the following specialists for advice and assistance in missing and unidentified person investigations. UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) on 0800 234 6034. NCA Major Crime Investigative Support (MCIS) on 0345 000 5463. Definition of ‘missing’.
