B1600 Policy - Missing Persons

Number: B1600
Date Published: 5 February 2021
Version 8 – February 2021

1.0 Summary of Changes

This policy has been updated on its yearly review as follows:

• Bullet point added within section 2 giving further detail on measures that have been put in place to assist officers with European enquiries now we are no longer part of the EU;
• Within section 7 link given to B 1603 Procedure – Local Risk Assessments for Children’s Homes;
• Entry added to section 8 covering UKs status remaining within Europol despite no longer being part of the EU;
• Bullet point added to section 8 regarding the Child Rescue Alert Activation Protocol covering the partnership between the police and the media which seeks public assistance when it is feared that a child may be at risk of serious harm.

2.0 What this Policy is About

This policy describes how Essex Police will respond to all incidents of Missing Persons (MPs). It is important to recognise that going missing should be treated as an indicator that a person could be at risk of harm. The procedures associated with this policy place emphasis on national standards of ethics, decision making, and risk management when police personnel are engaged in MP investigations; from receipt of the initial report, through to the return of the person, or discovery of their whereabouts.

This policy and its associated procedures do not cover instances where the individual making the report has merely lost contact with a friend or relative and there is no current risk of harm. However, consideration should always be given to the following:

• The full circumstances leading to a report of the person as missing, previous risk assessments and warning markers;
• Local intelligence and Police National Computer (PNC) check including any warning markers;
• Information held on legacy intelligence systems and Athena;
• In all circumstances, PNC checks on the informant and witnesses;
• Details held by any other partner agency including Probation, Social Services, Mental Health Team or Local Safeguarding Boards;
• The International Crime Coordination Centre (ICCC) which has been established to support and advise UK policing to better use international instruments, especially through the UK’s withdrawal from the EU.

In such cases Essex Police can direct enquires to Missingpeople.org.uk a national charity offering advice and support to missing persons and their families.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

3.0 Statement of Policy

Essex Police will ensure there is a prompt and accurate response to all incidents of MPs. In support of these aims is the adoption within the force of best practice from the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) Guidance on the Investigation of MPs including:

• Definitions in respect of MPs and No Apparent Risk (NAR);
• Placing all MPs on a Continuum of risk leading to;
• Risk assessment and response;
• Recognising indicators of exploitation and harm.

The Continuum of risk highlights continuous and changable nature of risk when dealing with missing persons and appropriate risk assessment and response.

We will adopt a proactive approach to all MPs enquires ensuring the following key elements form the basis of all investigations:

• Protecting those at risk of harm;
• Minimising distress and ensuring high quality of service to the families and carers of missing persons;
• Prosecuting those who perpetrate harm or pose a risk of harm, when this is appropriate and supported by evidence.

We will not disclose, without permission the whereabouts of any adult previously reported as missing provided they are:

• Aged 18 years or over;
• Of sound mind; and
• Have requested that their current whereabouts are not disclosed.

Assessment of risk will be regularly updated throughout the investigation ensuring that we provide the right level of response to any change in circumstances. For children and adults in care, information from multi-agency safeguarding partners will be sought in order to develop the risk assessment and ongoing activity.

All enquiries and searches will be carried out professionally, and with due diligence, with the primary aim of establishing the safety and welfare of the MP. It is also recognised there is a need to reduce repeat incidents. Many individuals go missing on more than one occasion, Essex Police will, therefore, work with other agencies to share information and identify intervention measures.

It is our experience that individual’s rarely go missing without a genuine reason. Police personnel will be expected to have an awareness of all other issues that may be involved, and must endeavour to establish the reason why an individual has gone missing.

Essex Crime & Police Public Protection Command (C&PPC) will ensure compliance with this policy, relevant procedures and multi-agency protocols.
To enable the effective management of the investigation, the Coordinated Missing Person and Case Tracking (COMPACT) system will be used to record the details of all missing persons, the actions and decisions taken, and circumstances in which they are found.

4.0 Implications of the Policy

4.1 Finance / Staffing / Training / Other

The continued maintenance and development costs of COMPACT.

4.2 Risk Assessment(s)

Police officers and staff will consider any risks or health and safety aspects of each incident. It is the responsibility of all officers to conduct a Dynamic Risk Assessment when attending any incident.

Supervisors and managers conducting operations relating to missing persons are reminded of the need to conduct a risk assessment concerning that operation on form PERS52.

Generic risk assessments are available from the Health and Safety website, these include:

• Police Duties and Patrolling
• General PCSO’s Duties

4.3 Equality Impact Assessment

• EIA – October 2019.

5.0 Consultation

The following have been consulted during the formulation of this document:

• Unison
• Police Federation
• Essex Diversity and Inclusion Manager
• Health & Safety
• Strategic Change Team
• PSD Superintendent
• Policy/Risk
• Superintendents Association
• C&PP Command
• Head of Operations Centre
• LPA Command Teams
• Force Control Room (FCR)
• Missing Persons Liaison Officers
• POLSA Chief Inspector

6.0 Monitoring and Review

This policy will be reviewed yearly by, or on behalf of, the Head of Public Protection to ensure that it remains compliant with current legislation and provides a quality service to the people of Essex.

7.0 Related Force Policies or Related Procedures

• B 1601 Procedure – Missing Persons
• B 1603 Procedure – Local Risk Assessments For Children’s Homes
• B 0615 Procedure – Investigation of Death – Essex Only
• B 1206 Procedure – Police Protection Powers
• D 0401 Procedure – Dealing with Critical Incidents
• D 0503 Procedure – Responding to incidents
• S 1702 Procedure/SOP – Child Rescue Alert
• S 1802 Procedure – Essex Family Liaison Officer
• S 4201 Procedure – International Enquiries

7.1 Data Security

Essex Police have measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy – W 1000 Policy – Information Management.

7.2 Retention & Disposal of Records

Essex Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention & Disposal Policy – W 1012 Procedure/SOP - Records Review, Retention and Disposal.

We will only hold data for as long as necessary for the purposes for which we collected. Victims/public should be reminded that Essex Police take the protection of personal data seriously as described in the privacy notice.

8.0 Other source documents, e.g. legislation, Authorised Professional Practice (APP), partnership agreements (if applicable)

• ACPO Guidance on Management, Recording & Investigation of Missing Persons 2013;
• College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP)
• Department of Education guidance on migrant children Missing Persons
• SET Child Protection Procedures
• SET Adult Protection Procedures
• Multi agency protocol for people with mental ill health or learning disabilities who are missing or Absent without leave from care.doc
• Missing Children’s Protocol
• National Referral Mechanism
• UK Missing Person Bureau
• The UK has retained its status within Europol as a ‘third party country’ operational partner since leaving the EU.
• Child Rescue Alert Activation Protocol (available to authorised users logged on to the restricted online Managed Learning Environment (MLE))
• International Crime Coordination Centre (ICCC)