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Number: B1600
Date Published: 5 February 2021
Version 8 – February 2021
This policy has been updated on its yearly review as follows:
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:
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.
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:
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:
We will not disclose, without permission the whereabouts of any adult previously reported as missing provided they are:
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.
The continued maintenance and development costs of COMPACT.
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:
The following have been consulted during the formulation of this document:
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.
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.
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.