B1601 Procedure - Missing Persons

Number: B1601
Date Published: 16 September 2021
Version 29 – September 2021

Contents

1.0

Summary of Changes

2.0

What this Procedure is About

3.0

Procedure

3.1 Initial Reports
3.2 Police Officer Attending
3.3 Risk Assessment Missing Persons
3.4 Ownership of the Investigation
3.5 Cross Border Cases
3.6 LPT Inspector Responsibilities
3.7 LPT Sergeant Responsibilities
3.8 Command Team Reviews
3.9 Review of No Apparent Risk Reports
3.10 Concerns for Welfare
3.11 Immediate Return of a Missing Person
3.12 STORM
3.13 Areas of Responsibility
3.13.1 Searches
3.13.2 Social Media Release for Missing Persons
3.13.3 BTP Liaison
3.13.4 Missing Person Liaison Officer (MPLO)
3.14 Found Missing Person
3.14.1 Vulnerability Interview
3.14.2 Independent Return Interviews (IRI)
3.14.3 Indicators of Exploitation or Harm
3.14.4 People Who do not Want Their Whereabouts Disclosed
3.14.5 Found Children
3.14.6 Unidentified Persons Found Alive
3.14.7 Found – Deceased
3.14.8 Reviews – Missing Persons Found Deceased
3.14.9 Unidentified Found Remains or People
3.15 Conclusion of the investigation – Inactive Reports
3.16 Closing Incidents for Persons not Seen
3.17 Closure of a Missing Person Report
3.18 Recording on COMPACT
3.19 COMPACT Risk Flags
3.20 Missing Children
3.21 Children at High Risk of CSE and Missing 3 times in 90 days
3.22 Migrant Children
3.23 Wanted Missing
3.24 Missing Abroad
3.25 Intervention Notices
3.26 Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWN)
3.26.1 Issuing the Warning Notice
3.26.2 Serving the Warning Notice
3.27 Child Rescue Alerts
3.28 Acquisition, Disclosure and Retention of Communications Data

4.0

Equality Impact Assessment

5.0

Risk Assessment

6.0

Consultation

7.0

Monitoring and Review

8.0

Governing Force policy. Related Force policies or related procedures

9.0

Other source documents

1.0 Summary of Changes

This procedure has been updated within section 3.14 to reiterate the responsibility of the officer attending the report of the found missing person to submit the PIR; within 3.5 a new form link has also been added and section 3.26.2 has been updated to give clarity re CAWNs.

2.0 What this Procedure is About

This procedure explains how Essex Police will respond to, record and investigate reports of missing persons. This procedure also explains how Essex Police will respond to, record and investigate all missing persons (MPs) subsequently found or who return voluntarily.

Missing person enquiries may involve a serious crime, such as murder. All those involved in missing investigations should continually assess the possibility of escalation to a critical incident and, if required, take appropriate action, see D 0401 Procedure - Dealing with Critical Incidents. The purpose of the investigation is to identify the movements of the missing person in order to establish their current whereabouts and/or wellbeing.

The initial risk assessment, actions and recording of the incident may prove critical in achieving a successful outcome. A comprehensive audit trail is essential to aid the investigation and assist in future missing person investigations.

This procedure should be read in conjunction with the College of Policing Authorised Professional Practice (APP) on:

• Missing Persons;
• National Decision Model (NDM);
• Risk Principles;
• Code of Ethics.

This procedure does not apply to those circumstances where the location of a person is unknown and police involvement is not appropriate i.e. tracing a relative or friend. For example, a person has not received a Christmas card, when normally they would get one, and there is no other regular contact between all parties. The informant should be directed to the relevant tracing agencies. They will not be dealt with by police as a missing person. If, however, it is suspected that the person may be at risk of harm, such as someone who is drug dependent or at risk of sexual exploitation, abuse or harm, an investigation should be commenced to make the missing person safe.

It is recognised that a person over 18 years with mental capacity may be missing with no apparent risk through their own choice. Their right to privacy must be observed and details of their location not divulged. In addition, it is important not to disclose the whereabouts of persons who are highlighted at risk of Honour Based Abuse (HBA), High Risk Domestic Abuse etc. Consider, especially in the case of a child, they are not to be returned home if they have fled due to 'honour' issues’. Where appropriate, Social Care must be involved, making it clear what the HBA concerns are; also, that their records must be kept secure and only available to those directly dealing with the case (B 1406 Procedure - Honour Based Abuse and Forced Marriage).

This procedure is illustrated by a Missing Persons Process Map.
Compliance with this procedure and any governing policy is mandatory.

3.0 Procedure

The APP definition of a missing person is:

Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established will be considered as missing until located and their well-being or otherwise confirmed.

This procedure is illustrated by a Missing Persons Process Map. To further assist, the Essex missing people toolkit is available to all who are involved during any stage of an investigation.

The following general principles are mandatory when dealing with missing persons:

• The COMPACT system will be used to record all investigations;
• In many cases, officers/staff may complete a CID94 missing person booklet in the first instance. The detail of this is to be transferred to the COMPACT system as soon as practicable, or in any case within 3 hours. Once this form is completed, and the information transferred to the COMPACT system, the CID94 is to be handed to the relevant MPLO for the area, who will arrange for its retention/storage using form RM009;
• High Risk cases will also be run on STORM during the beginning phase of enquiries (initial 12 hours);

Any decision to deviate from these principles must be endorsed by a Command Team member or an SIO in the case of transfers of missing investigations from COMPACT to Holmes. The rationale will be recorded on the Supervision / Handover task on COMPACT before being shown as inactive. The details of the OIC designated officer and manor of recording the on-going investigation must be shown on the front of the missing report using the ‘edit details’ facility.

3.1 Initial Reports

The initial actions required when dealing missing persons are as follows, where any police officer or staff member receives the report of a MP they will:

• Obtain details and circumstances of the disappearance;
• Identify any immediate risk;
• Identify any immediate enquires to be carried out;
• Arrange for a MP investigation to be documented;
• Obtain a photograph or arrange a digital photograph to be e-mailed to either the designated LPT officer;
• Inform FCR and the LPT duty inspector;
• Ensure a STORM incident is created.

FCR will:

• Create a STORM incident for all MP incidents using call takers cue card, there is a specific cue card for children missing from care;
• Head the incident as ‘MP not assessed’;
• Add Assessment Team tag so checks can be completed;
• Call handler is to establish details;
• Notify LPT Inspector if not already completed;
• Make relevant LPT aware via a broadcast to local officers;
• Once broadcast officers with knowledge or relevant details should contact FCR to update STORM;
• High Risk incidents should be treated as a priority in accordance with D 0503 Procedure - Responding to Incidents;
• Inform of any subsequent sightings to the appropriate LPA inspector/sergeant/nominated officer dealing. Sighting reports can then be added to the existing COMPACT record.

LPT Inspector will:

• Allocate an officer to attend and complete a risk assessment with the informant as soon as practicable, or in any case within 3 hours;
• Determine current risk level once risk assessment completed;
• Retain ownership of the investigation until handed over.
  Public Protection Operations Centre (OC) Assessment Team will:
• Complete relevant intelligence checks, on all reported MPs upon the receipt of the report and update the results of the checks on the STORM incident (STORM, ATHENA, PNC, PROTECT, COMPACT, LEGACY AND NFLMS);
• If the MPs is on the system, check warning markers, previous risk assessments and found locations and risk factors- update STORM;
• Advise LPT inspector of checks;
• If there are no previous records on COMPACT, a tag is automatically added to the incident which crime bureau (CB) monitor and CB will create a new compact record as necessary. CB will create a nominal using details held on STORM and add the resulting Personal Identification (PID) to STORM.

3.2 Police Officer Attending

Actions should be prioritised in accordance with the individual incident; suggested actions. This is not a definitive list.

A key action is to search the missing person’s home address to establish they are not present on the premises; this will include loft spaces, outbuildings within the curtilage of the property and the gardens.

A more detailed search of any room likely to contain evidence of their whereabouts or information concerning their disappearance is important and must not be left to friends, family or carers to complete;

The attending officer must record on COMPACT details of areas searched / not searched with the rationale and details of the persons present. The Duty LPT Sgt should then satisfy themselves an appropriate search has been conducted by the attending officer(s).

It is the responsibility of the officer adding the missing report to create the Command Team Review. Further guidance can be found on the Missing Persons connEXion page.

The initial investigating officer should begin the investigation, conduct appropriate searches and reassess the level of risk; it is the responsibility of the police officer allocated to the incident to ensure these actions are completed.

3.3 Risk Assessment Missing Persons

The College of Policing places all missing persons within a Continuum of risk ranging from ‘no apparent risk’ through to high-risk cases that require immediate, intensive action.

The College of Policing APP Risk assessment and response for missing persons is a guide to an appropriate level of response based on initial and ongoing risk assessment in each case and is shown below: No apparent risk There is no apparent risk of harm to either the subject or the public Actions to locate the subject and/or gather further information should be agreed with the informant and a latest review time set to reassess the risk.

Low risk The risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed as possible but minimal. Proportionate enquiries should be carried out to ensure that the individual has not come to harm. Medium risk The risk of harm to the subject or public is assessed as likely but not serious This category requires an active and measured response by the police and other agencies in order to trace the missing person and support the person reporting. High risk The risk of serious harm to the subject or the public is assessed as very likely. This category almost always requires the immediate deployment of police resources –action may be delayed in exceptional circumstances, such as searching water or forested areas during hours of darkness. A member of the senior management team must be involved in the examination of initial lines of enquiry and approval of appropriate staffing levels. Such cases should lead to the appointment of an investigating officer (IO) and possibly an SIO and police search advisor (PoLSA)

Persons under the age of 18 cannot be graded as NAR or Low Risk.
Risk of serious harm has been defined as (Home Office 2002 and OASys 2006):
‘A risk which is life threatening and/or traumatic, and from which recovery, whether physical or psychological, can be expected to be difficult or impossible.’

The LPT Inspector will be responsible for the initial risk assessment and management of the initial missing person enquiries. At the appropriate juncture, in consultation with the Command Team, the incident may be passed to an alternative team who will assume responsibility for the on-going investigation.

Consideration should 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;
• Using the Holmes fast track for the investigation of High Risk missing person’s investigations that are considered complex and protracted.

Initial risk assessments for ‘Looked After’ children and patients from Mental Health establishments, Hospitals and Care Homes will be completed by their carers/home manager/doctor prior to contacting police in accordance with the following protocols:

• SET Child Protection Procedures;
• Multi agency protocol – Adults missing from care homes, hospitals and mental health establishments.

If there is no apparent risk of harm to either the subject or the public, the following actions should be completed:

• OC Assessment Team to conduct a check of COMPACT and ATHENA on the details given;
• LPT Inspector to be advised or any warning markers/flags from checks conducted by the Assessment Team;
• Actions to locate the subject/gather further information to be agreed with the informant and the call taker or officer on scene;
• All staff/officers are required to disseminate information appropriately;
• Skeleton COMPACT record will be created by Crime Bureau or the officer on the scene;
• FCR or attending officer to create a STORM incident with a COMPACT PID number.

The above tasks should be used to inform the decision around the appropriateness of grading a person as NAR.

3.4 Ownership of the Investigation

Responsibility for missing person investigations sits within the Local Policing Area (LPA) in which the person who is missing resides. A decision will be made as to who owns the investigation within 24 hrs once the initial duties of the LPT Inspector are concluded, and the STORM incident has been closed (see section).

A formal handover must take place between the LPT Inspector and the nominated team, who will then retain the responsibility for the investigation until either the individual is located, or the investigation is concluded and declared inactive (see section Sgts & Insp).

3.5 Cross Border Cases

There must be clear and unambiguous ownership and responsibility for all MP investigations. In cases where the appropriate ownership is not clear, but it is believed that the investigation needs to be transferred to a different Force, the matter should initially be agreed between Inspectors within each relevant force to determine who should own the investigation. In the majority of cases it will be easily apparent which force should lead, for example where the majority of enquiries will be in one force area or where the enquiry is linked to other investigations in another force area.

Transferring cases should be done in a timely manner using an auditable process. An investigation should not be closed without clear confirmation that all information and intelligence has been transferred and received and the receiving force has taken ownership of the case.

An initial report should be made on STORM and COMPACT and then transferred by the OIC or MPLO to the receiving force using the Cross Boarder Transfer form.

COMPACT user forces can import/export current cases to each other, which negates the need to create a new record and will show how the investigation has progressed. The local MPLO can facilitate this import/export. MPLO’s work 0800-1600 Monday-Friday. Consideration should be made to escalate to the Command Team if an agreement cannot be reached between forces as to who should accept ownership. Any dispute should be instigated at Inspector level.

3.5.1 Enquiry on Behalf of another Force

Where Essex Police is contacted to conduct an enquiry on behalf of another force’s High Risk Missing Person enquiry, the FCR will ensure the following is carried out:

• This type of enquiry should be directed through the Force Control E-mail inbox to ensure there is a clear audit of the request, however urgent requests may come via 101/999 telephony routes or Airwave hailing group;
• A STORM incident must be generated using call type “Call on High Risk Misper OOF” and placed on a Priority response grading;
• Incident is to be tagged for the Duty Inspector using the existing tags;
• Duty LPT inspector is to be notified and assume oversight of that task, ensuring a footprint is placed on the incident;
• Ownership of the Missing Person will remain with the original force unless otherwise agreed but this task should be considered with the same priority we would expect for our own High Risk Missing Person;

3.6 LPT Inspector Responsibilities

The LPT Duty Inspector is responsible for the management of all investigations concerning MPs within their LPA, unless the Command Team have agreed otherwise.

This will include the initial review and risk assessment of all newly reported MPs – with consideration given to ensuring that all relevant system checks are conducted (ATHENA, PNC and COMPACT). On commencement of their duty they will review all High Risk COMPACT reports including the risk assessment and all outstanding actions.

Medium Risk COMPACT records will be reviewed at least once every 24 hours by an LPT Inspector. Low risk at least once every 72 hours by an LPT Inspector.

This does not supersede the need to react to any new information that comes to police attention between these periods.

They must ensure the COMPACT Supervision/Handover task is regularly updated providing a comprehensive audit trail as well as an informative and effective handover.

In addition, they will be responsible for the following:

• Where the incident is High Risk contact POLSA where necessary and appropriate with regard to an on-going search strategy;
• Endorse the risk assessment made by the officer completing COMPACT, ensuring that all relevant system checks (PNC, COMPACT and ATHENA) have been conducted;
• Document all lines of enquiry and ensure appropriate tasks are created;
• Ensure sufficient resources are available to undertake actions and tasks;
• Consider passing to a local Detective Inspector for review and/or advice using the Detective Review process.

3.7 LPT Sergeant Responsibilities

The LPT Sergeant should designate an officer to deal with each MP investigation to ensure continuity, management of the family and the continued updating of tasks and actions on COMPACT. Details of the designated officer must be documented on the missing report on COMPACT.

In all cases the Duty Sergeant will ensure the following is complied with:

• Ensure COMPACT has been checked for previous missing reports, warning markers, risk assessments and previously found locations;
• Ensure a COMPACT log has been created and the actions documented;
• Provide sufficient resources to manage the initial stage of the investigation;
• Ensure initial searches have been completed and fully documented;
• They must ensure the supervision/handover task is regularly completed on COMPACT providing a comprehensive audit trail as well as informative and effective handover;
• Upon commencement of their duty they will review all live COMPACT reports for their area of responsibility including the risk assessment and all outstanding actions;
• Ensure that the informant is provided with contact details and receives regular updates.

Consider advice and assistance from specialists, i.e. POLSA, the dog section and air support.

3.8 Command Team Reviews

All missing person incidents will be reviewed by an LPA Command Team member within the first 72 hours of a missing episode and:

• Further reviews to be completed as appropriate to the individual investigation and the risk that has been identified;
• As stated in section 3.2 ‘Police Officer Attending’, it is the responsibility of the officer adding the missing report to create the Command Team Review. Further guidance can be found on the Missing Persons connEXion page.

Assistance with reviews of cases that are not straightforward can be requested from the Criminal Investigation Department CID or Serious Crime Directorate (SCD).

The National Crime Agency (NCA) will assist with reviews in relation to any MP incidents if required. The NCA have an individual single point of contact (SPOC) to look at intelligence and help with high risk reviews in regards to MPs in Essex. This can be requested through an MPLO.

3.9 Reviews of No Apparent Risk Reports

At the review time, the designated LPT officer will review all available information. If the person has still not returned/been found, a further review period can be set with agreed actions as required. Any new or additional information will be added to the STORM incident and COMPACT record.

If there are any changes in the circumstances that increases the risk, the person will be re-classified to a new risk level. This is done by re-assessing the risk on the COMPACT report using the continuum of risk. If the person is no longer NAR the STORM report will be closed by FCR and the COMPACT report will be closed by the designated LPT officer.

Should the person be reported as NAR on three occasions in ninety days, or any other need is identified, then Vulnerability Interviews will be completed by the MPLO, and the information added to the COMPACT nominal record.

The review period should be on a case by case basis taking into account the individual circumstances. Safeguarding measures should be considered where necessary. It is important to adopt an investigative approach to all reports; ensuring assumptions are not made about the reasons for the absence. If there are concerns for the adult`s health and well-being consideration should be given to making a referral to Health and Community Services.

3.10 Concerns for Welfare

There are limited circumstances when a missing person incident can be reclassified as a concern for welfare. In these circumstances an officer of at least the rank of Inspector must give authorisation for this change. In cases involving children the incident should be brought to the attention of a Command team member or the Silver Commander. The reasons for reclassifying an incident are:

• The call was made in error;
• The incident was classified in error by the call taker;
• The MP was not in fact missing but had got lost or lost their phone and is not considered vulnerable due to the circumstances documented.

An Athena/COMPACT check should be completed before changing the call-card to concern. It should be ascertained if this person has been missing before or if there is any relevant intelligence that may add to the concern or highlight vulnerability or show a pattern of behaviour (for example CSE, gang concerns, mental health etc.).

If a child has been missing for only a short period, this is not a reason to re-classify the incident to concern.

If the person has been missing previously, but this cannot be confirmed as a further missing episode, and can be fully justified and documented by the LPA Inspector or above the following should happen:

• A Police Information Report (PIR) is to be created on Athena detailing the circumstances of the concern, this PIR reference or incident number should also be signposted on the warning markers on COMPACT;
• This can only be authorised by an Inspector or above and the rationale clearly recorded on the incident by the Inspector before closing;
• A PP57 (Southend and Thurrock) or online portal referral (Essex) for Children’s Services must be considered as a matter of course. A SETSAF referral to Adult Social Care must also be considered as a matter of course.

If we, as a force do not adhere to the above procedure then the incident becomes lost within STORM and vital information gets lost.

When a COMPACT record is completed, both the missing and found circumstances are automatically sent directly from COMPACT to Social Care (for under 18’s only).

3.11 Immediate Return of Missing Person

Should a MP return during the initial recording process, the officer will complete a missing and found report, obtain a photograph.

When a missing report is added to COMPACT an automatic notification is sent to PNC for a missing report to be created. In cases of immediate return, the officer should commence the entry in the ‘Full Circumstances’ field with the wording “No PNC required, subject already found”.

The officer must follow this with a found report. The entry within the ‘Full Debrief’ field should commence with words “Subject not circulated on PNC”.

3.12 STORM

The STORM incident for Low and Medium risk cases will remain open until recorded on COMPACT and the subsequent Person Identification (PID) entered onto the incident. For those cases graded as High Risk the STORM incident will remain open for a minimum of 12 hours to allow for appropriate fast time command and control during initial enquiries. In all cases regardless of risk the supervisor closing the incident must ensure the COMPACT PID has been recorded.

3.13 Areas of Responsibility

3.13.1 Searches

All searches will be the responsibility of and managed by the LPT Inspector.

They will be responsible for consulting the Police Search Adviser (PolSA) duty officer regarding High Risk incidents and in all cases within 24 hours if the person has not been located.

It will be the decision of PolSA to use, call out and liaise with volunteer search and rescue organisations.

The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS) can support the search for High Risk MPs when the request is made through Tactical (Silver) (with POLSA advice). Tactical (Silver) will then have a discussion with ECFRS duty Interagency Liaison Officer (ILO), with additional assets sent from ECFRS. This may also include the use of specialist units such as Urban Search and Rescue teams (USAR), drones and enhanced thermal imaging devices.

The Duty Inspector may also consider seeking advice from PolSA in other cases.

Thermal Imaging Cameras (TIC) are now held in a number of locations within Essex Police. LPT Inspectors are to consider the use of these in consultation with POLSA.

These cameras can aid Missing Person searches; looking to clear open areas of land.

3.13.2 Social Media Release for Missing Persons

Any request to utilise social media in enquires must go via the Press Office.

• High risk cases should be notified to the Press Office (day or night) by the Inspector who has ownership of the investigation at that time;
• Medium risk cases must have specific exacerbating risk factors, a concrete belief that a media role will assist and all other means of tracing the individual have been tried without success. Discussion by the Inspector should take place with the press office.

Considerations prior to contacting the press office, Out of Office Hours Requests and MPLO Job Description are detailed to support the decision making process.

During office hours the Press Office must be notified immediately if a missing person has been found in order for the Social media post to be removed.

Outside of office hours, the LPA will have to take responsibility for updating the on-call press officer by text message, detailing that the person has been found.

There has to be caution around what content is included, especially if the person is found deceased or has been a subject of crime. An email should also be sent to the press office so that it can be removed as soon as appropriate.
All publicity for missing people MUST be made via the Press Office and individual officers should not post on social media.

Once a missing person appeal has been made in the media and on Social Media then it cannot simply be deleted or withdrawn if the MP is found deceased – it must be updated to reflect the change in circumstances, that a body has been found and that a search has been called off. If the body has not been formally identified, then care must be taken to avoid language that suggests the body is definitely the person being looked for.

News of a death is likely to travel fast with members of the public posting on the Essex Police Facebook page or Twitter information about a death, asking us for confirmation and mainstream media are likely to quickly pick this up. For this reason we must respond quickly on our own channels.

However, NO update should be provided on any public communication channel until the next of kin have been advised of the death, the need to update the media and social media has been explained to them and they have been given a chance to comment on any proposed media statement.

A draft statement will be prepared by the press office and sent to the officer in charge of the MP enquiry. It is their responsibility to ensure the above steps are carried out and to notify the press office that the statement has been approved for release.

3.13.3 BTP Liaison

Clearly, it is not necessary or appropriate for BTP to be routinely advised of all investigations but, consideration should be given to notify BTP if:

• BTP has placed a suicide risk or related information marker on PNC or;
• There is a risk of suicide (particularly if the MP resides, frequents or was last seen within the vicinity of a railway line);
• There is specific information that they are likely to visit or use the railway system.

Where there is risk of suicide or other serious harm is likely, immediate assistance from BTP can be obtained in relation to intelligence checks, CCTV, ticketing enquiries and other railway-related matters. These enquiries can be initiated by a telephone call to the BTP control room.

3.13.4 Missing Person Liaison Officer (MPLO)

The main purpose of the role is:

• To maintain a comprehensive overview of missing people within a defined area in order to identify those who are at risk of significant harm;
• To coordinate the response from internal departments and partners in order to reduce the likelihood of harm occurring to vulnerable people.
• MPLO’s will review risk levels of all current recorded missing persons each day and will note and raise any concerns via the daily Command call.

The main responsibilities of the MPLOs are listed in the attached MPLO Job Description and also include ownership and management of Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWNs), liaising with the LPAs to identify non-compliance in order that any remedial action can be taken

3.14 Found Missing Persons

Once a MP has been located or returned, an ATHENA PIR (Police Information Report) is to be created with the following information by the Officer attending the report of the found missing person:

• COMPACT Person Identification (PID);
• COMPACT Report Identification (RID) and circumstances of the Missing/Found.

The resulting ATHENA PIR/non crime reference number will be placed on the appropriate COMPACT record as soon as practicable. This is the responsibility of the Officer attending the report of the found missing person.

This is mandatory for all High Risks MPs and all children under 18. For Medium, Low Risk and NAR, if there is information/intelligence of note to be disseminated then this must also be recorded.

3.14.1 Vulnerability Interview

Essex Police as the lead agency for locating MPs will complete a VI for all MPs, as per the CID94 Found. Once completed the details must be uploaded to the COMPACT record (found report) and the ATHENA PIR/non crime report immediately. The Interviews are to be completed by an LPA officer.

All VI must be completed within 24 hours.

Considerations for under 18’s VIs are shown in the SET Child Protection Procedures; (see part B section 20.5.14-15). In addition there is a list of actions to be recorded during vulnerability interview.

If a MP refuses to answer questions during a vulnerability interview, it is important that their demeanour and appearance are recorded. The officer must note any observations that may indicate ‘hidden harms’, or potential vulnerabilities. ‘Refused to answer’ added to a COMPACT found report is not acceptable.

In cases that have been assessed as Medium, Low Risk, or NAR, a PCSO may conduct the VI with the approval of an officer of the rank of sergeant or above. Details of the VI are to be shared with Social Care where appropriate.

We should also consider the use of specialist staff, including MPLOs and CYP Officers to conduct vulnerability interviews with frequent missing children. In these cases additional emphasis is to be placed on the need to conduct interviews not only in a timely fashion, but also by appropriately trained specialist staff, in the right circumstances, so as to maximise the opportunities to support the child, gather relevant information, prevent further missing episodes and reduce the risk.

In cases of found persons from Mental Health units, refer to section 24 of the Multi-agency Protocol for People with Mental Ill Health or Learning Disabilities who are missing or absent without Leave from Care.

3.14.2 Independent Return Interviews (IRI)

In addition to VIs, all missing children will be offered an Independent return Interview (IRI) by the local authority in which they live, in order that indications of exploitation or harm can be further assessed. (See SET Child Protection Procedures; (part B section 20.5.14-15). A synopsis of the interview will then be sent to the Missing person liaison officers and they will update the COMPACT record.

3.14.3 Indicators of Exploitation or Harm

All children who during the found process are identified as being at risk of exploitation, radicalisation or otherwise harmed will have appropriate COMPACT risk flags attached to their COMPACT nominal following the process laid out in section 4.19. The College of policing APP provides further guidance around risk management:

• Indicators of concern for a child;
• Risk identification;
• Action in urgent or serious cases;
• Child sexual exploitation:
  
  • Definition of CSE;
  • Risk factors;
  • Warning signs.
• Forced Marriage and honour based violence.

Indications of exploitation and harm should be explored thoroughly during interviews with found and returning children. If a child makes a disclosure as a victim, local parent procedures under Crime Recording and Investigation should be referred to in the event of serious harm.

3.14.4 People Who do not Want Their Whereabouts Disclosed

Where a person, aged 18 years or over, who has mental capacity, does not wish their whereabouts to be revealed, the person making the original report will only be told that the MP has been traced and does not want their whereabouts disclosed.

3.14.5 Found Children (under 18 Years)

Reference should be made to form CID94 Found section 2b.

If the officer considers the child to be at risk they should follow the procedure detailed within B 1206 Procedure - Police Protection Powers.
Where a person with parental responsibility is making arrangements for the collection of the child, the child may remain temporarily at the found location with the agreement of the parent, legal guardian or social worker whilst arrangements are made provided there is no identified risk to the child. Police officers should not become involved in the return of a MP unless the officer believes it necessary to prevent further significant harm.

Further guidance is available within the SET Child Protection procedures concerning the return of children in care.

3.14.6 Unidentified Persons Found Alive

Where a person is found and their full details cannot be established, full descriptive details of the found person must be entered on to the COMPACT system as a MISSING report as soon as practicable, including a photograph.

The word ‘UNIDENTIFIED’ placed in the surname field. The officer’s primary consideration must be to establish the identity of the individual through local enquiries. In addition, the officer should consider the following:

• Using a QUEST search via PNC to search for identifying characteristics;
• Request a search of the National Crime agency (NCA) ‘Comes to Notice’ Hermes Database by contacting the UK Missing Persons Unit at the NCA, used to assist with the identification of known attention seekers who use alias names;
• Obtaining their fingerprints with consent;
• Obtain a DNA sample with consent;
• Full consideration should be given to their status as potential victims of modern slavery or human trafficking and that a referral to the National Referral Mechanism is made in appropriate circumstances.
• There is a requirement to record a crime if Police make a referral to the NRM or if a Notification of Potential Victim of Modern Slavery (MS1) is sent to the competent authority. If there is any other notifiable crime associated with the victim then this should be subject of a separate Athena record.

Details of unidentified persons should be reported to the UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU), within 48 hours of being located. Complete the Force Form UKMPU for unidentified person’s cases. Complete the form with as many details as possible and return to the NCA email address detailed at the bottom of the form, the NCA will add the case to their Hermes database and provide you with the Hermes reference number.

Once the person is identified, the COMPACT entry will be updated with the correct details and the circumstances under which they were found. The officer should review any COMPACT or STORM entry to ensure any out of force enquiries are identified and cancelled.

3.14.7 Found - Deceased

Where a current a missing person is found deceased, the officer should treat the death as suspicious until confirmed otherwise. B 0615 Procedure – Investigation of Death should be followed in all cases.

Once the deceased is identified, the officer must ensure COMPACT is updated with a found report and any out of force enquiries are cancelled within an hour.
Consideration should be made as to whether PSD or IOPC referral for Death/Serious Injury following police contact is required. Tactical (Silver) should consider if a PIP accredited officer is required in those circumstances

3.14.8 Reviews - Missing Persons found Deceased

When a MP is discovered deceased, a review of the missing person investigation will be requested by the LPA that owned the MP investigation. The review will be requested via the morning Strategic (Gold) Call; so that one of the other two LPA’s will be assigned to conduct the review and consideration can be given to capacity to do so.

For example:

• Deceased MP North LPA – West LPA will review;
• Deceased MP West LPA – South LPA will review;
• Deceased MP South LPA – North LPA will review.

The initial review will be conducted by a Detective Inspector with assistance from those with specialist knowledge (e.g., POLSA). Initial findings should be reported to the requesting command team within 24 hours.

If a more in-depth review is required, or more time is needed due to workload, then timescale will be determined through conversation between the requesting and reviewing LPAs.

If the deceased MP is high profile or something suspicious has occurred the requesting LPA will consider approaching the Serious Crime Directorate Review Team to conduct the review.

The objective of these reviews is to:

1. Constructively evaluate the action taken to locate the missing person;
2. To identify any lessons to be learnt;
3. To independently assess the adequacy of the response applied in the circumstances;
4. To examine the application of the Force Missing Persons Procedure;
5. To identify any training needs;
6. To identify good practice;
7. To identify if there are any PSD issues that need to be reviewed, i.e., was there death following police contact?

Once completed the review will be sent to the Command Team who had responsibility for the missing person investigation. The Command Team will review if there are any referrals to be made to the Professional Standards Department in respect of misconduct or Death and Serious Injury following police contact.

The review will also be sent to the Crime and Public Protection Strategic Centre so that any force wide learning, best practice, reoccurring issues or changes to procedure can be reviewed and actioned.

The review will be shared with the officer responsible for completing the coroner’s report and should be included in that report. It will be this officer’s responsibility to inform the deceased MP’s next of kin of the review process.

3.14.9 Unidentified Found Remains/People

Where a body or remains are found, the circumstances should be treated as suspicious until enquires determine otherwise B 0615 Procedure – Investigation of Death – Essex Only should be adhered to.

In addition, the following actions should be completed:

• C&PPC OC Assessment Team will complete a COMPACT search;
• A Found report should be entered on COMPACT using ‘unidentified’ in the surname field, along with full descriptive details;
• Once on COMPACT the entry should be shown as inactive until an identification has been made;
• The UK Missing Persons Unit (MPU), must be notified within 48 hrs using the Force Form UKMPU mentioned in Section 3.14.6;
• Fingerprint identification should be attempted, if possible, using LANTERN.

Photographs, dental records and any other information should be forwarded to the UK Missing Persons Unit (UKMPU) as soon as possible along with any additional information that becomes known. A sample of DNA should be taken and checked against the UKMPU Database and a note made on PNC and COMPACT.

If no identification is made in the UK, consideration should be given to circulating the details abroad via the Central Intelligence Bureau.

Further guidance on handling and investigating found remains can be found in the APP guidance on Missing persons (specific investigations Section 4 Found Remains).

3.15 Conclusion of the Investigation - Inactive Reports

Where all current lines of enquiry have been concluded, and provided there are no suspicious circumstances, the command team reviewing officer may show the record ‘inactive’ on COMPACT pending re-activation as a result of new information that may be given. Where there are suspicious circumstances the decision to make inactive will be made by the SIO.

The designated missing person liaison officers are responsible for monitoring the Inactive Missing Persons on COMPACT and will ensure the relevant Command Teams are aware of an impending review to be completed. The reviews are on-going and are to be completed within every 12-month period.

3.16 Closing Incidents for Persons not Seen

Incidents where the MP has been located or their whereabouts are known, but it is impractical or impossible to see them, the investigation can be closed with the authority of a Chief Inspector.

This includes persons who are deliberately avoiding police or who have gone abroad and there is no evidence to suggest a crime has occurred or that anything untoward has happened to them.

The investigation is closed by adding a found report on COMPACT with the details included in the ‘de-brief’ section.

Details of MPs believed to be illegal immigrants/over stayers who are deliberately avoiding police should be passed to the Border Agency and the police investigation can then be closed. Under 18’s will remain as police MPs.

It is imperative that the person has been processed by the Home Office and has a Home Officer number. Otherwise the Immigration & Enforcement Unit will not accept the referral, at which point our investigation will remain open.

3.17 Closure of a Missing Person Report

When a MP is located, the relevant Inspector will ensure:

• All reviews are completed;
• Any relevant circulations have been cancelled;
• All relevant documentation including risk assessments and search logs are collated scanned and uploaded to the ATHENA record;
• COMPACT is updated and endorsed with the location of the documentation.

3.18 Recording on COMPACT

It is imperative that quality data is entered onto the COMPACT record, as this data is used for Essex police purposes, and is shared with partner agencies, and the National Crime Agency. It is the responsibility of the officer to check what has been entered, and if there are any errors or discrepancies these can be addressed by contacting an MPLO. If errors are entered DO NOT LEAVE THEM.

The information regarding the MP investigation must be added to COMPACT as follows within three hours of the initial report;

• The STORM incident is updated with the COMPACT PID and RID;
• A photograph of the missing person is added;
• Where a recent photograph is not available through family or friends, a convicted or non-convicted photograph via video witness may be used.

The Duty/FCR Inspector can authorise no further action and dispense with the need for a COMPACT record to be opened in the event that the person has been reported as missing in error, and the situation is highly unlikely to reoccur. There will also be a requirement to believe that had the full circumstances been known at the time of making the report, there would have been no concern for that person’s welfare.

The rationale must be recorded onto the STORM incident.

3.19 COMPACT Risk Flags

Risk flags will be used as a tool to assist current and future risk assessments by maintaining up to date risk flags on nominal records within COMPACT assessments.

The COMPACT system has the ability to ‘Flag’ persons form the following list of COMPACT Risk Flags.

Appropriate risk flags will be attached to relevant COMPACT nominals if risks are identified around the above categories by:

• The Missing Person Liaison Officers (MPLO);
• Crime & Public Protection Command Operations Centre (C&PPC OC Triage Team).

In addition to the above flags, those nominals identified as being at risk of CSE, or in the case of domestic abuse (DA), members of the acute victim’s cohort will have the following actions completed:

Action:	Completed by:	Where Recorded:
CSE warning flags Supporting trigger plan	MPLO and/or C&PPC OC	PNC & ATHENA
DA warning flags Supporting trigger plan	Central Referral Unit (CRU) to request: MPLO and/or C&PPC OC	PNC & ATHENA

The actions above can be used to assist in the event of children at risk of CSE and adults at risk of DA who go missing.

The flagging system also gives the ability to notify a specific department through automated email that a person has gone missing. The COMPACT database can be used to create new tasks as well as self-generating appropriate tasks for each incident according to the identified risk assessment.

3.20 Missing Children (under 18 yrs)

Children who go missing from Home and Care are managed by Essex Police in accordance with the SET Child Protection Procedures; the response to missing children under 18 should be effective and collaborative, involving all agencies.

3.21 Children at High Risk of CSE and Missing 3 times in 90 days

All officers and staff should be aware of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Essex police will consider any child shown as High Risk of CSE, who goes missing 3 times within 90 days as a trafficked child. In such cases a referral will be made using the NRM. The referral can be made by any officer or staff member and it is for the MPLO of the relevant LPA to ensure such a referral is made.

Any and all OPTICA or phone data requests are to be made available to the COMPACT record with all reference numbers recorded, with the submitting officer, and any product received must be uploaded to document management on a relevant ATHENA record. (see section 3.28 in respect of communications data).

3.22 Migrant Children

In cases which involve or are suspected to involve migrant children the following must occur:

• When suspected migrants, particularly unaccompanied migrant children, are detained – full consideration should be given to their status as potential victims of trafficking or modern slavery and that a referral to the National Referral Mechanism is made in appropriate circumstances;
• There is a requirement to record a crime if Police make a referral to the NRM or if a Notification of Potential Victim of Modern Slavery (MS1) is sent to the competent authority. If there is any other notifiable crime associated with the victim, then this should be subject of a separate Athena record;
• Biometric data is secured;
• Safeguarding liaison is undertaken with local care authorities to provide effective ‘wrap-around’ care, particularly in the critical first few days when the child is most vulnerable;
• All data collected to be recorded on the COMPACT record;
• Those responsible for the ‘missing’ portfolio in your force area and MPLO’s, should engage with the local authorities to ensure they are meeting the requirements detailed in the aforementioned DFE migrant Children guidance.

3.23 Wanted Missing

If a MP is wanted for an offence, or a child has escaped from lawful custody, consideration must first be given to where the greatest risk lies. An assessment should be made as to the risk grading of the MP including all information and markers such as CSE. No person graded High Risk or a child under 18 will be dealt with as a wanted person.

In all other cases the decision to close COMPACT and deal with the MP as wanted must be fully documented by way of rationale recorded on the COMPACT record.

3.24 Missing Abroad

An initial report should be made on Storm and COMPACT as per guidance in section (initial response). For high all risk cases advice should be sought from the SCD international liaison desk and the procedure S 4201 Procedure - International Enquiries should be consulted.

3.25 Intervention Notices

When a person has been missing 3 times in 90 days, or 5 occasions over any period of time, COMPACT will generate an intervention notice for the individual, which is sent to the Missing Person Liaison Inbox.

It will be the responsibility of the MPLO to view these notices, identify if any other departments need advising, internal or external, and action appropriately by way of a Strategy meeting. This will then show the intervention notice completed.

Intervention notices are stored and are searchable on the COMPACT system.

3.26 Child Abduction Warning Notices (CAWN)

CAWNs can be valuable in assisting the safeguarding of vulnerable young people and provide supportive evidence for criminal or other proceedings.

These Warning Notices are useful in disrupting the criminal activity of adults who are associating with young people against the wishes of the parents or local authority carers. The Notices can be used where arrest or prosecution for any substantive offences is not available or is not appropriate at that time.

There are two notices:

• Section 2 Child Abduction Act 1984 is for a child under 16;
• Section 49 Children Act 1989 is for a child under 18 who is in the care of a Local Authority.

Both notices together with guidance notes on completion can be found within Form CID96. There is also a flow chart to assist with CAWN’s.

The notice identifies the child or young person and confirms that the suspect has no permission to associate with or to contact or communicate with the child, and that if they continue to do so, they may be liable to arrest and prosecution for one of the offences outlined above.

3.26.1 Issuing the CAWN

A warning notice should be viewed as a safeguarding measure for the child concerned as well as a proactive case building initiative. Furthermore, they can be used as evidence when making other applications to the court such as Sexual Harm Prevention Orders and Sexual Risk Orders.

A Detective Inspector may authorise the issuing of a Child Abduction Warning Notice If a child under the age of 16 years (or under 18 years if in local authority care under a section 31 Care Order):

• Is the child subject to reports suggesting a suspect has induced or incited them to run away from the responsible person, or their behaviour and association with a suspect is giving rise to significant safeguarding concerns?
• Is or has the child been in the company of a suspect in circumstances in which it is suspected that the facts amount to an offence of child abduction, but there is insufficient evidence to justify a decision to prosecute, and safeguarding concerns still remain?
• Then, the issuing of a CAWN should be considered and is to be issued as soon as practicable.
• The Detective Inspector will ensure that an entry is placed on COMPACT and that the following checks have been made:
  
  • PNC;
  • ATHENA;
  • Notify the Assessment and Triage Teams who will check the sex offenders register (ViSOR)/ MAPPA / Violent Offenders.
• The Detective Inspector will need to ensure a non Crime Athena record is created and an appropriate case officer to own the CAWN is identified.

The Detective Inspector will need to agree the review frequency with the case officer and their supervisor, commensurate with the risk posed. A review period should be no longer than once every two weeks. Decisions will need to be made by the case officer and their supervisor, should the CAWN be breached. If Essex Police issued the CAWN then the presumption is Essex Police will own any decisions regarding subsequent enforcement should a breach occur, regardless where in the country it happens;

• The case officer for a CAWN will be a warranted officer, normally of constable rank, who is best placed to manage the risk. In most cases the case officer will be from a LPA Community Policing Team, such as a CYP officer. In cases of high risk the authorising Detective Inspector should consider an accredited detective as the case officer, either from a CID team or C&PP command;
• During the checks, should the subject of the CAWN be flagged as a MAPPA nominal, the authorising Detective Inspector needs to ensure the MOSOVO Detective Inspector is made aware so the appropriate case officer can be allocated.

A statement will be taken from the person responsible for lawful care of the child to include:

• Clarification of parental responsibility, child’s name, age and date of birth;
• The fact that the restrictions and wishes of the parent or carer have been made clear to the child;
• The concerns the parent or carer has for the child arising from the association, with the named person;
• The provision of a recent good quality photograph which should be exhibited within the statement;
• Permission for the photograph to be shown to the suspect at the time the warning is delivered.

3.26.2 Serving the Warning Notice

Notices will be prepared using Form CID97.

A photograph must be shown to the suspect to clearly identify the young person to whom the notice refers. The notice must also be read out to the suspect.

The suspect will be issued with two copies of the notice and requested to sign both. The suspect retains one copy, the other is retained by Essex Police and uploaded to COMPACT and Athena. If the suspect refuses to sign, the officer will endorse the notice.

IMPORTANT CAWN’s must be recorded on Athena and the number placed on COMPACT.

CAWN’s must be attached to the suspect person’s iteration. If the suspect is not known on ATHENA, person iteration MUST be created for this purpose.

The nominated case officer and their supervisor will manage the individual cases, in terms of ongoing review and mitigation of the risk, along with key decisions around further mitigation and enforcement should a breach occur. MPLO’s no longer hold the completed CAWNs as they are now allocated to an officer to review and maintain enquiries.

3.27 Child Rescue Alerts (CRA)

A Child Rescue Alert (CRA) is a partnership between the police, the media and the public that seeks the assistance of the public where a child is at risk of serious harm.

The aim is to quickly engage the entire community via media (TV and radio) in the search for the child who is in imminent danger, offender or any specified vehicle through reports of sightings to the police.

The key aim is the preservation of a child’s life and should be in the best interests of the investigation. Arrest of the offender is an ancillary benefit.

Child Rescue Alert is a tactical option for a Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) to consider as part of an overt police response to child abduction where the release of specific information to the public via media agencies may assist in the safe recovery of a child.

For full details see S 1702 Procedure/SOP – Child Rescue Alert.

3.28 Acquisition, Disclosure and Retention of Communications Data

The acquisition, of communications data in an emergency can include situations where, for example, there are serious concerns for the welfare of a vulnerable person. These are legitimate lines of enquiry which can yield valuable information and can assist in the location of missing persons. In tandem with a missing enquiry police should be focussed on building a victimless prosecution so that when the person is located, police gather the evidence (if applicable) to prosecute for situations like CSE or modern slavery offences. Purely treating as a missing investigation when the person is found completes the objective and no further action tends to occur.

Those involved in missing person’s investigations should be familiar with current guidance as follows:

• Code of Practice for the Acquisition and Disclosure of Communications Data;
• Code of Practice for the Retention of Communications Data.

All applications will be made using the OPTICA system.

I would like to see something on the below: • Link to communications data and how it can be used to support the enquiry to locate missing persons • How we change the investigative mind-set in cases of for example children at risk of CSE. Rather than a missing enquiry we should be focussed on building a victimless prosecution so that when the child is located we gather the evidence to prosecute for CSE or modern slavery offences. What we see, is being treating it as missing when the child is found the objective is complete and no further action tends to occur. If we change this focus we may therefore see more prosecutions Stuart

4.0 Equality Impact Assessment

• EIA – October 2019.

5.0 Risk Assessment

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

6.0 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
• SCD

7.0 Monitoring and Review

The Crime and Public Protection Strategic Centre will be responsible for reviewing this procedure every 12 months to ensure that continues to be fit for purpose and it remains consistent with national guidance.

8.0 Governing Force policy. Related Force policies or related procedures

• B 1600 Policy - Missing Persons
• B 1200 Policy - Child Abuse Investigations
• D 0400 Policy - Critical Incidents
• B 1203 Procedure - Child Abduction
• D 0401 Procedure – Dealing with Critical Incidents
• S 1702 Procedure/SOP – Child Rescue Alert
• S 4200 Policy – International Enquiries
• S 4201 Procedure – International Enquiries

8.1 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.

8.2 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.

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

• Statutory Guidance on Children who run away or go missing from Home or Care Jan 2014
• ACPO Family Liaison Guidance 2008;
• Guidance Child Abduction Warning Notices;
• Mental Health/Learning Disabilities Protocol;
• Grampian Document;
• LSCB Protocol agreement.
• Dept. of Education – Joint Protocol – Disclosing details on their Register of children’s homes with local authorities, the police etc.
• Southend, Essex and Thurrock, Children & Young People Who Go Missing or Run Away from Home or Care Protocol;
• 2016 APP guidance – Major investigations – Missing persons.
• B 1601 Additional Guidance Document
• Form CID96 – Child Abduction Warnings Checklist
• Form CID97 – Initial tasks for Missing Persons
• Missing Persons Process Map
• Continuum of risk
• COMPACT Risk Flags
• Trigger plan
• Multi agency protocol – Adults missing from care homes, hospitals and mental health establishments
• Definitive list
• Risk assessment and response
• Considerations prior to contacting the press office
• Out of officer hours requests
• MPLO job description
• DoE migrant children guidance
• flow chart to assist with CAWN’s
• Detective Review
• Essex missing people toolkit
• Form CID94 – missing person report/booklet