People who are reported missing in the UK may be experiencing some kind of vulnerability or risk. 170,000 people are reported missing every year and there are 353,000 reported missing incidents every year. Someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK. The majority of missing persons can be linked to Conflict, abuse and neglect at home, Sexual exploitation, Trafficking and Mental Health
Going missing is often an indication that something is not going well for that person, whether that is worries at home, risks around exploitation, or mental health concerns. Return from missing is a key opportunity to find out what is going on for that person and to help them to address these issues. When someone returns from being missing the police should complete a ‘safe & well check’ and ‘prevention interview’ to make sure that the person is safe and to identify any help they might need. Young people will also be offered a return home interview, which is a discussion about why they went missing, what happened while they were missing, and what help they may need. These discussions should give someone who has been missing the chance to talk about any help or support they need as well as identifying who may be able to provide this help.
No. Adults can go missing, and in some cases this may be the safest thing for someone to do. However, the police do have a duty to keep people safe. If an adult is reported missing, the police will be involved in looking for that person until their whereabouts are known. However, those who are 16 and younger do not have a right to go missing. While it may sometimes be safer to not be at home, parents, carers and the government have an obligation to make sure young people are safe and looked after. If a young person is reported missing, the police will return them home or to somewhere else safe when they are found.
There are times when missing persons don’t want to talk to other family members or friends about how they are feeling. That might be because they aren’t ready to share thoughts or show strong emotion, or they are afraid it will add to the burden for others. It’s important that you have a place where you can talk things through and a safe space where you can express emotion where you don’t have to worry about the person who is listening.
There can be lots of reasons you want to go missing or run away. Each situation is unique and we know there can be many things that are making someone want to leave home. They might feel unsafe at home or perhaps they can no longer stay there. If that’s the case for you, we want to make sure you are safe and considering all your options - Press Standby if this is the case and we shall help and support you. If your life is at high risk, press Danger.
If someone is named as a "high risk" missing person it means that the police believe there is a real and immediate threat to the safety of either them or to the public. The level of risk is assessed based on the person's "vulnerabilities" and the circumstances of their disappearance. Should you remain at high risk, go ahead and press Danger.