Adult Missing Persons policy
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.22.024886
I note you seek access to the following information:
1. What is your policy on adult missing persons?
2. And what is the policy regarding long term missing adults?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose some of the requested information. Some data has been withheld as it is exempt from disclosure and therefore this response serves as a Refusal Notice under Section 17 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the Act) by virtue of the following exemptions:
Section 23(1) - Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters
Reason for decision
Section 23(1) - Information supplied by, or relating to, bodies dealing with security matters
Section 23 is an absolute and class-based. This means the MPS is not required to provide a Prejudice/ Harm Test or Public Interest Test in the application of this exemption.
Disclosure
Q1 - What is your policy on adult missing persons?
In respect of Question One (1), the MPS points out that it does not discern in wider policy between child/adult cases as our missing person response is based on risk to the individual. The MPS does not hold an adult specific missing person ‘policy’.
The MPS is instead able to provide you with the following missing persons policy guidance documents that outline the police roles and responsibilities required for all cases;
• Missing Persons Incident Development – Pre 48 Hours
• Missing Persons Incident Development – Post 48 hours
• Missing Persons Incident Closure
The MPS can also provide you with the following
• Policy Statement on the Investigation of Missing Persons in the MPS’
You will note the statement explains;
“there is no MPS internal policy for missing persons beyond the agreement to reflect College of Policing APP (Authorised Professional Practice) throughout the police response and investigation”.
Q2 - And what is the policy regarding long term missing adults?
In respect of Question Two (2), we refer you to the advice provided above for Question One (1) regarding ‘internal MPS policy’ and reference to College of Policing (CoP) APP. This APP also refers to long term cases, which will assist with this part of your request.
The MPS is also required to point out that it does not hold a specific ‘long term’ missing person policy. The documents the MPS hold instead cover older/extended cases as provided under Question One (1).
Within the Missing Person Policy Statement provided to you today, there are three documents listed, one of which is referred to as ‘Incident Development (post-48 hours)’. That document harnesses MPS Policy guidance to all cases beyond 48 hours. MPS policy guidance is aligned to College of Policing (CoP) Authorised Professional Practice (APP).
Further information to assist you
The MPS is happy to provide the link to the College of Policing (CoP) Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for missing persons which the MPS is aligned to.