Missing person unit information including statistics & policy and data from 2020 to 2022

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.23.029074

I note you seek access to the following information:

1. Does your force have a specialised missing person unit?

2. If not, which departments/teams are tasked with missing persons reports?

3. How many staff does the missing persons unit have?

4. How many missing person reports were there for January-December 2020, January-December 2021 and January-December 2022 calendar years?

5. What roles exist within the missing persons unit? (For example, desk-based officers or locate officers?)

6. Does the missing person department investigate adult missing persons reports?

7. Does the department investigate low, medium and high-risk cases. If not, please explain?

8. What computer system do you use to log missing person cases?

9. Does your force have a missing person policy - is it different to the APP?
a. If yes, can you please share a link to the policy please.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.

Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Does your force have a specialised missing person unit?

Each of the 12 MPS area BCUs (Basic Command Units) has a missing person unit resourced locally.

Q2 - If not, which departments/teams are tasked with missing persons reports?

Please see our response to your question 1, above.

Q3 - How many staff does the missing persons unit have?

Resourcing of missing person units at the BCU level is variable according to local demand – these are locally determined levels. Each missing person unit as a minimum will have two Sergeants and 6 to 12 constables.

Q4 - How many missing person reports were there for January-December 2020, January-December 2021 and January-December 2022 calendar years?

Please see the spreadsheet attached. Please ensure that the data provided is read in conjunction with the notes page of the spreadsheet to ensure correct interpretation of the data provided.

Q5 - What roles exist within the missing persons unit? (For example, desk-based officers or locate officers?

Missing person units are responsible for the day to day progression of open missing person cases where incidents extend beyond 48 hours, to take early ownership of high risk missing incidents and to facilitate partnership working with relevant local authority partners. Across the initial 48 hours for low and medium risk cases, ownership and progression falls to the BCU Resource and Demand Teams (RaDT). These teams are resourced and managed within the uniformed emergency response teams and in place 24/7.

Q6 - Does the missing person department investigate adult missing persons’ reports?

Yes, missing person investigation in the MPS sits across both adult and child cases.

Q7 - Does the department investigate low, medium and high-risk cases. If not, please explain?

Yes. High from the outset, low and medium from the point of 48 hours where these cases remain unsolved.

Q8 - What computer system do you use to log missing person cases?

The MPS uses Merlin. From late 2023 the MPS will cease use of Merlin and use CONNECT.

Q9 - Does your force have a missing person policy - is it different to the APP?

Yes, the MPS has in place policy guidance which compliments and delivers College of Policing APP (Authorised Professional Practice). The MPS, like most other forces has not implemented the category of ‘no apparent risk’. The structure of oversight and ongoing dynamic case review exceeds that of the APP.

MPS policy guidance follows the chronology of ‘Incident Development’ and is aligned to the MPS handling process – this operationalised means of presentation offers greater understanding and engagement opportunity.

Q9(a) - If yes, can you please share a link to the policy please?

Please find attached the following documents:
• Missing Persons Incident Development – pre 48 hours
• Missing Persons Incident Development – post 48 hours
• Missing Persons Incident Closure