Unsolved Missing Persons cases
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.035359
I note you seek access to the following information:
Please can you provide any information regarding Unsolved Missing Persons cases under your constabulary. Your response will help Inform research being conducted, specifically investigating variability across police constabularies in the review of unsolved missing persons cases within the United Kingdom.
More specifically, I am interested in:
1) How many ‘open’ or ‘inactive’/ ‘cold’ missing persons cases are currently under your constabulary? (Inactive meaning at least 1 year old).
2) What reasons are there as to why missing persons cases are still unsolved? i.e., funding, lack of resources, no new evidence, no body etc.
3) Are there any policies and procedures that your constabulary uses specifically for ‘inactive’ missing persons cases? If yes, what are they?
4) Which individuals are involved in the reviews of ‘inactive’ missing persons cases? I.e., Review Officer, Senior Investigating Officer, Crime Scene Manager, Forensic Scientist etc.
5) Does your constabulary work closely with other organisations when reviewing ‘inactive’ missing persons cases? If so, which organisations? And what do they do to help?
6) What charities does your constabulary have access to for inactive missing persons cases? If so, what charities? And what do these charities do to help aid a long-term missing person’s case review?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - How many ‘open’ or ‘inactive’/ ‘cold’ missing persons cases are currently under your constabulary? (Inactive meaning at least 1 year old).
In the MPS there are currently 168 ‘Open’ missing person investigations over 1 year old (records between 1955 and 8 April 2023) They remain open and unsolved. Please note we do not consider them ‘inactive’ in the manner you describe, although activity will clearly differ according to status and opportunity.
Q2 - What reasons are there as to why missing persons cases are still unsolved? i.e., funding, lack of resources, no new evidence, no body etc.
This is a general question for which we do not information. Please note Section 84 of FOIA relates to recorded information held by a public authority and that it does not extend to providing explanations unless the answers are already held in a recorded form. "Information is defined in section 84 of the Act as 'information recorded in any form'. The Act therefore only extends to requests for recorded information. It does not require public authorities to answer questions generally; only if they already hold the answers in recorded form. The Act does not extend to requests for information about policies or their implementation, or the merits or demerits of any proposal or action - unless, of course, the answer to any such request is already held in recorded form." (Day vs ICO & DWP – EA/2006/0069 Final Decision)
In order to assist you there may be many reasons for cases to be unsolved and can be numerous, be a lack of intelligence or information as to where an individual might be, including ‘no body’ homicides, some incidents reach a point where legitimate and proportionate lines of enquiry are exhausted without success and remain hampered by the passage of time.
Q3 - Are there any policies and procedures that your constabulary uses specifically for ‘inactive’ missing persons cases? If yes, what are they?
The Met does not consider historic cases ‘inactive’ per se. As noted above, cases where lines of enquiry can be considered exhausted can remain open but with very limited oversight or progression in favour of the progression of more recent cases. The Met follows the college of policing APP timeframes of annual review at senior detective level for all cases remaining open beyond 12 months.
Please see the below link which may be of interest to you: Adult Missing Persons Policy
Q4 - Which individuals are involved in the reviews of ‘inactive’ missing persons cases? I.e., Review Officer, Senior Investigating Officer, Crime Scene Manager, Forensic Scientist etc.
The general approach is that on Borough the missing person unit officers at Constable Level will progress ongoing cases, supervised by Sergeants. The annual review is the responsibility of the Public Protection Detective Chief Inspector (with responsibility for the missing person unit).
Q5 - Does your constabulary work closely with other organisations when reviewing ‘inactive’ missing persons cases? If so, which organisations? And what do they do to help?
The Met has good working relationships with the National Crime Agency’s UK Missing Person Unit. We work alongside the Missing People charity where publicity and family support is necessary. The review process is the responsibility of the police who can seek investigative advice.
Q6 - What charities does your constabulary have access to for inactive missing persons cases? If so, what charities? And what do these charities do to help aid a long-term missing person’s case review?
Please refer to Q5.