Tag: Missing People

Supporting people at risk of going missing

Police investigations drop after national framework is implemented

The number of police investigations into missing persons has fallen significantly since a national framework was implemented to support those most at risk.

The National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland – the first of its kind in the UK – works to prevent people going missing and respond quickly when they do.  I

t sets out how partners including Police Scotland, the NHS, education services and third sector organisations can work together when someone is identified as being at risk of going missing.

This work has been backed by Scottish Government funding of £750,000 so far with a further £150,000 this year which supports two National Missing Persons co-ordinators.

Building on the progress to date, the Scottish Government has launched a refreshed framework, to include enhanced training for those working with people who have previously gone missing to better understand the underlying causes.

Closer working will be supported between public protection teams and local child and adult protection committees to link resources and treat missing cases as part of their wider oversight work.

Protocols to collect key information for children, care experienced children and people living with dementia who are at risk of going missing will be promoted and implemented across Scotland. As a result, crucial information will be quickly available to police, meaning they can take action sooner when someone does go missing.

Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said: ““It is devastating for families and friends when a loved one goes missing.

“Since we first published the framework in 2017, the proportion of people going missing once who do so again has dropped from one in two to one in three and our collaborative approach has seen a decrease in the number of investigations needed.

“Scotland is leading the way in shared efforts to reduce the number of people who go missing each year. To help further reduce the risk of people going missing and to limit the harm when they do, we are introducing new measures to make it easier to identify those at risk.

“The refreshed National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland 2025 builds on good practice to continue to support some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.” 

Chair of the Working Group for Missing People in Scotland. Professor Hester Parr said: “The expert Working Group is delighted to be launching this guidance, which will help protect missing people and their families.

“The guidance in Scotland are informed by research and best practice, is unique in the UK and helps Scotland lead the way internationally in trying to address this deeply entrenched social and spatial problem.

“Missing is a sticky issue for multi-agency groups, and the new guidance offers support for change and progress in Scotland. This builds on existing success but also charts a path to more change and continuous improvement. Missing people deserve nothing less than that.”

Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said: “Barnardo’s was involved in the initial writing of the 2017 National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland, and have continued to work in partnership with Scottish Government on the implementation plan for delivering on the Framework.

“As active members of the Working Group for Missing People in Scotland and informed by the work of our missing services in Renfrewshire and North Lanarkshire, we continue to advocate for Scotland’s children and young people by bringing their real-life experiences of going missing to the discussion.

“Today’s launch of the updated National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland is an important step as we continue our efforts to reduce the instances and impact of missing for children and young people.

“It was a pleasure for our team to welcome Ms Brown to our Common Ground service today in order for her to learn about the valuable work undertaken by this service. Common Ground is a partnership project in Glasgow City Centre that provides a safe, supportive presence for young people on Friday and Saturday afternoons and evenings. It was developed in response to rising concerns around exploitation, vulnerability and risk-led responses to youth presence in the city centre.”

National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland 2025 – gov.scot

Scottish Government funding to raise awareness of the risks of running away

Two leading charities are joining forces to develop materials to educate children and young people about the dangers of going missing and encourage them to access support. Continue reading Scottish Government funding to raise awareness of the risks of running away

Lifeline for missing people

The national charity which helps missing people reconnect with their loved ones has received Scottish Government funding to increase the help available to missing people in Scotland.

There are more than 30,000 reports of missing people in Scotland each year, with nearly two-thirds of incidents involving a child or young person. Missing People runs a helpline which provides free, confidential advice to missing adults and children, and their families, connecting them with the support that they desperately need.

The charity has received more than £90,000 over two years to connect with more children and young people in Scotland and help them find safety and support. The funding will also help make sure the right support agencies and professionals are linked into the helpline.

At the same time the government is working with partners including Police Scotland, local councils, Shelter, Barnardo’s and Missing People to develop a National Missing Persons Framework, to reduce the harm related to people going missing and raise awareness of the many causes of going missing and the associated dangers.

Minister for Community Safety and Legal Affairs, Annabelle Ewing, said:

“There are many reasons why people go missing and we know they can be particularly vulnerable when missing, potentially finding themselves in situations of real risk. We want to improve access to the support available for those who go missing  in Scotland which is why we are supporting Missing People to expand on their vital helpline.

“It is particularly important that our children and young people who go missing or are at risk of going missing know how to find the help they need to ensure safety and address the reasons behind why they went or want to go missing.

“When someone goes missing it is also a terrible experience for their loved ones and Missing People also provides much-needed support to the families of those who are missing.

“As we work with partners to try and prevent people going missing, and reduce the harm when they do, we will not forget the real impact that going missing has on people and their loved ones.”

Susannah Drury, Director of Services and Advocacy at the charity Missing People, said:

“We are delighted that the Scottish Government has renewed its commitment to supporting vulnerable missing children and young people with this funding.

“By building key partnerships with Police Scotland, other charities and local councils, the charity is committed to finding and supporting more missing children and young people across Scotland.

“When a child goes missing it is nearly always a sign that something is very wrong. These funds from the Scottish Government will help ensure that we can be here for free, 24/7 without judgement at the end of the phone when a missing child needs to talk through their options or get help to stay safe.”

Heartbreaking: a child reported missing every TWO MINUTES

250,000 children are reported missing in the European Union every year: the equivalent of A CHILD every TWO MINUTES (European Commission)

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Events were held around the world to mark International Missing Children’s Day yesterday (25 May). The day offers an opportunity to raise awareness of young people who have disappeared and also encourages people to think about those who have previously vanished and returned home – and those who have been victims of crime.

UK Home Office Minister Karen Bradley visited the Missing People charity ahead of yesterday’s International Missing Children’s Day and learnt about the Child Rescue Alert System, a crucial tool in helping locate missing people.

The minister met the charity’s Chief Executive Jo Youle and heard from staff how the charity’s helpline provides vital support for missing people and their families.

There was also a demonstration of the Child Rescue Alert System, which is designed to alert the public to an abduction or other high risk child disappearance.

Touring the office, the Minister learnt about plans for this year’s#TheBigTweet, which the Home Office will again be supporting this year. Since last year’s social media campaign, ten of the children and young people featured in #TheBigTweet appeals have been found.

Minister for Preventing Abuse and Exploitation, Karen Bradley, said: “This government recognises that missing children are particularly vulnerable to harm and exploitation, and that they, and their families, deserve the best possible support and protection.

“International Missing Children’s Day is an opportunity to raise vital awareness of these children and young people. I look forward to working closely with Missing People and other partners and am delighted to offer my support to ‘The Big Tweet’. I encourage everyone to get involved.”

Chief Executive of Missing People, Jo Youle, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Minister to Missing People today and to introduce her to the work of the charity within the first fortnight of her new role.

“We discussed priorities for improving services and support for missing people and their families including the need for guardianship legislation to enable families to protect their missing loved one’s finances and property, and the need for better support for children and adults who return from being missing.

“I really look forward to working closely with the Minister and welcome her keen interest in the work of the charity and the needs of vulnerable missing people and their families.”

Sign up to receive Child Rescue Alerts. For more information about#TheBigTweet visit www.missingpeople.org.uk

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MISSING CHILDREN: Facts and Figures

  • 250,000 children are reported missing in the European Union every year, the equivalent of around 1 child every 2 minutes (European Commission)
  • Missing children include several categories of child disappearances, including parental abductions, runaways*, missing unaccompanied migrant minors and criminal abductions
  • Two to five percent of missing children cases reported involve third party criminal abductions (Missing Children Europe Annual Report 2014)
  • Runaways make up 50% of missing children cases reported through hot-lines (Missing Children Europe Annual Report 2014)
  • 1 in 6 runaways are assumed to sleep rough, 1 in 8 resort to stealing to survive and 1 in 12 children are at serious risk of some form of abuse (The Children’s Society)
  • It’s estimated that around 140,000 cases of missing children are reported annually in the UK, the equivalent of around 380 per day (missingchildreneurope.eu)
  • Missing Children Europe’s Belgian member “Child Focus” opens an average of 4 new cases a day

https://youtu.be/oho8xaMsfsc