ACPO comment on the first anniversary of the government's missing persons strategy

ACPO lead on missing people Chief Constable Pat Geenty said:

“The police are often the first agency to take a missing person report and we work hard to bring missing people back home to their families and friends. However, the best way for police to achieve this is through a multi-agency approach. The police service has worked closely with government and other agencies to prevent people from going missing and respond quickly and effectively when we receive a missing person report.

Children and young people account for two thirds of missing person reports. Children in care are a particularly vulnerable group so work is underway to further improve our service to them. This will include a more targeted response to children who run away from care homes with dedicated resources to map, analyse and quickly intervene where a child is deemed at risk from harm or sexual exploitation.

New tighter information sharing agreements with partner agencies and the involvement of third sector organisations will support all agencies in meeting the objectives set out in the Government’s missing children and adults strategy.”

ENDS

For more information on the government's missing person strategy- http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/media-centre/news/missing-people-one-year

For more information please contact:

ACPO Press Office
Association of Chief Police Officers
e: press.office@acpo.pnn.police.uk