Going missing is often a symptom of deeper challenges in a young person’s life.

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Missing Persons, Chief Constable Mike Veale said:

“Incidents involving missing children are taken extremely seriously and this is a complex area of police work.

“Going missing is often a symptom of deeper challenges in a young person’s life. By the time they disappear, many opportunities to intervene early and address the underlying causes have already been missed.

“This is not something the police can solve on their own. We need all agencies - including health and social services - to come together and focus on providing consistent, coordinated and timely support to those in need.”