It's valuable to debate the best way of helping people who go missing regularly

National Police Chiefs’ Council Lead for Missing People, Chief Constable Mike Veale responds: “Chief Constable Sir Peter Fahy has stimulated an important debate about the best way of responding when people go missing. When children and adults go missing it is almost always a symptom of other challenges in their lives which they need support in addressing. “We want those who go missing to be found quickly and then get the critical support they need. That is why it is vital police work with our partners in other statutory agencies and charities to safeguard vulnerable people and find effective long-term solutions to underlying problems. Part of my role will be to work with partners in central and local government and the third sector to consider who’s best able to deliver those services - police officers, police staff, social workers or independent workers from the third sector.”