Missing Person Guide

Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons.

Based on an article in our last newsletter feedback was received from a colleague in the United Kingdom. He made us aware that the UK Police National Missing Persons Bureau (PNMPB) is the centre for the exchange of information connected with the search for missing persons both nationally and internationally. The Bureau focuses on cross matching missing persons with unidentified persons. On their website the center has published a downloadable PDF version of Guidance on the management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons.

Although the document was drafted in order to develop national standards in the UK, many of the investigative and supervisory techniques are directly applicable to US investigations. Some of the issues covered in the guide are:

First officer to attend
Responsibilities of first officer attending report of a missing person
Risk assessment
Classification of risk and response
Decision making guide
Review of risk
Missing persons process chart
Investigative issues to consider
Search and evidence gathering
Legal powers for search
General principles of searching
Scenario based searching
Full managed search
Volunteer search teams
Members of the public
Sightings
Critical incidents
Media strategy
Family liaison and support
Interview on return from missing

Click here to download a copy of the guide.