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As soon as the police receive a call reporting a missing child, every minute becomes crucial to get them to safety.
When a missing persons report is filed, investigators must immediately conduct a risk assessment: Is the child at risk of harm? Do they have health problems, or a problem with drugs or alcohol? Could they be with someone who poses a threat? Each question helps determine the urgency of the search.
The first 24 hours after a disappearance are critical.
One of the most persistent myths about missing person cases is that you have to wait a full day before contacting the police. This is wrong. Especially for children, waiting can waste significant time.
Sam Roberts and Josie Allen of the charity Missing People know this better than most. She has decades of experience supporting families and liaising with police. They urge anyone who suspects a child is missing to contact police immediately.
Independent The aim is to raise £165,000 to help launch SafeCall, a new, free service from Missing People designed to reach children in crisis and guide them to safety. The charity currently supports one in four missing children – with the help of readers, this figure could rise significantly.
donate Here Or text SAFE to 70577 to give missing people £10 – enough to get one child support.
first 60 minutes
The initial call sets everything in motion. Control room operators take key details – when and where the child was last seen, what they were wearing, any health or behavioral concerns – and assign a risk level.
Anything that signals immediate danger, such as poor mental health or a dangerous environment, triggers a high-risk response. The supervisor will directly deploy officers and initiate desk-based inquiries, ranging from contacting family and friends to checking schools, hospitals and social media.
Children are often classified as high risk due to their age and susceptibility, while adult cases reach the same threshold when there are concerns for life. In both cases, police guidance treats each disappearance as a security issue – not a crime.
next few hours
Officers will search the home of the person making the report, looking for clues or the child himself, while continuing digital and neighborhood investigations. CCTV, transport routes and local hospitals are all checked.
If the child is very small or in danger, search dogs, drones or helicopters may be deployed.
“Sometimes children are made to feel that they have done something wrong,” says Ms Allen, head of policy and partnerships at Missing People. “But going missing is never a crime. It’s a sign that something is seriously wrong, and it’s our job to help them feel safe again.”
after 24 hours
According to police statistics, most missing children are found within a day – about 79 percent. Only two percent remain missing for more than a week.
But when a case drags on for more than 24 hours, it becomes even more urgent. Children who remain missing often struggle to find food or safe shelter, or they may be under the control of someone who is exploiting them. At this point, the investigation is intensified and resources are increased.
“Every missing person’s case is unique,” says Ms Roberts, who previously worked as a police missing persons coordinator. “But what never changes is that the faster a report is made, the greater the chance of a safe return.”
Please donate now to the SafeCall campaign launched by The Independent and Missing People to help raise £165,000 to create a free service providing safety, advice and hope for vulnerable children.
If you or someone you love goes missing, text or call the charity Missing People on 116000 for advice, help or options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. or visit www.missingpeople.org.uk/get-help,