In a report by the Sunday Times on June 11, 2023, it was revealed that the police will no longer prioritise thousands of missing persons reports in order to focus on day-to-day crimes such as burglaries. This change primarily affects cases categorised as “low risk,” including patients who discharge themselves from hospitals and children who repeatedly disappear from care facilities.

Every year in England & Wales, there are approximately 353,000 missing incidents involving adults and children. Out of these, 170,000 people are reported missing, with 98,000 being adults and over 70,000 being children. It’s worth noting that the reported incidents may be higher as some individuals go missing on multiple occasions. Fortunately, the majority of missing individuals are located relatively quickly. For example, 80% of children are found within 24 hours, and 90% are found within 2 days.

The most common reasons for adults going missing include mental health issues, relationship problems, substance abuse, depression or anxiety, dementia, and suicide.

Missing People describes itself as “the only UK charity lifeline for anyone affected by missing or thinking of going missing.” The charity has expressed deep concern over the police’s decision to downgrade their response, fearing that it may put thousands of people at a higher risk of harm. They highlight that when someone goes missing, it is usually a sign of crisis and individuals deemed “low risk” may not actually be so. Missing People stresses the importance of proactive information gathering from family, friends, and professionals to accurately assess the level of risk a missing person faces, following national guidance. While frameworks have been developed with other professionals working alongside the police to clarify their responsibilities, the police remains the “only agency with many of the powers to investigate, find, and safeguard missing people.”

Based on my experience working with over 30 families of missing adults, some have faced challenges and felt that the police did not take their circumstances seriously. They had to fight to be heard, and important details were sometimes overlooked, recorded incorrectly, or not shared appropriately. I am concerned that this change in approach may lead the police to label missing person reports as “low risk” due to the pressure of dealing with other cases.

As of March 2020, there were 3,300 adults missing for over a year in the UK. Families of long-term missing adults face numerous difficulties, including the anguish of not knowing what happened to their loved ones, along with practical and financial worries such as overdrawn bank accounts, jointly owned properties that cannot be sold or remortgaged, unpaid mortgages, and uncooperative financial institutions citing “data protection.”

In cases where the missing person is believed to be alive, the Guardianship (Missing Persons) Act 2017, also known as “Claudia’s Law,” can offer assistance. This Act, effective since July 31, 2019, allows for the appointment of a guardian to manage a missing person’s affairs in the hope of their eventual return. Usually, the appointment occurs after 90 days of disappearance, empowering the guardian to make financial decisions in the best interests of the missing person.

If the missing person is believed to have died, the Presumption of Death Act 2013 (PODA) provides a framework for obtaining a declaration of presumed death, acting as a substitute for a death certificate. An application can be made at any point after the disappearance and may be more appropriate in cases such as suicide.

Applications for both Acts are made to the High Court and are typically submitted by the spouse or civil partner, parent, child, or sibling of the missing person. Other parties can apply if they have a “sufficient interest.”

If you would like to discuss a case involving a missing adult and whether or not to make an application to the Court, regarding a missing person, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me: Sarah Young.

Sarah Young – Director & Solicitor