Missing Matters

How do you define missing?

It’s a misconception that ‘missing’ means ‘taken’ or ‘abducted’; abductions are rare and account for a very small minority of missing person reports in the UK. A missing person is defined as someone whose whereabouts cannot be established. They will be considered missing until they care located and their wellbeing or otherwise is established. Often the missing person themselves does not consider themselves ‘missing’, however until they are sighted safe and well by police as a result of the concerns raised for them, they will be classed as a missing person.

Do I have to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing?

No, that is a myth. If you have concerns about someone’s behaviour, state of mind or whereabouts, or if their absence is out of character or doesn’t feel right, then you should get in contact.

What can I do if I have concerns that someone is missing?

Before reporting someone missing, you could consider some of the following steps:   

• ring round friends and family
• check your phone and email for messages
• search the home or wherever they were last seen
• leave the missing person's room and things alone as much as possible in case DNA samples are needed later
• check the loft, garden, shed or garage
• remember that children can fit into small spaces
• look for any notes or other clues
• ring round local hospitals
• If you can, make a note of everything you do.

If you believe there is an immediate risk, these steps are not essential; please follow your instinct and contact police.

 

What happens when I report someone missing?

Whether you contact us via telephone or online, colleagues in our Public Service Centre will try and gather as much relevant information as possible as this will determine our initial police response. This information will also support those responsible for the initial risk assessment in their decision-making process, directing the priority of the police response and level of resources needed.

Does South Wales Police receive many missing person reports?

In the past five years, more than 41,500 people were reported missing to South Wales Police. On average 17 people were reported missing each day during the first two months of 2022.

Why do you use social media to appeal for missing people?

Social media is just one of many tools available to us when trying to locate a missing person as quickly and safely as possible. Social Media does, however, help us reach a large number of people in a variety of areas very quickly. Our followers often provide very useful information and possible sightings and as such social media appeals have proven successful on a number of occasions.

If it has a far reach, why don’t you appeal on social media straight away?

As explained, social media is just one investigative tool available to us. When someone is reported missing we conduct a number of enquiries, including talking to family, friends and associates, CCTV enquiries, financial and phone enquiries. Often we are able to locate individuals without the need for social media.

Why don’t you appeal for everyone via social media?

We have to treat every case individually and consider the circumstances in which the individual has gone missing. In some instances we are able to find the individual without the need for a social media appeal, and in other instances it could be that appealing on social media could have a detrimental effect. For example, if we had reason to believe circulating an appeal may put the individual at an increased risk, either to themselves of from others, then we would not circulate.

The safeguarding of the individual concerned is always paramount.  

Why don’t you remove appeals when someone comments to say they are safe?

We have to be certain that someone has been located before we can close a missing person investigation, and a social media comment does not provide that certainty. Until our officers have sighted the individual, we will remain concerned for their welfare. Some comments could be well-intentioned but incorrect, while others could be written by someone posing as the missing individual.

Why don’t you tell us more in your appeals?

The priority in these cases is always ensuring the safe return of the missing individual. We are careful to put out enough information to suitably inform the public to enable them to assist with the appeal, while balancing the individual’s right to privacy and minimising any further risk to them. We don’t withhold information to mislead the public; every decision is made with the missing individual in mind.  

How can I get involved in a search?

While we appreciate our communities’ concerns when a person goes missing, and the genuine offers of help and support, we kindly ask that the public don’t conduct their own searches.

We ask this for a number of reasons; our searches are coordinated by highly-trained, well-equipped search experts who take an intelligence-led, methodical approach which everyone involved understands and follows.

Although well-intentioned, members of the public can be placing themselves at risk while out searching, and additional accidents or injuries would detract from the original search.

Their efforts could also hamper the official search; for example their presence could impact on the scent being tracked by the trained search dogs. Our search managers  are also forensically aware from the outset in the event that a missing person inquiry should later become a criminal investigation.

On very rare occasions, it may be that the public would be called upon to join the search, but again, those searches would be professionally organised and managed, with very clear parameters communicated and agreed with all concerned.

While members of the public may feel helpless when someone they know or care for is missing, the very best thing our communities can do is to be vigilant and report any possible sightings or information, however insignificant it may seem; such information really is invaluable to police and our partners.