A missing person is someone who has disappeared from the accustomed network of their social and personal relationships to an extent that people within it consider their absence as interfering with the performance by that person of expected social responsibilities. The Association of Chief Police Officers defines the term as “anyone whose whereabouts are unknown whatever their circumstances of disappearance” (ACPO 2005: 8).
Missing persons can be either children or adults. Children make up the majority of missing person cases and are usually kidnapped against their will. Missing adults tend to have a more complex set of reasons for disappearing. These can include family dysfunction and conflict, substance misuse, mental health issues, coping with the stress of life events, or peer pressure. They can also have a desire to live off the grid and to escape from their lives.
When a person returns from being missing, they should always receive a “Prevention Interview” or “Safe and Well Check” where they have the opportunity to discuss their experience of going missing with an officer in more detail and have support to consider what supports they might need moving forward. This is a key aspect of the process and ensures that the police will have the information they need to close the case in a safe way.
If you have not already done so, it is important to file a missing persons report and put a poster up in every area where your loved one likes to hang out. It is also worth reaching out to hospitals, prisons and coroners in the missing person’s jurisdiction.