Information for criminal justice practitioners, students and academics.

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

 

You can download a copy here