Dumfries and Galloway Missing Persons Protocol

All agencies recognise the negative impact of people going missing. A missing person is exposed to unnecessary risk, is negatively impacted in terms of health and wellbeing and in a small number of cases it can lead to death. Every year Police Scotland receive over 30,000 calls reporting people missing and all agencies recognise a robust and consistent partnership approach is critical to prevent people going missing in the first place and to locate them quickly in the event of a missing episode.

Individuals who go missing are at risk of harm and this harm can be exacerbated by their circumstances. Children and young people have increased risk of being exploited, adults with dementia have increased vulnerabilities, and mental health problems can also increase the risks of an individual coming to harm.

In Dumfries and Galloway, The Missing Person Partnership Group was formed with representatives from Police Scotland (V Division); Dumfries and Galloway Council; NHS Dumfries and Galloway; Dumfries and Galloway Health & Social Care Partnership; the 3rd sector; Education & Children's Services; Scottish Care; MAPPA; Housing and Public Protection with the aim of delivering on the requirements set out in the National Missing Persons Framework.

Dumfries & Galloway Public Protection Partnership is committed to ensuring that preventative measures reduce the number of episodes that people go missing, professionals respond appropriately, support is provided following missing episodes and vulnerable people are protected to reduce the risk of harm.

Our aim is to build on existing good work in Dumfries and Galloway. We want to:

• Prevent people from going missing in the first place, and

• Limit the harm associated with people going missing.

Dumfries and Galloway Missing Person Protocol (PDF, 636 KB)

Dumfries and Galloway Missing Person - Flowchart (PDF, 53 KB)

Missing Person Protocol - 7 Minute Briefing (PDF, 629 KB)