Crime and intelligence - Missing persons policy (N08)

1. Summary of changes

1.1 The following changes have been made to this policy in April 2026: reviewed for the new child/adult risk assessments and Op Encompass process.  No changes were required on this Policy; amendments were required to the associated SOPS.

2. What this policy is about

2.1 The purpose of this policy is to provide a consistent and efficient response to reports of missing persons, with the key objective of safeguarding vulnerable missing persons and providing support to reduce the episodes of missing associated with individuals.

Compliance with this policy and any linked procedures is mandatory.

It serves as an introduction to N08a (Missing children) and N08b (missing adults).

3. Statement of policy

3.1 This policy reflects College of Policing APP Major investigation and public protection: Missing (Missing persons | College of Policing)

3.2. The College of Policing Authorised Policing Practice definition of a missing person is:

Missing – Anyone whose whereabouts cannot be established will be considered as missing until located, and their well-being or otherwise confirmed.

This definition ensures that all cases of people suspected of being missing who are reported to the police are considered for a policing response. The nature of the response is for operational decision makers. Not all reports of missing people will require immediate deployment of police resources.

All reports of missing people sit within a continuum of risk from very low through to high, the latter require an immediate intensive action. All should be viewed as missing persons and the appropriate response initiated. In some cases, there will be very limited police action – an initial investigation to inform a risk assessment, followed by instructions or advice to the person reporting on the next steps they should take and setting a review time. In other cases, immediate police action may be required.

Adults at risk* and Children aged under 18 will always be considered at risk of harm and should therefore be treated as missing if their whereabouts cannot be established.

* An adult at risk can be derived from section 42(1) of the Care Act 2014 as 'an adult who has needs for care or support (whether or not the local authority is meeting any of those needs), is experiencing, or is at risk of, abuse or neglect, and as a result of those needs is unable to protect himself or herself against the abuse or neglect or the risk of it.'

4 Implications of the policy

4.1. Finance/Staffing/Training/Other

• there are no known additional financial implications other than those already incurred.
• all officers and staff involved in protecting and safeguarding children will receive appropriate training and refresher training according to their roles.
• a robust supervision and management oversight structure is in place which is responsible for all aspects of safeguarding children.

4.2. Risk assessment

• this policy has been assessed as medium risk.
• police officers and police staff will adopt a generic risk assessment in line with the relevant procedure and in accordance with their individual roles.

4.3. Equality Impact Assessment (EIA)
This policy has been assessed with regard to its relevance to race and diversity equality. As a result of this assessment the policy has been graded as having medium impact.

5. Consultation

• Local Policing
• FCIR
• Central Investigations
• Central partnerships
• Kent and Essex Equality and Diversity Co-ordinator
• Finance
• IT Security
• Health and Safety
• Freedom of Information
• Legal

6. Monitoring and review

6.1. Monitoring of this policy will be the responsibility of the Local Policing SPOC. The policy is next due for review in July 2027.

7. Other source documents

• N09 - Child Abduction Act
• N10 - The Protection of Vulnerable Adults
• NPIA Guidance on the Management, Recording and Investigation of Missing Persons 2010

8. Security

7.1. Kent Police has measures in place to protect the security of your data in accordance with our Information Management Policy (Policy W1000 Information Management).

9. Retention and disposal of records

8.1. Kent Police will hold data in accordance with our Records Review, Retention and Disposal Policy (Policy W1012 Records Review, Retention and Disposal).