Missing

A child can go missing at any time. In most cases they return on their own, safe and well, but there is always the potential for children to come to serious harm while missing. Not all young people who go missing are reported missing. This leaves them vulnerable to abuse.

To report your child missing, call the police on 101, or contact your neighbourhood policing team. If you believe your child is in immediate danger, call 999. You don’t have to wait 24 hours, you can report your child missing straight away.

If you know where your child is, but are concerned for their safety (for example, they are at a place where you suspect criminal activity is taking place) you can ask the police to carry out a welfare check to make sure they are safe.

Before contacting the police:

• Check the bedroom and any other place where your child might be in the house or building.
• Check the surrounding area – gardens, sheds, garages etc.
• Check with your child’s friends, school, work, neighbours, relatives or anyone else who may know where they are. Ask them to tell you straight away if they hear from your child.
• Try to get hold of your child by phone, text or social networking sites such as Snapchat and Facebook.

The Children’s Society has information on what to do if your child goes missing   https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what-we-do/our-work/children-missing-home/what-to-do-if-your-child-goes-missing