People go missing for a wide range of reasons and in many different circumstances.  Accordingly, Missing People works across a broad spectrum of social needs. Below is an introduction to the issue and the main areas where we make a difference.

To find out more about how you can support one of Missing People’s programmes please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call Sam Dixon on 020 8392 4597.

Homelessness

Independent research found that young people who have left or been forced to leave home by parents are at an increased risk of poor educational outcomes and homelessness. Young runaways can contact Missing People for free on Runaway Helpline by phone, email and text message. This service provides confidential advice and support around the clock. Importantly, it also enables young people – often living on the streets, in danger or at risk of exploitation - to reconnect with their families or carers. Missing People also works in partnership with local and regional support projects for young runaways across the UK. These vital projects can often only provide ‘face to face’ support during office hours and use Runaway Helpline to cover crucial times such as evenings and weekends.

Mental Health

Missing adults who experience mental heath problems may find it difficult to cope with being away from home or to engage with those who can help them.  A detailed study in 2003 of missing adults the charity supported revealed that 28% had slept rough while missing, 27% had stayed in a hostel, 8% had stayed in bed and breakfast 8% had stayed in a night shelter and 12% had stayed with someone they had just met.

In March 2010 Missing People launched the Reconnect Network in Westminster which enables the charity to alert local health care professionals about vulnerable missing adults who may be in their care. The Reconnect Network establishes the infrastructure to allow Missing People to notify doctors, hospital staff and related NGOs about missing adults with serious mental health problems. If the pilot is successful, it is hoped that it will be rolled out across the country.

Disadvantaged Families

The economic impact of a disappearance can also extend to the families left behind.  Our recent study, Living in Limbo demonstrated that some families suffer considerable financial hardship as a result of the loss of income if the missing person was working or claiming benefits, difficulty keeping up mortgage and other payments, problems making transactions that require the missing persons authority etc. Family members may have to stop work to take up caring responsibilities, or may suffer acute mental distress leading to health problems and inability to work. There may also be a substantial cost associated with searching for the missing person, for example travelling abroad. If the missing person lived independently, other members of the family may decide to meet the cost of rent, mortgage or loan repayments in the hope the missing person will be able to resume their life when they come home.

Missing People is campaigning to improve the support available for families of missing people. Click here to find out more.

Missing Children

An estimated 100,000 children aged under 16 years run away from home or care overnight each year in the UK (Safe on the Streets Research Team, 1999). The peak ages of running away are between 13 and 15 years old.  (Social Exclusion Unit, 2002)

A study of young people who had run away found that one in eight runaways (12.5 per cent) reported having been physically hurt and one in nine (around 11 per cent) reported being sexually abused while running away.  (Biehal et al, 2003).

As children and young people are likely to live with family or carers, they are more likely than adults to be reported missing soon after a last sighting.  Each year the police record between 600 and 1,000 child abductions (including attempted abductions). Of all recorded abductions and attempted abductions, a very small proportion were instances where a child was actually abducted by a stranger.  Importantly, children who are abducted will not necessarily be considered missing, or reported as missing.

Missing From Care

Young people living in residential care are approximately three times more likely to run away overnight compared with young people living in families (Rees and Lee, 2005). When young people run away from care, their carers must follow protocol to notify the correct person of their absence (such as the senior manager of a care home, or the child’s social worker). The absence may then be categorised as either ‘unauthorised absence’ (for example, coming home after curfew) or ‘missing’ (where their whereabouts are unknown and there is concern for their safety). Local authority protocols will then define whether a police notification should be made immediately. Many local authorities require police notification of all unauthorised absent or missing children within a certain time period.  

Since 2003 Missing People has helped local authorities to find young people missing from care. We also assist in the search for vulnerable people known to Adult's Services. We are on hand to work with Social Workers to aid the safe return of children missing from care.  We aim to achieve a safe outcome for young people who have run away by operating to the highest standard of good practice. The safety of the child is the number one priority and we work to our confidentiality promise.