Missing People | Professionals | Information for the Police

Missing People – beyond the National Protocol Agreement

20 – 21 September 2007

Missing People conference in Blackpool ‘a huge success’

A conference which was organised by the charity Missing People took place in Blackpool last week (20-21 September) and was deemed a huge success. The event was attended by 200 delegates, and included senior and practitioner level officers from most of the UK police forces. There were also delegates from as far afield as Ireland and Australia. Many commented that the overriding benefit was the networking opportunity the conference provided, as there is currently no other forum for officers working in this line of work to gather with colleagues nationally to share information and exchange views. Many have already asked for the conference to be repeated next year.

Key topics covered included missing children, asylum seekers, missing from NHS establishments and what happens when a missing person case turns high profile. Feedback was that the programme was comprehensive and relevant and networking opportunities were fantastic – the charity has since been able to put delegates in touch with other delegates with a view to taking these relationships further and developing new strategies.

One session which was considered particularly useful was an onstage discussion between police family liaison officers, a case manager from Missing People and family members of a previously missing person. One officer commented that this was “most thought provoking and emotive, it bought home just how important it is to give thought to every aspect of family liaison. It was very good to hear about the support Missing People can give in this area.”

Geoff Newiss, Head of Policy and Research at the charity, used the conference as a platform to reveal details of the Missing People research programme. “At present there is still little in the way of scientifically reliable information on the numbers of children and adults going missing, why they go missing, their experiences whilst away, and the impact on those left behind. Missing People’s research programme aims to fill these knowledge gaps.”

The conference was themed ‘Beyond the National Protocol Agreement’ and as such demonstrated the partnership between the police and Missing People, which has evolved significantly since the signing of the National Protocol Agreement (NPA) in December 2006. But it also addressed the important issues and learning curves that now need to be addressed.

Andrea Bennett (conference organiser) said " I am delighted that delegates got so much value from the conference. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and it seems to have genuinely enthused and inspired oficers about their work. Something like this can really make a difference to investigation strategies and ultimately to the well being of vulnerable missing people."

Missing People Beyond the National Protocol Agreement was supported by:

Groupcall Logo ACPO Logo Police Life Logo