These awards are designed to recognise and celebrate the outstanding contributions of UK Police forces in resolving missing person cases, enhancing public safety, and fostering community cooperation.
The four awards are:
Excellence in Investigation Award – Recognising exceptional investigative work in a missing person case.
Family Liaison and Compassion Award – Honouring those who have shown extraordinary empathy and commitment in supporting a missing person, or families affected by a disappearance.
Partnership, Collaboration and Prevention Award – Celebrating outstanding teamwork and innovation in preventing disappearances or improving outcomes for missing people.
The Phil Shakesheff Legacy Award – Dedication in Missing Persons Work Award – Recognising exceptional dedication in innovation or lasting impact in the field of missing persons.
Last year’s winners
The Missing People Police Partnership Awards 2025 brought together police officers, partner agencies and families from across the UK to recognise those who have gone above and beyond to help find missing people, prevent disappearances and support those left behind.
Each winner reflects the values that drive Missing People’s partnership with the police: compassion, accountability, innovation and collaboration. Their work reminds us that progress in this field comes from working together with people, not just for them.
The stories of this year’s winners highlight the progress being made across the UK policing to protect vulnerable people, support families and prevent disappearances whenever possible.
Missing People is proud to work in partnership with every police force in the UK, supporting ongoing efforts to improve practice and ensure that no one faces the trauma of disappearances.
Working in Partnership Award
Enhancing Child Protection: DS Jamie Dickens’ Impact on Missing Children in Cumbria
Detective Sergeant Jamie Dickens has made a significant impact in reducing missing episodes involving children in care. Leading a small dedicated team he has used data-driven insight to identify high-risk care settings and strengthen partnerships with local care providers.
Through his leadership of the Philomena Protocol and the creation of complex safeguarding teams, Jamie has embedded a child-centred approach in Cumbria Constabulary. His work has improved responses to missing reports and ensured greater accountability across services enhancing the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable children in the community.
“Jamie’s partnership work has shown how collaboration and empathy can create real, lasting change for children in care.”
Prevention Work Award
Operation Satin: A Pioneering Initiative in Preventing Missing Persons
Northamptonshire Officer of Police and Fire Commissioner
Operation Satin is a groundbreaking collaboration between the Northamptonshire Office of the Police and Fire Commissioner and the Northamptonshire Missing Persons Unit. The initiative focuses on early intervention, with dedicated workers identifying and supporting young people showing early signs of risk.
The results have been transformative: of the 263 young people visited as part of Operation Satin, 92% have not gone missing again.
The programme has built stronger relationships between families and police, reduced repeat episodes and inspired similar work in other forces across the UK.
“Operation Satin proves that early help and trust building are powerful tools in preventing people from going missing.”
Special Recognition Award
Transformative Impact of PC Miles on a Vulnerable Young Person
South Wales Police
PC Miles was recognised for his extraordinary support of a 15-year-old girl referred to as T, who had experienced over 100 missing episodes. By taking time to build a trusting relationship and understanding her needs, PC Miles helped T feel safe, heard and supported.
T’s life has changed dramatically; she has re-engaged with education, significantly reduced her missing episodes and is now a proud member of the South Wales Police Youth Cadets, using her experiences to support others.
“PC Miles’ patience and care turned trust into transformation, showing the lasting impact one dedicated officer can have.”
Compassionate Service Award
A Mother’s Journey Through Heartbreak and Hope: The Search for Luke Durbin
Major Incident Team, Suffolk Constabulary
This award recognises the Major Incident Team at Suffolk Constabulary for their compassionate and persistent work in the ongoing search for Luke Durbin, who went missing in 2006.
After years of uncertainty, Lukes’s mother found renewed hope when the MIT took over the case, bringing transparency, dedication and humanity to their investigation. Officers including Andy Guy, John Brocklebank, Kevin Haywood, Mike Brown, Angie Stevens and family liaison officers Debbie Newell and Helen Clench provided consistent communication, empathy and professionalism.
Their work rebuilt trust and demonstrated how compassionate policing can make a profound difference to families living through unimaginable loss.
“The compassion shown by the Major Incident Team restored a mothers faith in policing and offered hope amid heartbreak.”
Nominations
Nominations for the Missing People’s Police Partnership Annual Awards 2026 are now open.
All nominations and any details contained within will remain confidential, and authorisation will be sought prior to any awards being given.
Nomination closes 19 December 2025, with the awards being announced at the National Missing Persons Conference 23-24 February 2026.
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