Local Police Consultancy: Safe & Well Checks

In October 2020, Missing People worked with a local police force to build on policy, procedure and response to missing. This work focused on improving the accuracy and quality of Safe and Well Checks delivered by the police, for children, young people and their families. Our work included a review of 120 Safe and Well Check reports and a comprehensive review of local police policies, protocols, and current practice, including missing policy and procedures for the identification of good practice.

We conducted 121 sessions with front-line officer for reflection and feedback on the local delivery of Safe & Well Checks and produced a report on our findings and recommendations. This work was completed with online training for 100 police officer based on our findings and recommendations, covering best practice: recording and identifying risk, and a Q&A session.

Outcomes from this work included:

• Recorded bespoke webinars (based on areas of improvement) were disseminated to all officers and staff.
• Findings implemented as part of Hampshire Constabulary’s launch of its Child Centred Policing Plan.
• Child Centred Policing Champions were introduced to carry out monthly thematic reviews to ensure learning is fully embedded.

“Hampshire Constabulary worked with Missing People UK to review the effectiveness of its response to missing children in terms of the initial risk and subsequent return to their perceived place of safety. The results contributed significantly to driving a change in culture in terms of how children and young people should be treated and improving our response to missing incidents as a result”.

Detective Inspector Lee Colvin, Missing, Exploited & Trafficked Team. Hampshire Constabulary