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The aim of this inspection, undertaken by HM Inspectorate of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), was to assess the state, efficiency and effectiveness of the police response to missing persons in Scotland.
The resultant inspection report is based on a comprehensive review, and involved engaging widely with police and partners through interviews, focus groups and onsite visits. Further inspection activity included a review of calls made to police service centres and an audit of the national missing persons application used by police to record incidents and guide investigations.
This report outlines key findings which highlight very positive police practice found during our inspection. The recommendations made, are intended to contribute to the ongoing efforts of police and partners to achieve better outcomes for missing people and their families.
Additional
Areas of good practice
- Missing person co-ordination units exist in Lanarkshire and Greater Glasgow divisions, with a clear management structure driving their progress. The existence of these units provides consistency in approach, with a focus on multi-agency prevention and intervention activities to reduce demand and improve outcomes for missing people. Edinburgh City division has a similar structure incorporated within its prevention, intervention and partnership unit.
- Highland and Islands and Greater Glasgow divisions have established quarterly divisional missing person tactical/strategic meetings chaired by superintendents, through which the NMPU can raise divisional issues. This meeting provides focus, scrutiny and oversight of the divisional approach to missing persons, where areas for improvement are identified and addressed.
- The Lanarkshire divisional coordinator holds weekly missing person partnership meetings involving all key agencies and partners. Such practice provides good lines of governance, reporting and accountability, while strengthening partnership arrangements.
- North East and Fife divisions have dedicated officers trained to conduct return interviews with children and young people deemed at risk of harm. These are co-ordinated with partners, so that the child or young person receives the most appropriate intervention.
- Highland and Islands division ensure all adults from mental health hospitals receive a return discussion on return from a missing incident.
- Edinburgh City, Highland and Islands, Renfrewshire and Inverclyde, and Lanarkshire divisions, have partnership arrangements in place with local authority social work services or third sector agencies to carry out return discussions with children and young people. The outcome of these discussions is shared with police.
- Highland and Islands division has successfully used harbouring notices to respond to adults found in the company of missing children and young people. Such notices are deemed valuable by the division and partners as a safeguarding measure, particularly relevant to children who regularly go missing and who are at risk.
- Lanarkshire division’s sergeant and inspector forums offer a platform for tactical and operational discussions on missing person enquiries (among other matters) and aim to improve the understanding of the roles and responsibilities of police and partners. Such forums are an opportunity for the divisional commander to highlight the divisional approach to missing persons.
- The Highland and Islands divisional command team regularly warns officers against complacency, clearly stating that all missing person incidents should be considered individually – regardless of how often a person may have gone missing. This serves to promote a positive culture among officers required to respond to a significant number of missing incidents.