Police stress missing people are priority after shocking regional figures revealed

This comes after analysis by the JPIMedia Data Unit revealed GMP had the highest rate of missing persons incidents per 10,000 people of any force in the country, with just over half of the incidents involving children.

The alarming statistic came from 2018-19 figures, the most up-to-date available, published by the National Crime Agency’s Missing Persons Unit.

GMP spoke about how officers respond when a call comes in that someone has disappeared.

John Barnes, head of the force’s Missing Persons Unit, said: “Over recent years there has been an increase in the number of people reported missing in Greater Manchester and nationally, which has been widely reported as being attributed to better recording practises and a greater awareness of the risks involved when a person is missing.

“When assessing the number of reports received, it’s evident that there is an increased awareness of the risks involved when people are not where they should be, not only by police, but also by partner agencies including the social care systems for adults and children.

"The investigation of all reports of missing persons is a force priority for GMP, and the safeguarding of all vulnerable persons is paramount.

“With improved technology, information sharing and improved practices among partners, we are now often presented with increased opportunities to implement the measures to find someone who is reported missing and do everything we can to ensure they are found safe and well.

“Missing person enquires are carried out on a 24/7 basis and are dealt with by a number of experienced parties to ensure the person is found as quickly as possible.

“The reasons for a person deciding to go missing are often complex and can be linked to a variety of factors including social or family

issues.

“The police treat each missing persons case differently and the police response will depend on a number of factors including - but not limited to - age, vulnerability, physical or mental health conditions, time elapsed since last seen, circumstances of disappearance, whether the person has been missing before and previous behaviour whilst missing.

“When a person is reported missing we undertake a number of investigative enquiries which includes speaking to friends and family, checking with known associates.

“Lines of enquiry may then progress to financial enquiries with banks or lenders, telephone billing and call history, internet and social media usage or anything that might assist in tracing the missing person.”