The nature and extent of the police response to a missing person report will be based on an assessment of the information available, the reasons why the person may be missing, and the possibility of the person being at risk of harm. Assessment of the level of risk helps to define how enquiries should be conducted.
Assessing Risk Factors
The concept of risk assessment extends far beyond the realms of missing person investigations; it is prevalent within many areas of police activity and indeed in wider society. However, the assessment of risk, in the early stages of a missing person investigation, is used as a catalyst for the investigative activity that follows. An incident that is deemed to be high risk will attract significant resources, intrusive supervision and substantial oversight from senior officers. Incidents carrying lower risk will not receive the same levels of attention.
The appropriate determination of risk, at the earliest possible stage, is therefore essential for the successful outcome of the investigation. Assess the risk as being too low and significant harm may befall a missing person due to a lack of resources being allocated. Assess the risk as too high and a disproportionate number of resources may be committed to the investigation which keeps resources from more pressing policing matters.
Risk assessment is an ongoing process and it is important that relevant information is gathered through targeted enquiries and reviewed throughout the investigation, preferably in accordance with a national decision model and the risk principles.
In the initial assessment of risk the first responder shall ask the following questions:
- Why are you worried about the missing person?
- What has been done so far to trace this individual?
- Is this out of character?
- Have they been missing before? If yes, what happened whilst they were missing?
- Are there any specific medical needs?
- Are they likely to become the victim of crime?
- Are they likely to be hurt or harmed?
- Are they currently at risk of sexual exploitation?
- Are they at risk of criminal exploitation, including county lines?
- Are they likely to self-harm or attempt suicide?
- Do they pose a danger to other people?
- Are they likely to have travelled abroad?
- Is there any other information relevant to their absence?
If at any point it becomes evident that the initial risk assessment may be high, the case should be brought to the attention of a supervisor for advice and/or an immediate response.
Particular care should be taken to use precise language to record what information and intelligence has been used, as well as how it has been assessed by the risk assessor. Imprecise terms, such as ‘chaotic lifestyle’, ‘street-wise’ and ‘out of character’, should be avoided. Or if used, they should be explained in detail – so that those using or reviewing the assessment at a later date can fully understand their meanings and the weight placed on them by the assessor.
A risk assessment must be conducted for every missing report and should be based on current risk levels and not be driven by previous assumptions or experiences. When a person goes missing, whether for the first time or repeatedly, it may indicate that there are underlying issues and this should be considered when undertaking the risk assessment. These issues should be explored and may be relevant to the police investigation, future safeguarding and care planning regardless of whether the person is frequently missing, or their disappearance is out of characte
Identifying High-Risk Indicators and levels of risk
High risk – Defined in situations in which the risk presented to us is permanent and immediate, and there are strong reasons to believe that the missing person is in imminent danger to life or physical integrity, as they are the victim of a serious crime, or, due to their vulnerability due to age, illness that requires continuous and specialized treatment, or any dementia problem, whether momentary or permanent.
In these situations, the response from the Authorities must be immediate and involve all available resources, and in some cases, particularly with regard to children and after detailed analysis, the possibility of activating the “alert system” must be considered and evaluated. of child abduction”, which implies the definition of a clear strategy towards the media and other entities involved, which also includes the family of the missing person, implemented through a liaison officer.
Missing people may be at risk of harm resulting from factors such as:
- an inability to cope with weather conditions
- being the victim of violent crime
- risks relating to non-physical harm, for example, the people they are with, the places or circumstances they are in
- suicide ideation or self-harm
Medium risk – These situations are those in which the risk to the life or physical integrity of the missing person will only exist in very exceptional circumstances.
In situations defined as Medium risk, and with regard to the response to be given by the Authorities, it must be proactive, appropriate and proportional to the reality presented, always having as its main objective, as in other cases, the location of the person who is missing and the support to be provided to their family.
Low risk – These are cases in which there is, in principle, no risk to the life or physical integrity of the missing person.
See the chart below to understand what to do depending on the level of risk you have.
Evaluating Risk
Very low risk | |
There is a very low risk of harm to either the subject or the public. | Actions to locate the subject and/or gather further information should be agreed with the informant and a latest review time set to reassess the risk. |
Low risk | |
The risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed as possible but minimal. | Proportionate enquiries should be carried out to ensure that the individual has not come to harm. |
Medium risk | |
The risk of harm to the subject or the public is assessed as likely but not serious. | This category requires an active and measured response by the police and other agencies in order to trace the missing person and support the person reporting. |
High risk | |
The risk of serious harm to the subject or the public is assessed as very likely. | This category almost always requires the immediate deployment of police resources – action may be delayed in exceptional circumstances, such as searching water or forested areas during hours of darkness. In many of these cases, there will also be consideration of serious crime. All of the issues that need to be addressed in those cases will need coordination with any missing person enquiry. A member of the senior management team must be involved in the examination of initial lines of enquiry and approval of appropriate staffing levels. Such cases should lead to the appointment of an investigating officer. There should be a press/media strategy and/or close contact with outside agencies. Family support should be put in place where appropriate. Children’s services must also be notified immediately if the person is under 18. |
Delivering a Valid Risk Assessment
This chart is intended to provide a useful framework for staff to work from. Decisions and rationale for deviations are acceptable, provided they are justified and recorded.
