Actions taken following missing person’s report - Essex Police, March 2018

On 25 January 2018 a woman called Essex Police to report that her son was missing. The incident was graded as a no-risk missing person as the son was a young adult and there were no warning markers. Police made some enquiries, including checking local hospitals, circulating details via local airwaves and informing CCTV of the young man’s description, Officers were sent to the home of the person he was believed to be with, but there was no reply. They also went to his home and spoke to his mother, who said she had no concerns he would harm himself, but wanted to know where he was. After a risk assessment the incident was closed the next day.

In the weeks that followed, Essex Police received several more reports regarding concern around the young man. As it was considered that no new information had come to light and there were no additional risks, the incident was not re-opened.

On 19 February 2018 the police regraded the incident as a low-risk missing person after establishing that the young man hadn’t used his debit card for several weeks and had not made any contact with his family. Police took a number of actions, including checking calls to the young man’s mobile number, contacting his friends to ask if they’d seen him, speaking to social workers and the man’s family, and appeals on social media. Police also carried out various checks such as police records, finances, CCTV, college, hospitals, and homelessness areas and homelessness charities. Eighteen sightings of the young man were recorded but appeared to be unreliable.

On 21 February, the incident grading was increased to ‘medium’ due to no signs of activity being recorded since the young man was reported missing, and his behaviour appearing to be out of the ordinary.

On 21 March 2018 the body of the young man was found. The cause of death was unascertainable, but he appeared to have died several weeks previously.

Our investigators analysed several incident logs and missing persons case management system records relating to the case. Several police witnesses also provided statements to assist with the investigation.

Based on the evidence available, we found no indication that any police officer or member of staff had behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or had committed a criminal offence. However, we were of the opinion that the performance of one inspector, who had not regraded the incident after the first mention that the young man had not used his debit card for some time, may be unsatisfactory.

Our investigation also highlighted some discrepancies between Essex Police missing person procedure and the College of Policing’s Approved Professional Practice (APP) regarding the definition of a missing person. We recommended that the force update their procedure to accurately reflect the APP and remove any ambiguity in what constitutes a missing person.

We completed our investigation in February 2019.

After reviewing our report, Essex Police agreed. The force advised that the inspector would receive management action, in the form of a debrief from a line manager regarding the findings of our investigation, to include a reminder of responsibilities as outlined within Essex Police missing persons procedure.