Response to a missing person’s report - Northamptonshire Police, October 2017

On 10 October 2017 at 6.21am, Northamptonshire Police received a call from a woman reporting her son was missing. The woman was asked a number of questions about her son’s disappearance in order to identify any immediate risks. These questions included whether there were any concerns about his mental health or whether he was likely to harm himself. Police also made checks on the man’s social media, which indicated that an account had last been active at 11pm the previous night. Based on the answers to these questions, there was no apparent risk identified and the call was graded as ‘absent’, meaning that no active steps were taken in relation to the missing person’s report. The matter was set to be reviewed at midday.

Approximately two hours later, Northamptonshire Police received a call from a member of the public saying that they had found a person hanging outside a community centre. The person was later identified as the woman’s son reported missing.

Our investigators conducted a detailed examination of documentary evidence. A witness statement was obtained from a control room sergeant in relation to his involvement. CCTV footage was analysed, along with incident logs and telephone transmissions.

It appeared that police officers and staff had acted in accordance with the force’s missing persons’ policy and guidance.

The investigation found no indication that any person serving with the police may have behaved in a manner that would justify the bringing of disciplinary proceedings or committed a criminal offence.