Report A Missing Person - Missing People

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Close Home | Get Help | Report a missing person Reporting someone missing Here you'll find the information you need to decide whether you should report the person you are worrying about as a missing person.

Are you worried about someone and can't find them? What should you do?

You don’t have to wait 24 hours before you report someone missing. As soon as you can’t find the person and you are worried for their safety and welfare, you can report them missing to the police. It’s important that you share all of your concerns with police. The earlier the police know about someone, the sooner they can start searching.

How do I report my loved one missing to the police?

• Go to your local police station or
• Call 101 (the main switchboard number for police in the UK.)
• If the missing person is a child, or you believe them to be at serious risk of harm, always dial 999

We cannot report your loved one missing to the police on your behalf but we can help in other ways.

We’re here to support you, for free and in confidence. Call or text 116 000.

Talk to us

First steps

What are the actions I should take?

• Step 1: Looking for your loved one

  Of course, this depends on the person you are looking for. Looking for a young child, or adult who is unable to care for themselves, will be very different to searching for someone who would be at work or school, or who is able to travel.

  Use your gut instinct. If you are seriously worried or you know they can’t take care of themselves, react quickly and call 999.

  If you feel you can make some searches yourself and spend some time looking for them, do this first:

  • Check their home and places where you expect they might be.
  • Look for any notes, messages or emails from them.
  • See when they were last on social media or messaging apps.
  • Send them a message explaining how worried you are.
  • Ask friends, neighbours, and family to help you – they might have heard from and not realised you are worried.
  • Write down what you have done to look and the times, so you can let police know if you need to.
• Step 2: Contact the police

  Call the police and let them know you want to report a missing person. If you have time it is a good idea to write down some information about the situation so you are better prepared when you speak to the police as they are likely to ask for lots of information. Read more about the things they want to know.

  We know that contact the police might feel a little intimidating. If speaking to the police might be difficult for you, or you’re not sure whether someone is missing or at risk, we can help. You can call or text us for free and in confidence on 116 000 or contact our Family Support Team
• Step 3: Ask us to help Our service is here for specialist information, support and a listening ear. We can offer
  • to launch an appeal for your missing person
  • find media opportunities and write a press release
  • practical advice with the search and wellbeing
  • advocacy with services such as police, mental health and care services
  • specialist emotional support with our experienced team

Ask for contact from our Family Support Team

We provide support to family, friends and carers of missing people. We can offer practical advice depending on the situation and support you to navigate police processes. Our team can also provide emotional support to anyone affected by the disappearance, at any point. This could be multiple people connected to the missing person. Our team work in the strictest confidence with each individual. We are there to support you as long as you need us.

We support people living in the UK, whether the person went missing here or abroad.

Request a text back

Searching for people

The person you are missing may not be considered vulnerable or be at risk, that doesn't mean you might not be worrying about them. It may be that there are other ways of finding them, if the police aren't going to start a missing investigation for them. Your loved one may be missing abroad and it is not clear what the search will look like. We have brought together some information here, which might suit your search better.

Lost contact with someone?

If you have been out of touch with a family member for awhile and would like to be reunited, our Lost Contact tracing service may be able to try to help you reconnect.

Search Services- who can help

Missing investigations may have different agencies involved in the search.  There are police, government agencies and charities which help with the search for missing and out of touch people.

Looking for someone who might be abroad

If the missing person is a British Citizen and usually lives in the UK, the police force wherever the person normally lives is responsible for taking the missing report. Make contact with them and explain what has happened If the person who is missing outside of the UK, is not a British Citizen, we wont be able to help with the search but there may be agencies who can.

Parental child abduction

If you do think your child has been abducted and is immediate danger call 999. The police will advise you as to your next steps. The legal situation can be complicated and we cannot advise directly, organisations such as Reunite will be well placed to advice. Read the Government guidance here.

Helpful Guides

Principles for the Police Response to Missing People and Their Families

These 13 principles, developed with those who have been missing or reported a loved one missing, set out what everyone should be able to expect from the police.

What can you do and how to manage after reporting someone

Read more about what you can do to look after yourself whilst you wait for news.

Dealing with immediate practical impacts

Discover what things you might need to do for someone if they have gone missing.

Support we offer family and friends of missing people

We know how traumatic it can be to have to report someone missing. We are here ready to provide confidential and free support. Find out how.

Services for police

Requesting help with a missing investigation

If you are a police officer or a professional concerned with a missing person, please read more about how we can assist, and consider referring the missing person and their family to us for our assistance.

Refer someone to us

What to do when someone goes missing

However long it’s been since your person went missing, we have support and guidance available to help you through.

Find out what to do when someone goes missing