Report Or Find A Missing Person - GOV.UK

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1. Home
2. Crime, justice and the law
3. Reporting crimes

Report or find a missing person

If someone goes missing, contact anyone you think may know their whereabouts - if you’re still concerned, contact your local police.

You do not have to wait 24 hours before contacting the police.

The police may ask you:

• for their photo
• details of their friends or relatives
• details of places the person often visits
• whether they had a medical condition
• for a sample of their DNA, for example from a toothbrush

With a relative’s permission, they may also ask to search the person’s home.

The person will be recorded as missing and their details made available to other UK police forces within 48 hours.

Knowing when someone is found

If the police find a person aged under 18, their parents or guardians will usually be told their whereabouts unless police believe the child’s safety is at risk.

If the person is aged over 18, the police will not pass on their whereabouts without their permission.

Organisations that help find missing people

You can contact:

• Missing Persons Unit
• Missing People
• Missing Kids UK
• Look For Them

People missing abroad

If someone goes missing abroad you should contact:

• your local police - they will contact the police force in the relevant country (through Interpol)
• the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on 020 7008 5000 (ask for ‘Consular Assistance’)

Find out about call charges.

You can also contact the charity LBT Global

Report a sighting of a missing person

If you spot a missing person contact the police.

If you want to remain anonymous, you can contact Missing People to report the sighting.

Related content

• Contact the police
• Divorce or end a civil partnership if your partner is missing

Explore the topic

• Reporting crimes

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