First reported 13 Jun 2018•Latest report 19 Oct 2025
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures in the dedicated transfer of cases between police forces, including incomplete or delayed information transfer, lack of receipt confirmation, unclear acceptance or ownership, and failure to ensure the receiving force can safely assess and progress the transferred case.
Not included
Excludes ordinary information sharing between police forces where no case transfer or transfer-of-responsibility process is involved.
Excludes delays caused solely by the receiving force's later investigation or operational response after a transfer has been completely and properly accepted.
Excludes generic police communications, offender-information sharing or partner-agency coordination that is not part of transferring a case between police forces.
Excludes failures in transferring cases between non-police organisations or between police and other agencies unless the assertion specifically concerns the inter-force case-transfer process.
Reports
3
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
5
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2018–2025
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
8
Described in published responses
Reports over time
Reports over time
Reports about this concern issued each year.
* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.
Most frequent recipients
Most frequent recipients
Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.
National Police Chiefs’ Council2
Northamptonshire Police1
Warwickshire Police1
West Midlands Police1
National policing body2
Police force2
Concerns and responses across reports
Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.
Northamptonshire
Concerns raised2
Delays in completing the transfer of missing persons case information between forces
Lack of induction training for transferees from other forces on COMPACT case importing
This report raised 1 other concern. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.4
Action
Make missing-person transfer decisions within two hours, sooner for high-risk cases.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 October 2025.
Action
Conduct direct discussions with other forces about missing-person transfer requests and obtain the National Transfer Form to support decisions.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 October 2025.
Action
Develop updated COMPACT transfer training packages for relevant ranks, including Cadre, control-room and detective inspectors.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 31 October 2025.
Action
Provide COMPACT transfer training to future transferee inspectors and refresher training to existing staff.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 31 October 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.3
Position
The incident appears isolated rather than evidence of a systemic issue requiring wider remedial action.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Existing transfer procedures, National Transfer Forms and Inspector oversight are relied upon to manage missing-person investigation transfers.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Acceptance of transfer primacy may be delayed when insufficient information is provided to assess risk accurately and take ownership.
Stated by Northamptonshire PoliceUnable to actThe respondent said that a constraint prevented them from taking the relevant action.
Surrey
Concerns raised1
Lack of requirements for direct discussion between police forces during investigation tasking and transfers
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Initiate a Task and Finishing Group focused on cross-border missing-person investigations and investigation transfers.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 September 2022.
Action
Develop and circulate draft NPCC advice on requesting missing-person enquiries in another force and transferring investigations for comment before finalisation and wider circulation.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 29 September 2022.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Existing APP guidance and information-transfer procedures address the concerns about cross-border investigation tasking and transfers.
Stated by National Police Chiefs’ CouncilExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Birmingham and Solihull
Concerns raised2
Failure to verbally confirm transfers of cases between police forces
Failure to verbally confirm which force has primacy for an incident
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.2
Action
Implement a mandatory follow-up telephone call to confirm receipt when transferring missing-person reports to another force before closing the log.
Stated by Warwickshire PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 July 2018.
Action
Re-circulate College of Policing guidance on missing-person ownership to control-room managers, supervisors and staff.
Stated by Warwickshire PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 8 July 2018.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.2
Position
The communication issues did not appear to affect the outcome because the overdose likely occurred before Mr Bould was reported missing.
Stated by Warwickshire PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
Telephone contact did occur to confirm which police force should deal with the case, despite the concern seeking verbal confirmation.
Stated by Warwickshire PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
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Includes failures in the dedicated transfer of cases between police forces, including incomplete or delayed information transfer, lack of receipt confirmation, unclear acceptance or ownership, and failure to ensure the receiving force can safely assess and progress the transferred case.
