First reported 21 Aug 2013•Latest report 19 May 2026
Definition
What this concern includes
Includes failures of controls dedicated to the missing-person response, such as staff understanding of the procedure, risk classification, communication of status, searches, escalation, agency coordination and family notification.
Not included
Excludes generic delays in escalation or communication that are not explicitly connected to a missing-person response.
Excludes unrelated patient-deterioration, emergency-response or clinical-escalation failures.
Excludes general accessibility or communication deficiencies concerning visits, relatives or care unless they concern notification or coordination within a missing-person response.
Reports
45
Distinct published reports
Individual concerns
75
A report can raise multiple concerns
Date range
2013–2026
First to latest report issue date
Stated actions
112
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.
Metropolitan Police Service8
College of Policing7
Greater Manchester Police5
Department of Health and Social Care4
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust4
West Midlands Police4
East London NHS Foundation Trust3
Home Office3
National Police Chiefs’ Council3
Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust3
Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust2
NHS England2
North London NHS Foundation Trust2
Sussex Police2
Association Of British Neurologists1
Police force28
NHS trust22
National policing body8
Ministerial department6
Integrated care board3
Executive non-departmental public body2
Registered charity2
Type not available2
Charitable incorporated organisation1
English county council1
English metropolitan district council1
English unitary authority1
External territorial police force1
London borough council1
Multi-service care provider1
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.
Kent and Medway
Concerns raised2
Failure to include a patient photograph in the grab pack
Lack of a voluntary-patient checklist for measures taken to locate the patient
This report raised 8 other concerns. 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.1
Action
Review and update the leave, informal-patient leave, and absent-or-missing-person policies to align practice, NICE guidance and legal requirements, including photographs and voluntary-patient checklists.
Stated by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 28 July 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Mental Health Code guidance requiring patient photographs in grab packs applies to detained patients, not voluntary patients.
Stated by South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation TrustDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
County Durham and Darlington
Concerns raised1
Failure to communicate critical missing-person welfare information to relevant officers
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.1
Action
Implement a process for directly recording and sharing new or updated missing-person information with investigating officers and reviewing supervisors.
Stated by Durham ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 26 March 2026.
Devon, Plymouth and Torbay
Concerns raised2
Failure to use understandable terminology when questioning members of the public reporting missing persons
Lack of police staff understanding of the meaning of ‘suicidal ideation’ when responding to missing-person reports
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
Continue delivering Control Room refresher training on suicidality, fluctuating risk, plain language and broader exploratory questioning.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 February 2026.
Action
Clarify in operational guidance that “suicidal ideation” means thoughts or feelings about suicide.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 February 2026.
Action
Introduce operational guides for frontline officers and staff addressing Article 2 risks and suicidality.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 13 February 2026.
Action
Issue and deliver reinforced training and operational guidance on the broad spectrum of risk associated with suicidality throughout 2026.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceStated in progressThe respondent said that this action was in progress when they made their response on 13 February 2026.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Rigid definitions and scripted questions are not adopted because they may create false reassurance and information loss; plain language and open questioning are preferred.
Stated by Devon & Cornwall PoliceDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
East London
Concerns raised1
Delays in reporting an absconded patient as missing to the police
This report raised 10 other concerns. 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.2
Action
Deliver refresher training to ward staff on applying the Trust and Pan-London AWOL policies together in practice.
Stated by The TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 February 2026.
Action
Develop and implement mandatory AWOL policy training for all clinical staff, including competency assessment against both applicable AWOL policies.
Stated by The TrustStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 12 February 2026.
Oxfordshire
Concerns raised1
Lack of training and operational guidance for adequate premises searches in missing person cases
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.3
Action
Update Missing Persons Operational Guidance with structured premises-search procedures, hazard controls, equipment guidance, and supervisory escalation requirements.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Action
Integrate the new premises-search guidance into Foundation Training for new recruits.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Action
Communicate the premises-search guidance changes to all officers through a force-wide communication.
Stated by Thames Valley PoliceStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 18 December 2025.
Manchester South
Concerns raised1
Failure to correctly distinguish between missing-person reporting and the Right Person Right Care initiative
This report raised 2 other concerns. 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.3
Action
Review Missing Person and RCRP policies, consult stakeholders, and progress senior-officer sign-off to clarify their distinction and reduce operational confusion.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 3 December 2025.
Action
Deliver enhanced call-handler and supervisor training on vulnerability assessment, complex cases, escalation decisions, and supervisory quality assurance.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 3 December 2025.
Action
Update the FCCO Sherlock guidance system with revised instructions for distinguishing Missing Person and RCRP procedures.
Stated by Greater Manchester PoliceStated plannedThe respondent said that this action was planned when they made their response on 3 December 2025.
Northamptonshire
Concerns raised1
Failure of the case-importing process to provide reliable guidance during competing high-risk priorities
This report raised 2 other concerns. 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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Cheshire
Concerns raised1
Failure to deploy police resources for high-risk missing persons unless they have expressed an intention to end life
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.7
Action
Implement RCRP decision-support toolkits, standard questions, digital recording and escalation scripts for concern-for-safety calls.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Action
Deliver RCRP legal, procedural and toolkit training to FCC staff, supervisors, incident managers and wider force personnel.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Action
Provide RCRP training materials and communications to partner agencies to support their education, awareness and use of the escalation process.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Action
Establish supervisor and Force Incident Manager reviews, including override and partner-requested mutual-aid escalation routes for disputed or uncertain deployment decisions.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Action
Operate live quality assurance of concern-for-safety incidents, with feedback, supervisory learning and further development sessions where required.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Action
Deploy trained RCRP floorwalkers and subject-matter experts to support call handlers during implementation and operational use.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Action
Revise the Missing From Home policy to align with RCRP and require consideration of known location, reasonable enquiries and expressed concerns.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 19 September 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.4
Position
Police deployment is not limited to cases involving an expressed intention to end life; deployment occurs where a real and immediate risk is identified.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
Position
RCRP training, toolkits, procedures and escalation processes provide a sufficient framework for consistent risk assessment and police deployment decisions.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Hospital procedures for patients leaving healthcare settings provide sufficient arrangements for making enquiries and resolving concerns before requesting police assistance.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyExisting arrangements considered sufficientThe respondent said that existing arrangements were sufficient, so no further action was needed.
Position
Hospitals should undertake reasonable enquiries and use their available avenues to establish a missing patient's whereabouts before requesting police assistance.
Stated by Cheshire ConstabularyRedirects responsibilityThe respondent said that another organisation was responsible for deciding or taking action.
East London
Concerns raised1
Failure to determine whether the missing person procedure should be activated
This report raised 5 other concerns. 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.
No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
Inner North London
Concerns raised1
Failure to teach police contact in psychotherapy planning for missing or suicidal clients
This report raised 4 other concerns. 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.1
Action
Require accredited-course students to learn when confidentiality may be breached, including referral to emergency services where necessary.
Stated by British Association For Counselling And PsychotherapyStated completedThe respondent said that this action was complete when they made their response on 25 February 2025.
Respondent positions A position is what a respondent says about the concern when they do not describe a specific action.1
Position
Accredited courses teach emergency referrals and confidentiality decisions, but would not teach police contact solely on a third party’s assessment.
Stated by British Association For Counselling And PsychotherapyDisputes the concernThe respondent disagreed with part of the concern or the basis for it.
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Includes failures of controls dedicated to the missing-person response, such as staff understanding of the procedure, risk classification, communication of status, searches, escalation, agency coordination and family notification.
