MORE than 30,000 people are reported missing in Scotland every year.
Yesterday morning a new strategy was launched to reduce this number and help those who are left behind.
Launched at a conference on the people who return, the National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland covers police, councils and charities and takes in children, adults and exploitation.
Community Safety Minister Annabelle Ewing called it “a major step forward” in efforts to protect some of the country’s most vulnerable people.
She said: “Every year over 30,000 people are reported missing to Police Scotland and around two thirds of these are children and young people, who are especially vulnerable to harm and exploitation.
“We must be able to understand and deal with the issues that lie behind individual cases and, while Scotland already has the right set of policies in place as well as a wealth of good practice, we need a consistent and coherent, multi-agency response.”
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Williams said all but one per cent of individuals who disappear are found safely.
However, he said the problem is a major challenge for society and vowed to use the framework to work with other agencies to “better understand the complex reasons why people go missing”.
Martin Crewe, director of Barnardo’s Scotland, welcomed the move, but warned the realities which drive some young people to leave family and friends mean there are no quick fixes.
He said: “Runaway and missing children and young people put themselves at considerable risk and are a prime target for sexual predators.
“They are also much more likely to suffer physical abuse, become a victim of crime or get involved with drink or drug abuse.
“For those who are identified as at risk of going missing, we must recognise that there are reasons for their actions and not assume that a child going missing is just being difficult.
“Introducing preventative measures such as return home interviews can be a great help in understanding the reasons why the child or young person ran away and assist them to understand the risks leading to fewer episodes of running away.”
Professor Hester Parr of Glasgow University, whose work focuses on why people disappear, added: “Research evidence shows that returned missing people and their families need support and intervention from a range of agencies, primarily to stop future missing episodes.
“The National Framework is an important first step.
“The Scottish Government have taken a critically important step in responding to the missing persons issue with this Framework.
“Understanding the legacy of this progressive action will be a priority for those involved in this sector.”
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