Reports of missing persons under 18 years old (FOI)

​Request

Please can you tell me.

A

How many reports of missing under 18 year olds have the States of Jersey police dealt with each year for the past five years.

B

How many different individuals under 18 have been reported missing each year for the past five years.

C

How many of the above were found within 24 hours.

D

How many of the above were found within 24 / 48 hours.

E

How many were missing more than 48 hours.

F

What is the criteria for States of Jersey police to classify an under 18 year old as missing?

Response

A to E

Missing people under 18 years old

The raised figure for those found later than 48 hours in 2017 is predominantly down to some individuals who are in care, absconding for the weekend and camping in various locations around the Island.

F

There is no age related criteria for missing persons however, each incident will be risk assessed and appropriate resources allocated. Age (old or young) can be a factor in raising the risk level. The below is an extract from the States of Jersey Police missing person policy.

Missing person: “anyone whose whereabouts is unknown whatever the circumstances of their disappearance. They will be considered missing until located and their wellbeing or otherwise established.”

The aims of States of Jersey Police in responding to reports of missing persons can be summarised as follows:

• ensure that every report of a missing person is risk assessed so that missing persons who may be especially vulnerable, represent high risk to themselves or others or in respect of whom a critical incident should be declared, are immediately identified

• investigate reports of missing persons ensuring the effective management of the missing person investigation with a view to establishing the whereabouts of the missing person and protecting persons at risk of harm

• have clear guidelines in place which describe organisational roles and responses to reports of missing persons

• support the needs of the family, those close to the missing persons, and the community

• preserve evidence where a crime has been committed

• work in partnership with other statutory and voluntary organisations

The Human Rights (Jersey) Law 2000, places a positive obligation on Police Officers to take reasonable action within their powers, to safeguard the rights of individuals who may be at risk. Those rights that may be relevant to missing persons are: the right to life (Article 2 European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR); the right not to be subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment (Article 3 ECHR); the right to prohibition of slavery and forced labour (Article 4 ECHR); the right to private and family life (Article 8 ECHR); and the right to freedom of expression, including freedom to receive information (Article 10 ECHR).