Questions Asked When Reporting a Missing Person to the Police Station

The location where a missing person might be is a primary concern when

reporting the incident to the police station. This article outlines the key questions that are asked during the process to ensure the public is informed and assisted effectively.

1. Assessing the Risk Level

The first step is for the police to determine the risk level associated with the missing individual. This evaluation is crucial in deciding the appropriate police response.
Questions include: Who has gone missing? How old is the missing person? When and where were they last seen? Who were they with at the last known location? Do they have necessary items such as a phone, money, keys, medications, or other vital possessions? Is there any indication of suicidal thoughts or mental health issues? Are they vulnerable or in danger, and if so, how? Is this out of character for them?

2. Checking on the Missing Person

If you suspect your child or a family member has gone missing, the police will expect you to have conducted certain checks. Such checks include:

Have you attempted to call the missing person’s phone? Have you contacted their friends, associates, or checked social media for clues? Have you searched their home, garden, and nearby streets or hangouts?

3. Reporting Details to the Police

Once the risk level is assessed and actions taken by the party reporting are understood, the police will need specific details about the missing person. These can be:

Description: age, height, build, ethnicity, gender, clothing, tattoos, and any identifying marks. Contact information: phone numbers of friends, associates, and their home address. Physical identification: recent photos can be very helpful.

4. Understanding the Outcome

Over 80% of missing persons turn themselves up within 24 hours. Many longer-term cases involve illegal immigrants who have intentionally disappeared to avoid authority. However, these cases are often deemed safe once all leads are thoroughly investigated.

Among the highest-risk missing persons are:

Youth under 24 hours without finding them, especially during an abduction scenario. Individuals experiencing suicidal thoughts. People with various mental health issues such as dementia. People who rely on regular medication and do not have it with them.

Keywords: missing person, police station, reporting procedure