Andrew went missing in September 2007. A year later, the Police explained to us that they were adding his details to the Interpol database in case he had somehow ended up outside of the UK. In 2014 we found that this had never been done. We were, as a family, upset and angry about this.
To cut a long story short, we ended up using the formal complaints system and the problem is now rectified. We are of course unlikely to ever know if this omission may have helped to reunite us with Andrew.
To cut a long story short, we ended up using the formal complaints system and the problem is now rectified. We are of course unlikely to ever know if this omission may have helped to reunite us with Andrew.
(Andrew’s page in Interpol’s Yellow Notice database for missing persons)
However, the Police did explain that they were building a prompt into their computer systems for missing people so that after 28 days the idea of placing a missing person on the Interpol database is considered according to the circumstances. This is excellent and it is our hope that this example of good practice will save other families some of the heartache and distress we have been through.
It seems common sense to me that most adults who go missing have the experience and resources to allow them to leave the country. It also seems to me that in an age where child trafficking is a known issue, it is an obvious action to use the resources of the International Policing Community.
Forces in the UK have different computer systems in operation and I believe that they should all be encouraged to include this sort of fail-safe check within their systems where they do not already do so. South Yorkshire Police have demonstrated that this is achievable and I hope that they might lead the way to improving things nationally on this issue.
We are pleased as a family that South Yorkshire Police have thought beyond the issue as it applies to us and acted upon it more broadly. If anyone reading this blog can help to spread this example of good practice by writing to their local Chief Constable, MP or Police Commissioner, then perhaps many families will be spared years of wondering what has happened to their loved ones.
http://www.interpol.int/notice/search/missing
However, the Police did explain that they were building a prompt into their computer systems for missing people so that after 28 days the idea of placing a missing person on the Interpol database is considered according to the circumstances. This is excellent and it is our hope that this example of good practice will save other families some of the heartache and distress we have been through.
It seems common sense to me that most adults who go missing have the experience and resources to allow them to leave the country. It also seems to me that in an age where child trafficking is a known issue, it is an obvious action to use the resources of the International Policing Community.
Forces in the UK have different computer systems in operation and I believe that they should all be encouraged to include this sort of fail-safe check within their systems where they do not already do so. South Yorkshire Police have demonstrated that this is achievable and I hope that they might lead the way to improving things nationally on this issue.
We are pleased as a family that South Yorkshire Police have thought beyond the issue as it applies to us and acted upon it more broadly. If anyone reading this blog can help to spread this example of good practice by writing to their local Chief Constable, MP or Police Commissioner, then perhaps many families will be spared years of wondering what has happened to their loved ones.
http://www.interpol.int/notice/search/missing
