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Investigation of Missing Persons, Unidentified Persons
Title
and ‘Hospers’.
2
Version
This policy sets out the procedures for MPS staff
Summary
conducting investigations when people are reported as
missing to the Police. Additionally, it sets out
instructions for MPS staff conducting investigations
when unidentified persons or unidentified bodies (where
the death is non suspicious) are found and
investigations where identified persons are taken to
hospital but no next of kin have been informed.
Territorial Policing Crime Strategic Committee
Branch / OCU
August 2008
Date created
August 2011
Review date
Policy - Investigation of Missing Persons, Unidentified Persons and
'Hospers'
Introduction
This policy amends and updates previous policy concerning the 'Investigation
of Missing Persons and Unidentified Persons' as contained in Item 2, Notices
12/2005 which is now cancelled.
Application
This policy will take effect immediately.
All police officers, and police staff, including the extended police family and
those working voluntarily or under contract to the Metropolitan Police Authority
(MPA) must be aware of, and are required to comply with, all relevant MPS
policy and associated procedures.
However, this policy applies in particular to officers and staff in the following
roles:
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All operational staff employed on Borough Operational Command Units
(BOCU)
Station Reception Officers
Call receipt staff
Central Operations / Operation Support staff
(i.e Marine Support Unit, Territorial Support Group & Dog Support
Unit.)
Specialist Crime Directorate – Child Abuse Investigation Teams staff
Specialist Crime Directorate – Homicide Investigation
Central Operations Traffic and Transport Operational Command Units
(OCU) staff
Directorate of Training and Development staff
Borough Commanders, OCU Commanders and the Director of Training and
Development are responsible for the implementation of this policy within their
respective commands.
Purpose
The policy is intended to set minimum requirements for the investigation of
missing persons, unidentified persons found, and unidentified bodies found,
where the death is non-suspicious. It will provide a framework and clear
guidance for MPS staff conducting these investigations therefore establishing
a standard approach across the MPS.
Scope
The policy applies to the initial reporting / recording of a missing person,
subsequent investigation, risk assessment, supervision of investigations, case
reviews and liaison with partner agencies (public sector and Non
Governmental Organisations (NGOs)). For the purpose of this policy, missing
persons include those people reported as missing by families / friends,
children missing from local authority care and people missing from hospital or
other healthcare setting.
This policy also deals with persons brought to a hospital who are unidentified
or where no next of kin have been informed (hospers), unidentified persons in
police custody or found 'wandering' elsewhere. Unidentified bodies
discovered by Police where the circumstances of death are deemed nonsuspicious, will also be included, with specific instructions given on bodies
recovered from the River Thames.
This policy does not apply to investigations of kidnapping, any death where
the identity of the person is known, or any death that is deemed to be
suspicious.
Policy Statement
The MPS will work together with internal and external partners with the aim of
establishing the whereabouts and safety of all missing persons or identifying a
found person or body.
The basic right of an adult person to withdraw contact from their family/friends
will be respected and measured against the needs of their families, friends
and the public at large.
The MPS will:
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Record every report of a missing person and conduct an assessment
of the risk to that person and the public at large as a result of their
disappearance.
Actively investigate all missing person cases in co-operation with
relevant partner agencies.
Conduct reviews of all unsolved missing person investigations
including continually re-assessing the risk posed.
Record incidents where unidentified persons are found alive or dead
and conduct an investigation in order to identify these persons.
Record and actively investigate all 'hospers' reported to the MPS.
Benefits
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Provide a standardised approach across the MPS by issuing clear
instructions to staff, ensuring that everyone understands their roles and
responsibilities.
Improve the quality of investigations.
Provide guidelines to ensure that a proactive multi-agency approach is
adopted in dealing with missing persons.
Ensure that clear policies are in place in the MPS, which describe
organisational roles and subsequent responses to the reporting of a
missing person.
Provide a better quality of service to the families / friends of missing
persons and to people whose relative / friend has died in nonsuspicious circumstances.
Responsibilities
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Ownership of the policy – TP Crime (operations) Strategic Committee
Implementing the policy – BOCU Commanders, OCU Commanders
and Director of Training and Development
Reviewing the policy – Operation Compass TPHQ
Associated Documents and Policies
Standard Operating Procedures for "The Investigation of Missing Persons and
unidentified bodies".
Non-suspicious Sudden Death (Notifying Next of Kin) Standard Operating
Procedure (SOP).
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Use of Merlin IT System