FOI 2023-287
Following receipt of your request, research was conducted by the Exploitation and Missing Lead at Wiltshire Police.
You wrote and our response:
- Does your force have a specialised missing person unit?
Wiltshire Police have an Exploitation and Missing Team (Sentinel) who monitor missing person cases and prevention support to partners. They do not investigate or hold ownership of missing investigations.
- If not, which departments/teams are tasked with missing persons reports?
Missing person investigations are managed by our front line response units. Ownership is normally held by the Duty Inspector for the specific area, unless directed by the Superintendent through the Daily Management Meeting.
- How many staff does the missing persons unit have?
Sentinel have two missing person coordinators and two missing person operational support officers that work within the Exploitation and Missing Team.
- On average, how many cases of missing persons does the unit deal with per calendar year?
2019 – 2324
2020 – 1952
2021 – 1617
2022 – 2264
Note: We saw a reduction in cases across 2020 and 2021 due to Covid restrictions.
- What roles exist within the missing persons unit? (For example, desk-based officers or locate officers?)
Missing Person Co-Ordinators – daily monitoring of missing person cases for quality assurance, sharing of information to partnerships and development of missing across the force.
Missing Person Operational Support – Prevention officers for repeat missing children.
- Does the missing person department investigate adult missing persons reports?
All missing person reports are investigated by our front line response officers.
- Does the department investigate low, medium and high-risk cases. If not, please explain?
Yes.
- What computer system do you use to log missing person cases?
Niche.
- Does your force have a missing person policy - is it different to the APP?
- If yes, can you please share a link to the policy please.
Yes – please see attached policy and procedure.