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Conference papers

Missing persons : extending traditional policing boundaries to address a social issue

Carole Kiernan
Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence
Dr Monika Henderson
M&P Henderson & Associates

Presented at:
Third Australasian Women and Policing Conference: Women and Policing Globally
National Convention Centre, Canberra
20-23 October 2002

Abstract

Research by the National Missing Persons Unit has found that nearly three-quarters of the 30,000 people reported missing in Australia each year are women or children. At least 12 others associated with the missing person suffer health, work, emotional and other impacts. Missing persons involve significant social and economic costs for the Australian community that are largely unrecognised. The traditional police role has focused on locating missing people; however this paper discusses the challenges and opportunities provided through extending the traditional view of law enforcement's role in missing persons. The paper describes a national and coordinated response to missing persons that has recently been endorsed by all Australian State and Territory police services. The PLEaS response is a holistic approach encompassing prevention, location, education and support, and provides for a coordinated national policy response across government departments and community organisations. The PLEaS guiding principles support the vision of a community united in its efforts to reduce the number of missing persons and minimise the consequences when people do go missing.