Missing persons in Australia

Trends & issues in crime and criminal justice no. 353

Marianne James, Jessica Anderson and Judy Putt
ISBN 978 1 921185 75 9 ISSN 0817-8542
Canberra: Australian Institute of Criminology, March 2008

Abstract

Investigating missing persons cases is a complex field. There is no single service responsible for the investigation or the provision of support to those who are found, or to the family and friends of missing persons. Police services across Australia play a crucial role in responding to reports of missing people, complemented by non-government search agencies such as The Salvation Army and the Australian Red Cross. Since national research on missing persons was conducted ten years ago, there have been a range of initiatives to improve the response to reports of missing people, particularly in the promotion of a national approach. However, police data suggest there may be more people going missing than ever before, but until there are better data this cannot be clarified with any confidence. Similarly, risk factors amongst different groups of missing persons cannot be properly identified. The potential role of the non-government sector to assist searches and prevent people from going missing seems unfulfilled, largely due to poor levels of awareness and lack of resources. This paper summarises key findings from a recent national project that builds on the earlier work, by updating information on recorded incidents and by focusing on current responses and potential preventive measures. The specific objectives of the research project were to: update existing data on missing persons from all Australian state and territory sources with a view to identifying 'at risk' groups; identify good practice in relation to preventative measures, early intervention, support services and referral mechanisms; develop a more networked approach to policy and practice; and identify and establish a solid base for future research. The paper identifies key priorities for further development to improve practices related to reducing the incidence of missing persons and the provision of services.