Missing adults

Adults that go missing are often a concern for all partners involved within Safeguarding Adult Boards. Going missing can be an indicator that a person may be at risk of harm. The reasons for a person to go missing are complex and could be linked to a range of personal, family or social issues.

It is recognised that a person over 18 years may be missing with no risk through their own choice. Their right to privacy must be observed and details of their location not divulged if this is their expressed decision. If there are however concerns about the safety and well-being of the person or others, a decision may have to be taken to share the details of the location with relevant agencies and within the context of statutory duties and powers to enable safeguarding actions to be taken (for example assessment under the Mental Health Act (MHA) or Mental Capacity Act (MCA).

There are specific concerns for adults who have needs for care and support who go missing and the potential risks of exploitation and significant harm.

Multi-agency support is vital for: effective risk assessment; to address the reasons why people go missing; provide the necessary help when it is needed; and reduce the likelihood of future missing episodes. Police are necessarily involved in missing person investigations at the point of reporting, conducting the search and when a person is found. However, providing an effective response to missing adults is not the responsibility of the police alone.

Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol

Gateshead Safeguarding Adults Board worked alongside Northumbria Police and Safeguarding Adults Board across Northumberland, Newcastle, North Tyneside, South Tyneside and Sunderland to develop the joint Missing Adults Protocol (PDF, 868 KB)(opens new window).

It is designed to ensure a consistent approach across the Northumbria Police Force footprint and recognises that the missing episode of a vulnerable adult requires a multi-agency response. Sometimes this will require a safeguarding adults response, sometimes it will require multi-agency responses outside of safeguarding adults procedures. The protocol builds upon Northumbria Police and partner agency policies and processes and is designed with the intention of reducing missing episodes among adults and improving opportunities to safeguard them. The intention is to provide the best possible service to adults who are missing or at risk of going missing.

The Northumbria Missing Adults Protocol includes the Winnie, Herbert and Forcer protocols which are preventative tools to be used by practitioners and families with the consent of adults who repeatedly go missing.  The Winnie, Herbert and Forcer protocol forms contain useful information which could be used in the event of a person going missing with the aim of locating the person as quickly as possible to prevent harm from occurring.

Information and all relevant forms for the Winnie, Herbert and Forcer protocols can all be found on the Northumbria Police website (opens new window).

From July 2024, Northumbria Police have introduced Safe and Found Online which allows electronic versions of the Herbert and Forcer Protocols (Armed Forces veterans who may go missing) to be completed and held electronically online to ensure a timelier response to locating missing and vulnerable adults. 

Northumbria Police Hostel Policy

Northumbria Police have updated their policy on dealing with adults who go missing from hostel accommodation, they will no longer accept missing person reports for adults who are reported as a matter of policy or routine.  The full policy (PDF, 117 KB)(opens new window) covers how Northumbria police will respond to individuals leaving, or not returning, to their hostel accommodation.