Reporting a missing person

There is no minimum time requirement for reporting someone missing.

Report to police

As soon as someone’s whereabouts is unknown and there is concern for their safety and welfare, they can be reported missing to police. Police will prioritise suspicious cases, missing children, and those with mental illness. Try to file the report in person, and convey the reasons for your concerns (it may help to go with someone who shares your worry). Police must take reports of missing persons – do not accept being sent away.

Consider the following as you prepare to report to the police:

  • Download, save and complete: Missing Person Details Form
  • Provide the most appropriate recent photograph(s) and be prepared for them to be used across media.
  • Be completely honest — solid information helps police prioritise. Pass on additional details as they occur to you.
  • Try to establish a good relationship with the police officers handling the case.
  • If applicable, ask police to triangulate their mobile phone (this will only show the last place the phone was switched on).
  • Ask that all stations in surrounding areas are alerted via internal communications.
  • Check whether a police mobile alert has been sent to all those in the local area where the person went missing (NSW only +61 444 444 444 high-risk missing persons).
  • Check if the officer in charge has reason to advise against media attention before alerting the media.
  • Encourage all information to be reported to Crime Stoppers, and gently ask anyone who has reported there to also send the information to your email. This allows you to keep a record and follow up with the police as needed.

Remember that going missing is not a crime, so police cannot make every missing person a priority. And don’t overestimate police resources – what you see on TV often isn’t realistic.

National Missing Persons Coordination Centre

National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC) is a government-funded body that complements the roles of state and territory police missing persons units. They operate under the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and are the official platform for Australian missing persons. 

If someone has been missing for more than three months, their information can be added to the Public Register for long-term missing persons. Usually, the local police will seek your permission to do this, but if it has been over three months, you can also request this directly. The police will then provide the NMPCC with the necessary profile details and a recent photo of your loved one.

Alternatively, families or their representatives can contact the NMPCC to have a loved one featured on the Public Register. The NMPCC will liaise with the relevant state or territory police to ensure the information is submitted for publication.

The NMPCC also has publications like reports and fact sheets regarding a range of issues relevant to missing persons. See: National Missing Persons Coordination Centre

If your loved one is found

When someone goes missing and then returns, the experience can be complex for them and for those around them. Support works best when it is non-judgemental and focused on safety. In Australia, police may carry out a welfare check to confirm someone is safe, though this is often brief and may involve hospital assessment if there are health concerns.

Ongoing support is recommended through a combination of health services, community programs, and family, with safe opportunities to talk and access to mental health care.

Helpful approaches can include gently exploring why the person may have left and putting support in place to reduce the chance of similar stresses happening again. Families and friends may also need guidance, reassurance, and recognition of the emotional toll.

While UK-based, you may find Missing People UK’s guidance for parents and the Metropolitan Police’s advice on returning home helpful. Once they have been located, it is important to inform the relevant parties – police, family and friends. In the event you’ve amassed public support via social media, you should also communicate the news to your audience. Pages and accounts can be disabled or removed if/when you see fit.

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