Missing Person

What to do if someone you know goes missing

Before calling the police, try to take the following steps to locate the missing person:

• Search their home or where they were last seen, in case they have fallen and suffered an injury or they are hiding. Children can hide in very small spaces. 
• Check social media, emails and diaries for any messages, look for a note or clues that may suggest where they may be. 
• Contact friends, family, and the person's place of work/education to check they are actually missing rather than somewhere unexpected.
• Check places they often go to - park with friends/pub etc.
• Check your phone for a message.

You do not have to wait 24 hours before reporting a missing person. 

To report a person missing call the police on 101, or 999 if they are a vulnerable child/may be in danger or at risk of suffering serious harm.    

When you call us we may ask you to provide the following information:

• Full name and date of birth.
• A description of the person, including the clothes they were wearing and any jewellery / tattoos etc.
• A recent photograph.
• Where they were last seen and by whom.
• Contact details, mobile number, home and work address / phone number, social media accounts.
• Name and address of family members and close friends. If the missing person is a child, contact details for the parents of their close friends. 
• What was their intention when last seen, and if carried out, i.e. go to work, visit a relative?
• Any other information that we need to be aware of that increases the risk to the person, i.e. a medical condition, medication they are required to take, if they have gone missing previously.
• Consent for publicity.
• Do they have a Herbert Protocol in place? 

We will

• Make enquiries and keep you informed.
• Once located, speak to the missing person and ascertain if there is any further help or assistance available to them.

If the missing person returns please let us know straight away.

Further information is available at missing people 

If you would prefer not to speak to South Yorkshire Police, you can make a report to missing people on 116 000