Source · IOPC Learning Case

Investigation into police response to a report that a person was missing from home -Northumbria Police, August 2020

Ref: 2020/141954 Recommended 13 Jan 2022 Response due 10 Mar 2022

Case background

Text published by the IOPC.

In August 2020, Northumbria Police received a report that a 15-year-old girl was missing from home. A missing person investigation commenced, with the risk initially graded as medium.

Approximately 27 hours after the initial report, the risk was upgraded to high. A number of investigative enquiries and searches were conducted by the police, however, approximately 47 hours after the initial report, the girl was found deceased by a member of the public.

IOPC investigators reviewed a large amount of police documentation in relation to the missing person investigation and obtained accounts from 25 police officers. Statements were also taken from members of the girl’s family. A review of the specialist police searches was conducted by the Police National Search Centre (PNSC).

Our investigation concluded in May 2021 but we waited for external proceedings to conclude beore publishing our findings.

We concluded a sergeant failed to maintain a detailed and accurate record but that this did not amount to an unsatisfactory performance. We advised this to be taken forward as a point of individual learning through a reflective conservation with the sergeant's supervisor, to ensure detailed records are maintained in the future.

We carefully considered whether there were any learning opportunities arising from the investigation. We make learning recommendations to improve policing and public confidence in the police complaints system and prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

In this case we identified the following areas for improvement.

Recommendations and responses

3 indexed

Recommendation 1

Link to recommendation · Accepted

Addressed to: Northumbria Police

Linked bodies: Northumbria Police

IOPC recommendation

The IOPC recommend that Northumbria Police consider expanding the ‘Search Management’ section of the ‘Northumbria Procedure – Investigations of Missing Persons’ document to provide further detail as to the required level of record keeping in relation to both PolSA and non-PolSA led searches in a Missing Person Investigation. This should include the search parameters and relevant rationale for the parameters, the details of any searches undertaken and the results of any searches conducted.

Response published by the IOPC

Accepted :

The policy and procedure for ‘Investigation of Missing Persons’ and ‘Missing Persons Searches’ have been updated to reflect the IOPC recommendation, including:

The requirement to ensure that all searches (PolSA led or otherwise) are fully recorded with the search parameters and rationales for those parameters being recorded. The search record should also include the location of all searches and their outcome.

The changes are being published and communicated to officers and staff, this will include a forcewide bulletin

Check the original case on the IOPC website

Recommendation 2

Link to recommendation · Accepted

Addressed to: Northumbria Police

Linked bodies: Northumbria Police

IOPC recommendation

The IOPC recommends that Northumbria Police revise the ‘Northumbria Procedure – Investigations of Missing Persons’ document to ensure that the following are clear:

• Who is responsible for appointing (and communicating) a single point of contact for the family, during each shift, and for considering the use of a Family Liaison Officer (FLO) • What information should be recorded about this decision making • The role of the SPOC or FLO

Response published by the IOPC

Accepted :

The policy and procedure for ‘Investigation of Missing Persons’ and ‘Missing Persons Searches’ have been updated to reflect the IOPC recommendation, including:

The importance of ensuring that families of Missing Persons are kept in contact and regularly updated. RPT Sgts and Inspectors should ensure for each Missing Person there is an allocated family SPOC (Who may also be the investigating officer) whose role is to communicate with the family. For some High risk cases this SPOC may be a dedicated Family Liaison Officer.

The role of the SPOC and FLO is covered within the procedure.

The changes are being published and communicated to officers and staff, this will include a forcewide bulletin.

Check the original case on the IOPC website

Recommendation 3

Link to recommendation · Accepted

Addressed to: Northumbria Police

Linked bodies: Northumbria Police

IOPC recommendation

The IOPC recommends that Northumbria Police update the ‘Investigations of Missing Persons’ procedure to include the consideration of CCTV strategy. This should include consideration of potential CCTV opportunities at the last known sighting of the missing person.

Response published by the IOPC

Accepted :

The policy and procedure for ‘Investigation of Missing Persons’ and ‘Missing Persons Searches’ have been updated to reflect the IOPC recommendation, including:

The requirement for officers and supervisors to consider CCTV opportunities and record their CCTV strategies as part of their initial review of a Missing Person.

This includes a requirement to review CCTV opportunities from the place the person has been reported missing, any locations of sightings and any likely locations frequented.

The changes are being published and communicated to officers and staff, this will include a forcewide bulletin.

Check the original case on the IOPC website