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Source · IOPC Learning Case

Police handling of missing person investigation - Greater Manchester Police, June 2022

Greater Manchester Police Ref: 2022/170705 Recommended 3 May 2023 Response due 28 Jun 2023

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Case background

Text published by the IOPC.

On 3 June 2022, a woman was reported missing to Greater Manchester Police after absconding from hospital staff during a visit to a local convenience store. At the time, the woman was a patient under the Mental Health Act 1983.

On 4 June 2022, Greater Manchester Police received a call from a friend of the missing person and reported that they had found her dead in bed.

We completed our investigation in January 2023.

We carefully considered whether there were any organisational 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 area for improvement.

Recommendations and responses

1 indexed

Recommendation 1

Link to recommendation · Accepted

Addressed to: Greater Manchester Police

Linked bodies: Greater Manchester Police

IOPC recommendation

The IOPC recommends that Greater Manchester Police takes steps to ensure that, for missing persons reports, officers only use the current Missing Person's 1-15 questions set and not the outdated 1-10 question set. The force should remove the older question set from circulation (digital and hard copy) so that only the latest 1-15 questions are readily available. Additionally, the force should ensure that all officers are made aware of the new question set and should review whether the 1-15 is covered in any relevant officer training.

This follows an independent IOPC investigation which identified that there may still be response officers unaware of the change in policy and continuing to use the 1-10 questions when dealing with missing person reports. The questions assist officers in recording the circumstances of the person being missing, as well as investigative actions which have already been undertaken and remain outstanding. The change from the 1-10 to the new 1-15 took place in February 2022, however, this IOPC investigation found that in June 2022, the 1-10 was still being used.

Response published by the IOPC

Do you accept the recommendation?

Yes

Accepted action:

Greater Manchester Police’s Missing Persons Policy and Procedure was revised and updated in February 2022. On page 13 of the policy are details of the 1-15 points required to be completed by the Initial Investigating Officer (IIO) and entered into the missing person log prior to completing their tour of duty. This policy supersedes any other policy relating to missing from homes which contain outdated guidance and information.

Since October 2022 GMP have distributed 800 Aide Memoires to frontline officers which highlight in detail the aspects of the 1-15 update required of initial investigating officers.  These aide memoires are being accompanied by a Continuous Personal Development (CPD) package being delivered by members of the Missing Person Safeguarding Unit which will continue until all staff have had the training.

GMP will continue to issue generic reminders to officers regarding the use of the 1-15 update set now that the CPD package has been delivered to most frontline reliefs.

Check the original case on the IOPC website