Recommendation 1
The IOPC recommends that Hertfordshire Constabulary take steps to assure itself that police officers and staff likely to be involved in the handling of cross-border missing person investigations, especially those where mental health and safeguarding risks are present, are aware of:
This recommendation follows a Death or Serious Injury investigation which involved a cross-border missing person investigation. There was confusion between the two forces with regard to which force should take primacy of the investigation. This, along with available resourcing issues, meant a response delay of 19 hours. The man's home address was in the Essex policing area but the initial call was placed in the Hertfordshire policing area. The last known location of the man was also in Hertfordshire but was six miles from the Essex policing area border.
This recommendation should provide a clearer understanding of the procedure/process to follow when investigating missing persons involving cross-border incidents, and to help prevent delays caused by confusion over primacy of the investigation.
Addressed to: Hertfordshire Constabulary
Linked bodies:
Hertfordshire Constabulary