Skip to content

Missing persons risk assessment

Major investigation and public protection — Authorised Professional Practice

All topics

Summary

This page provides guidance for police officers on assessing the risk associated with missing persons. It emphasizes the importance of gathering relevant information, understanding the reasons why the person may be missing, and evaluating potential risks to the individual. The document outlines the processes for initial assessments, risk classification, and the importance of accurate record-keeping. The risk assessment is an ongoing process that should involve constant review as new information emerges, ensuring the safety of the missing individual is prioritized. Officers are encouraged to use various tools and resources, including the National Decision Model and the risk principles, to inform their decision-making.

Key principles

  • 1Gather essential information upon initial contact.
  • 2Continuously assess and review risk throughout the investigation.
  • 3Ensure accurate record-keeping to inform further actions.
  • 4Involve multiple sources in the risk assessment process.
  • 5Consider underlying issues affecting missing individuals.

Defined terms

National Decision Model (NDM)
A framework for police decision making.
Risk principles
Guidelines for assessing and managing risk.
Missing persons process chart
A visual tool to guide actions during missing persons investigations.
Risk assessment table
A structured format for evaluating risk levels.

This is a brief, factual summary. The full APP guidance — including operational detail, statutory references and case studies — lives on the College of Policing website. APP is the authoritative source for UK policing practice.

Read the full APP guidance

Source: College of Policing — Authorised Professional Practice · Crown copyright, licensed under Open Government Licence v3.0. Summary fetched 2026-06-27.