Greater Manchester Police (GMP) is eager to improve the way it deals with missing people.
National Missing Person’s Day on February 3 has provided the force with reminder that more than 20,000 people go missing across the region each year.
Nationally, around 96 per cent of people reported missing are found, with many of these returning home of their own accord.
Sadly, approximately 64 missing people in Greater Manchester are found deceased each year.
GMP’s Operation Ambition is aiming to develop processes for reporting someone missing to reducing demand and focusing resources on locating missing people.
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A pilot is being launched on Wednesday, March 1, to try to protect vulnerable people while at the same time reducing demand on stretched resources.
Operation Ambition, led by Inspector Matthew Shiel and Constable Jamie Acton from the central Manchester district, encourages close working with the staff at the Manchester Royal Infirmary (MRI), North Manchester General Hospital, and Park House, to ensure people considered genuinely missing are reported.
The force believes there will be an approximate reduction of missing events of 30 per cent.
Constable Acton said: “27 per cent of all public safety incidents including missings at GMP starts at places where people feel safe such as hospitals like the MRI and North Manchester General.
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“At GMP, we are continuing to review and update our policies and strategies when it comes to missing people but the legislation when it comes to reporting is clear. There has to be defined risk and vulnerability identified in a person before reporting.
“The onus will be on the staff to first try and locate the patient by speaking to family and friends as well as reviewing any CCTV footage.
“If all avenues are exhausted then a sergeant will work closely with partner agencies to assess the capacity, risk, and vulnerability of the person in order to establish the most suitable agency to support the vulnerable person.
“To allow this pilot to go ahead we have trained response sergeants on the processes we wish them to follow and they, in turn, will be able to provide valuable support to our partner agencies across city of Manchester North and Central.
“We hope the pilot will not only reduce the demand on the police but will more importantly allow us to dedicate more time and resources into locating the genuine missings – getting them home safe to their loved ones.”
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There are several reasons that could lead to someone going missing, such as abuse, problems at work or school, relationship breakdowns, debt, and mental health issues.
The age group with the greatest number of individuals being reported missing in Greater Manchester is 22 to 39-year-olds.
Any information regarding anyone who is missing should be reported to GMP by dialling 101 or via the LiveChat function on the website www.gmp.police.uk.
If you have a story or something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at lewis.finney@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @lewisfinney18.
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