The UK Missing Persons Unit is the national and international point of contact for all missing person and unidentified body cases and is a hub for the exchange of information and provision of expertise on the subject of missing persons. We're the only UK agency focused exclusively on missing people and we provide a comprehensive service for all missing person investigations, supporting all UK police forces as well as other law enforcement agencies both in the UK and overseas.
Our national database provides a unique function enabling the cross-matching of outstanding missing individuals with unidentified people, bodies and remains. We also offer advice in relation to the collation, retention and submission of biometrics.
Our role
With extensive experience dealing with missing person and unidentified body investigations we provide an essential service to forces and can help resolve cases that may otherwise remain outstanding.
The UKMPU offers a range of services to police forces including:
- National and international cross-matching of outstanding missing individuals with unidentified people, bodies and remains
- Co-ordination of enquiries with our network of partners
- Procedural assistance around effective retrieval and retention of forensic material
- Tactical advice and support to suspicious cases, such as suspected homicide and no-body murders, and cold case reviews
- Access to specialist advice from experts in a range of fields
- Collation and dissemination of good practice in missing person enquiries
- Consultation and guidance for forces on missing and unidentified case investigations
Lost Contact and Missing
A number of people who have lost contact with family and friends may decide to report them missing after reviewing our website. There is a difference, however, between a missing person and a lost contact case and police forces do not deal with the latter. There are a number of reasons why people lose touch with each other, such as moving house or family conflict, and it is understandable that they seek to reconnect. However if there is no indication of vulnerability or concern then this will be considered a lost contact case and police will not become involved. Instead there are a number of tracing agencies who may be able to provide a service (please see Find Support for more information). The charity Missing People (click the link for more information) may also be able to provide support.
However, if when searching the website, you believe one of the unidentified cases featured is a family member or friend with whom you have lost contact, then do please send the details through with as much information as possible. Even though they may not have been reported missing, if there is enough information to indicate a potential match, then the police will still investigate accordingly.
