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The
leaflets give advice on what to do if your child, as in the
case of Madeleine McCann, goes missing abroad |
Leaflets containing information for UK families of those who go missing
are being published following criticism by the mother of Madeleine
McCann.
In the summer the first Parliamentary inquiry into the issue was told by
Kate McCann there was a "complete gap" in help for those affected.
The National Policing Improvement Agency has responded by publishing
factsheets giving practical advice.
They can be
downloaded from the NPIA's website.
The factsheets are also expected to be made available at police stations
up and down the country.
Joe Apps, manager of the NPIA's Missing Persons Bureau, said: "Family
members suffer great distress when someone goes missing and often they
don't know where to turn or what to do.
"These factsheets aim to help them in the same way that victims of crime
get practical advice and information."
In June, Kate McCann, whose daughter vanished in Portugal in 2007, told
MPs it should not be down to "grieving parents" to search for their
children.
She said grief was compounded by a "lack of communication and
information" and called for a single point of contact between families
and the police.
The 11 factsheets produced by the Missing Persons Bureau explain:
what to do when someone goes missing, whether it is in the UK or abroad
which charities and organisations to contact to help find a missing
person
what support and advice is available to relatives
how to deal with financial, legal and property issues arising when
someone is missing for a long time.
Mr Apps said the need for the leaflets was highlighted during the
inquiry by the all-party Parliamentary group for runaway and missing
children and adults.
All police officers and civilian staff dealing with missing persons
investigations have been encouraged to read them and recommend them to
families. |