The call for new legislation to address the issue of missing persons in the UK has been made by a Member of Parliament from the Labour Party. Earlier this year, The Mirror initiated the Missed campaign in collaboration with the UK charity, Missing People, to bring attention to the 170,000 individuals who go missing annually in the UK, equating to one person every 90 seconds.
The Missed campaign advocates for a fresh approach in handling missing persons, emphasizing the need for increased investment in prevention measures and improved support systems for individuals upon their return. During a gathering organized by The Mirror at the Labour party conference in Liverpool, attendees heard stories from families affected by missing persons, highlighting the challenges they faced, including instances of neglect by authorities.
Michelle Welch MP, chair of the APPG for missing children and adults, has urged for the implementation of new laws to prevent further instances of individuals slipping through the cracks and experiencing harm while missing. She emphasized the necessity for a comprehensive government strategy led by key departments such as the Home Office, Education, and Health to address this pressing issue.
Welch stressed the importance of accountability and the need for legislation that safeguards vulnerable individuals and ensures proper procedures are followed when someone goes missing. The aim is to prevent situations where families are left to plead for assistance in locating their loved ones. The ultimate goal is to establish a structured approach that provides support and prevents recurrent cases of missing persons without proper intervention.
The public is encouraged to support these efforts by signing a petition to prompt government action on the matter. The push for new legislation is driven by the recognition that current support systems are inadequate, leading to repeated instances of individuals going missing without sufficient inquiry into the underlying causes.
The focus remains on the urgent need for proactive measures to address the issue of missing persons and to prevent further instances where individuals are overlooked or neglected. The campaign aims to instigate real change through legislative reforms and a unified approach across relevant government departments to tackle the crisis effectively.