§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 April, Official Report, column 323, how many of the cases listed in column 2 of table 2 relate to persons who were first reported missing in previous years.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the information requested is as given in the table.
Persons aged less than 18 recorded as missing by the missing persons bureau of the Metropolitan police * and traced or identified. Of which: Total traced or identified First reported missing in current year First reported missing in previous years 1979 3,220 2,920 300 1980 3,310 3,090 220 1981 2,800 2,470 340 1982 3,460 3,110 360 1983* 3,300 2,860 450 1984† 3,710 3,110 600 * Includes some cases reported missing by police forces other than the Metropolitan police, including overseas forces. † Excludes cases reported from overseas (37 traced in 1984).
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the answer of 22 April, Official Report, column 323, he is able to provide figures under the same heading for the number of missing persons in the current year so far.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI understand from the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that 969 persons aged less than 18 were recorded as missing by the missing persons bureau of the Metropolitan police between 1 January and 30 April 1985. This figure includes some cases reported missing by police forces other than the Metropolitan police.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the answer of 22 April, Official Report, columns 322–24, what information he has 92W from sources other than the Metropolitan police missing persons bureau about the number of missing persons under the age of 18 years.
§ Mr. Giles ShawDetails of vulnerable missing persons are recorded on the police national computer. Such records are maintained for operational purposes only and accurate statistical information could be provided by the system only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will issue guidelines to each police force recommending the establishment and maintenance of an up-to-date register of missing persons under 18 years of age;
(2) if he will designate a division within his Department with specific responsibility for monitoring the numbers of missing persons under the age of 18 years;
§ Mr. Giles ShawNo. We are satisfied that the police national computer, to which all forces in Great Britain have access, already provides an adequate facility for recording details of missing persons under the age of 18 and of other vulnerable missing persons. Advice on the use and up-dating of information held on the police national computer is issued by the Department: the operational response to this information is, however, a matter for individual chief officers of police.
§ Mr. Peter Bruinvelsasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, pursuant to the answer of 22 April, Official Report, column 323, he will provide a breakdown of the missing persons figures in each column of table 2 according to the following age groups: under 14, 14 to 16 and 16 to 18 years.
§ Mr. Giles ShawI shall reply as soon as possible.