§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 18 years who have been reported missing in the Metropolitan police district and are still missing after 28 days, have not now been found; and what are their sex and ages and their last known whereabouts.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 19 December 1988]: The available information is given in the following table. The number of persons reported as missing in the past and still missing depends on the length of time since the report. Many people return from having been reported missing after two or three years. Hence the higher figures for 1986 and 1987 do not indicate an increase in trend.
Children aged under 18 reported missing in the Metropolitan police district and still untraced; by sex Number Year reported missing Total Male Female 1983 4 0 4 1984 20 6 14 1985 30 18 12 1986 60 37 23 19871 115 63 52 1 New counting procedures were introduced from the beginning of 1987: hence the figures for previous years are not comparable.
§ Mr. JannerTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has consulted European Economic Community countries which operate a national register for missing persons with a view to setting up such a register in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. Douglas Hogg[holding answer 19 December 1988]: No. A working party established by the Association of Chief Police Officers is reviewing police procedures for dealing with inquiries relating to missing persons. We will be willing to consider any matters the association may wish to put to us on completion of its review.