Thirty-thousand people are reported missing in Australia each year. That's one person every 18 minutes. Most are located quickly, thanks to the coordinated efforts of police and tracing organisations like the Australian Red Cross, the Salvation Army Family Tracing Service and the International Social Service (Australia).
However, until missing people are located, their families and friends are devastated, waiting in desperate hope to find out what has happened to them. For some families their lives will never be the same again.
Research commissioned by the National Missing Persons Unit at the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence indicates that some are ‘unintentionally missing'. They have lost touch with family and friends or have not let them know their change in plans. This leaves behind a vacuum and can result in serious concern for their safety and well-being.
This year National Missing Persons Week will be held from July 30 to August 5. The Week will be a timely reminder, with Australia looking forward to an influx of visitors to enjoy the spectacle of the Olympic Games 2000, to keep connected with family and friends.
Manager of the National Missing Persons Unit, Carol Kiernan explained that "in Australia, very few missing people become victims of crime - most are located very quickly, safe and well. They have gone missing in response to a range of social problems. Some people decide they need to take ‘time out' from life without telling anyone, some are escaping personal conflict and some have simply forgotten to let someone close to them know where they are. Other factors may include mental illness, health concerns and perceived injustices.
"National Missing Persons Week 2000 sends a special message to the whole community asking people who may have lost contact with family: "Is anyone missing you?" and reminding them that "friends and families need to know you're OK!"Ms Kiernan said.
John Ure, Director of the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence (ABCI) provides the following assurance: "Police and tracing organisations will keep your whereabouts confidential if you are not ready to make direct contact with your family. Just let someone know so that those searching for you can turn their resources to others who are still missing." The ABCI works on behalf of Australian jurisdictional police services, sharing information and intelligence of national significance across State and Territory boundaries.It also has valuable contacts with overseas agencies.
Other issues to be promoted during National Missing Persons Week are:
- Being a missing person is not a crime, we just need to know that you are safe and well;
- You do not need to wait 24 hours to report that someone has gone missing. Police will take a report immediately there are serious concerns regarding safety and welfare;
- People of any age can be reported as missing.
This is the fourth year the National Missing Persons Unit (NMPU), based at the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence in Canberra, has coordinated National Missing Persons Week. The NMPU works with police, non-government tracing organisations, government and community agencies, families and friends of missing people to reduce the incidence and impact of missing persons.
