Located missing persons
What happens when a missing person is located depends on the circumstances of their disappearance and location
What to do if a missing person makes contact
If a missing person makes contact with you after being reported missing to police, contact your case liaison officer or local missing persons unit.
Located
For a missing person to be considered officially located, they must be sighted and their identity confirmed by a police member from any jurisdiction. Police will assess the missing person's health and wellbeing, and may arrange for the missing person to receive medical treatment and/or support services.
Police will notify the next of kin (NOK) that the missing person has been located; however police have no obligation to disclose the whereabouts of the missing person to the missing person's NOK, and will only do so in certain circumstances, and with the approval of the missing person.
If the police locate a missing person and they do not wish to have their location made known, police are obliged to comply with their wishes.
Located deceased
When a missing person is located deceased, police will utilise all available resources to conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding their death.
When a forensic examination is required to formally identify a missing person, multiple forensic samples may be collected from the missing person. See the forensic collection page for further information.
The missing person's case may also be referred to the Coroner to ascertain whether there are alternative avenues of enquiry as part of the investigation process. See the coronial process page for further information.
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Support servicesThere is help available to assist you and your family when someone you know goes missing.
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Coronial processA guide to the process and how the coronial system works.
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Forensic collectionWhen someone you love is missing it is highly distressing and being asked to provide forensic material can be confronting. As part of a standard missing persons investigation police will often collect forensic material.