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The Australian Federal Police (AFP) – together with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and Tasmania Police – is today launching an educational tour to increase awareness of child safety and missing persons ahead of Day for Daniel in October.The Tour de Tassie roadshow will visit more than 20 schools and reach thousands of schoolchildren, their parents, carers and teachers over the next two weeks. It aims to educate students about being safe in their communities and encourages adults to have open conversations with children about personal safety.As well as school presentations, there will be three ‘ThinkUKnow’ super sessions held in Hobart, Devonport and Launceston. ‘ThinkUKnow’ is a free, evidence-based program that provides cyber safety education in Australia delivered in partnership with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Datacom and Microsoft. Presentations cover online grooming, sexting, privacy, inappropriate online behaviours, identity theft and fraud and general online safety.The super sessions aim to educate parents, carers and teachers on what young people see, say and do online, and how to overcome challenges. AFP Deputy Commissioner Operations Leanne Close said crime prevention was key. The tour harnesses the unique partnerships between law enforcement, industry and non-government organisations.“Everyone has a role to play in improving child safety and preventing harm in their communities and this is particularly important in the lead up to National Child Protection Week on Sunday,” Deputy Commissioner Close said.“We are urging parents, carers and teachers to register to go along to the ‘ThinkUKnow’ super sessions to get up-to-date on their children and teenager’s online activity.”Commonwealth Bank State Manager for Tasmania Marco Artini said, “With a large branch network across Tasmania, and over 30 Commonwealth Bank employees from the region trained by the AFP to deliver ThinkUKnow online safety sessions, we are proud to be supporting parents and families in our local community.”Bruce Morcombe said The Daniel Morcombe Foundation has been working with the AFP for over a decade.“In recent years we have shared tours to various mainland regions around Australia promoting child safety,” said Mr Morcombe.“We are really excited about the Tour de Tassie, as on a personal level, Tasmania is my home away from home. Denise and I have owned property here since 2006.”Tasmania Police Commissioner Darren Hine said, “Technology has never before been as accessible to our children as it is today and I encourage everyone in our community to play their part in keeping children safe from online harm.”"Technology can be a wonderful thing but with all its benefits there can be a darker unsafe side for children and it is our job as parents, carers, and law enforcers to make sure they are properly prepared for taking part in the online world.”"Tasmania Police wholeheartedly supports the ‘Tour de Tassie’ educational initiative and welcome our partner agencies to Tasmania for the official launch today," said Commissioner Hine.Day for Daniel is the largest child safety awareness day of its type in Australia. More than 2000 schools have already registered to take part in the national day of action. For information on events and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation, visitdanielmorcombe.com.au.For information on the ThinkUKnow cyber safety program, visit www.thinkuknow.org.au.For information about missing persons in Australia, visit www.missingpersons.gov.au. Media enquiriesAFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333.CommBank Media: (02) 9118 6919Daniel Morcombe Foundation: 0420 300 737Tasmania Police Media: (03) 6173 2424

This is a joint media release issued by the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police.The Australian Federal Police and the Queensland Police Service today launch National Missing Persons Week for 2017, with a specific focus on the 25,000 young people reported missing to police each year across Australia.More than 38,000 people are reported missing each year, with two thirds under the age of 18. While the majority of missing persons are found within a short period of time, there remain more than 2000 people who are listed as long-term missing persons; people who have been missing for more than three months.AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said for every missing person there are family, friends and colleagues left behind, still waiting for them to come home.“We could fill the GABBA today with the number of people reported missing to police in Australia every year,” Commissioner Colvin said.“ … And for every missing person, there are families and friends left behind not knowing what has happened to someone they care deeply about.”Young people may go missing for a range of reasons, including miscommunication, misadventure, or because of a misunderstanding. In some circumstances going missing may be seen as the only option to leave a bad situation, and in the most extreme of cases, a young person may have become a victim of crime.Those aged between 13 and 17 are six times more likely to go missing than the rest of the Australian population.Queensland Police Service Acting Deputy Commissioner (Specialist Operations) Tracy Linford said this year the focus through the campaign “Still waiting for you to come home” would be on the high number of youth that were reported missing each year.“Today is the appropriate day to announce the QPS Snapchat capability where the demographics in Australia are largely in the 18 to 25-year-old age group so it enables us to send information and images to these people,” Acting Deputy Commissioner Linford said.“It additionally broadens the current social media reach the Queensland Police Service has to further share information about missing people.“On average, around 100 people are reported missing to police every week in Queensland. We as a police service do all we can to help families find their loved ones, so this is a logical extension to our already large reach in the social media sphere.”There is no need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. A report can be made as soon as there are fears for the person’s welfare and safety, and their whereabouts are unknown.Going missing is not a crime. People reported missing and subsequently located by the police will not be charged. If you are a missing person, today might be the day where you let your family and friends know you are OK.National Missing Persons Week is supported by Outdoor Media Association, Chemist Warehouse and McDonald’s Australia.To view Australia’s national register of missing persons, visit the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre website at www.missingpersons.gov.au, where information about support services across Australia can also be found.Anyone with information relating to a missing person is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Media enquiries:AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333Queensland Police Media: (07) 3015 2444

Australian law enforcement, together with Facebook, today announced the national roll-out of the Facebook AMBER Alert system across Australia, providing a vital tool to find and return abducted children.While the rate of stranger child abduction in Australia is low, the national AMBER Alert roll-out will amplify existing broadcast channels to issue an immediate, 24-hour alert on Facebook to people who are in the area where the child went missing.With 15 million Australians active on Facebook, the national roll-out of the Facebook AMBER Alert initiative recognises State and Territory police’s commitment to ensuring the safe and immediate return of children, particularly in the first crucial hours of a child’s abduction.Facebook Director of Trust and Safety and former Federal Bureau of Investigation agent Emily Vacher said keeping our community safe means everything to the team at Facebook."We know that when a child is missing, the most valuable thing we can do is get information out to the public as quickly as possible. By getting the right information to the right people, at the right time, through AMBER Alerts on Facebook, we hope to help reunite missing children with their families faster," said Ms Vacher.“We are deeply honoured to work together with all police forces across the country to ensure this is a national alerts system that helps children and their families no matter where they live in Australia.”The AMBER Alert will remain active for a period of 24 hours, unless cancelled by the State or Territory police service.Suzie Ratcliffe, sister of Joanne Ratcliffe who was abducted from the Adelaide Oval at the age of 11 in August 1973, along with Kirste Gordon who was four at the time, spoke about how the technology could have been used to notify the public on this day.“Social media can play an integral part in locating a missing child. If Facebook AMBER Alerts were available in 1973, it could have created a crucial earlier response time, which could have made all the difference in locating Joanne and Kirste.”The girls were seen on several occasions in the company of a man for up to 90 minutes following their disappearance.Today Australia joins the United States of America, Canada, the Netherlands, South Korea, United Kingdom, Greece, Malaysia, Taiwan, Mexico, Malta, Jamaica and Luxenburg to nationally implement the AMBER Alert system. More than 868 children in the US have been recovered as a direct result of an AMBER Alert since the system was launched in 1996.The Queensland Police Service, which launched the AMBER Alert system in 2015, issued 12 alerts in 2016 for matters relating to high-risk missing children.Queensland Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the AMBER Alert system has already led to the safe recovery of abducted Queensland children thanks to the quick actions of members of the public who called police after seeing or hearing the emergency broadcasts.“The Facebook AMBER Alert capability will give us far greater reach into the community to appeal for urgent help to safely locate children who are at significant and imminent risk.”The success of this initiative relies on the commitment of our State and Territory police applying the Facebook AMBER Alert system in their respective jurisdictions and the Australian community who play a key role in helping police locate missing children.Ambassador Maura Harty, President and Chief Executive Officer of the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (ICMEC) said that for two years ICMEC has been working with Facebook to introduce rapid emergency child alert systems around the world so that communities can respond quickly when a child goes missing.“We are thrilled to be partnering with Facebook, the Australian Federal Police, and local law enforcement agencies to bring the Facebook AMBER Alert program to Australia, and to build an even stronger community of concerned individuals helping to keep children safe.”An AMBER Alert is a child abduction broadcasting alert system, similar to that of a cyclone warning. The AMBER Alert originated in the United States in 1996 following the abduction and murder of nine-year-old of Amber Hagerman in Arlington, Texas.Media enquiries:AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333Facebook Media: Antonia Sanda – (02) 8234 7070Queensland Police Media: Senior Sergeant Barry McErlean – (07) 3015 2444

For many Australian families who have a loved one on the missing persons register, it is hope which will help them get through the upcoming summer holidays and Christmas period.It is ‘hope’ which also inspired the Australian Federal Police’s (AFP) National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC), in partnership with Chemist Warehouse, to launch the ‘Summer of Hope’ campaign for 2016.The reasons for a person’s disappearance are many and varied; but behind every missing person there are family, friends, colleagues, and a community left behind not knowing what has become of someone they love.AFP acting National Manager Crime Operations, Chris Sheehan has appealed for everyone to support ‘Summer of Hope’ and use their social networks to help spread the word.“This holiday season we can all make a difference to the lives of those missing and the families and friends left behind,” Commander Sheehan said.“Every week from 1 December to 24 February the AFP will profile long-term missing persons through our social media channels to reach as many people as possible.”“I encourage everyone to look at the profiles featured on the AFP Facebook page throughout this period and consider sharing them with your own social media network. You or someone you know may have information which could help families reconnect, or solve a long-term missing person’s case.”I would also like to take this opportunity to encourage anyone who may be estranged from their loved ones to make contact this Christmas. Going missing is not a crime and making contact does not mean you will need to return home,” Commander Sheehan said.Corporate supporter of the NMPCC, Chemist Warehouse, shares the AFP’s belief that ‘Every Second Counts’ when it comes to locating missing persons.To complement the online campaign, Chemist Warehouse is using their nationwide network to promote missing persons cases and bring this issue to the forefront of the community.“It is well known that this is a difficult time of year for the families and friends of missing persons but it is also difficult for people who are missing themselves,” says Mario Tascone, Chief Operating Officer at Chemist Warehouse.“Chemist Warehouse has worked with the AFP since 2013 to promote missing persons in the hope that we can help reunite families, or help provide new information to police to resolve these cases.”“Look out for the missing persons profiles in the House of Wellness catalogue delivered to your home, and also in-store at all Chemist Warehouses. Together we can make a difference.”If you have any information regarding any of those featured during ‘Summer of Hope’ or any missing person case please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. For further information please visit www.missingpersons.gov.au.Media enquiries:AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333

This is a joint media release between the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Institute of CriminologyThe Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) will release new research today (Thursday 24 November) that will provide law enforcement with updated information and trend data relating to missing persons in Australia over the past eight years.The Statistical Bulletin will update the national recorded number of missing persons reports received each year, which has risen from approximately 30,000 to 38,000 per year, and provide a realistic picture of the challenges faced by police working to reunite missing people with their loved ones. It will also provide statistics on the number of people reported missing on multiple occasions, how long those reported missing remain absent, and how many are later located.Police will use this new information to better inform the development and implementation of preventative strategies, awareness campaigns and support packages, allowing them to focus their assistance to the vulnerable members of the community.The research was commissioned last year by the AFP’s National Missing Person’s Coordination Centre (NMPCC), and undertaken by the AIC. It is an interim report, with a larger research report – Missing Persons in Australia – due to be released in April 2017.The report found that more than 98 per cent of the 305,000 missing persons reports documented between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2015 were located, and thankfully, an overwhelming majority were found alive and well.AFP acting Assistant Commissioner Chris Sheehan, National Manager Crime Operations, said this report is also a crucial reminder that the public should follow their instincts when concerned about their loved one’s welfare.“This research has found that approximately 60 percent of those who were reported missing were located within the first 48 hours,” Commander Sheehan said.“If you have concerns for a person’s safety or welfare, I urge you to contact your local police immediately. You do not have to wait 24 hours.”AIC acting Director, Chris Dawson, said the AIC is proud to support the AFP’s NMPCC through their research into missing persons.“The AIC is Australia’s national research and knowledge centre on crime and justice and provides evidence-based research to inform policy and practice.” said, Mr Dawson.The release of this research coincides with the AFP-chaired bi-annual Police Consultative Group on Missing Persons forum, beginning in Canberra today. Missing Persons Units from all States and Territories will meet to share information and further drive national coordination across Australia to improve the management and response to missing persons. Media enquiries:AFP National Media: (02) 6131 6333AIC Media: (02) 6268 7343

The ‘Tweed to the Territory’ tour is a joint initiative between the Daniel Morcombe Foundation and the AFP’s Missing Persons and Cyber and Child Safety teams. Taking place in the two weeks leading into Day for Daniel in October 2016, the tour will focus on providing child and cyber safety awareness presentations to local communities.The educational tour is targeted at primary school students in grades four to six and aims to educate children on how to recognise, react and report potential dangers and threats. Schools participating in the tour may also receive ThinkuKnow adult presentations in the evening giving parents the same safety awareness information as their children.The Daniel Morcombe Foundation promotional truck, ‘Big Red’, will be stopping at various towns along the way to reach as many schools as possible and help educate kids on how to keep safe. Look out for ‘Big Red’ as we travel from Tweed Heads to Canberra and throughout parts of regional NSW from Tuesday 18 October to Friday 28 October.We strongly encourage all schools to get online and register their school for Day for Daniel and join us in educating everyone about ‘Keeping Kids Safe’.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP), through its National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC), launched National Missing Persons Week 2016 (NMPW) on Monday 1 August with the key message 'Missing persons leave frayed edges—Stay connected'.The message serves to remind the community of the importance of staying connected with family and friends, and encourages those at risk of going missing to use support services.With more than 35,000 people in Australia reported missing to police each year, the focus for the week centred on drawing people’s attention to those in our community who are currently missing, and the broader impacts these disappearances have on those left behind; behind every missing person there are family, friends, colleagues, and a community all desperate for answers.Running from 31 July–6 August, NMPW included a launch event in Melbourne and a coordinated media campaign spanning a variety of mediums to engage the public on this important issue. Thanks to support from our partners, missing persons profiles were featured across outdoor media platforms, sourced and donated by Outdoor Media Association, included in the Chemist Warehouse ‘House of Wellness’ catalogues, and displayed across McDonald’s restaurants digital community screens.State and Territory Police, support and search agencies, and families of missing persons also organised events across the country to commemorate this important week.In support of the week, and to help raise awareness of missing persons in Australia, the AFP is asking the public to view Australia’s Public Register of missing persons.National Missing Persons Week Launch EventThe national launch of NMPW took place in Melbourne at the ZINC Function Centre, Federation Square. The AFP, through NMPCC, partnered with Victoria Police for the launch bringing together 150 members of the community including: families and friends of missing persons, support agencies, search agencies, and law enforcement partners.At the launch, AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said we could fill the MCG more than four times over with loved ones left behind in these heartbreaking circumstances.“The reasons for a person’s disappearance are many and varied; but we do know that with every missing person, there are families, friends, colleagues, and a community left behind not knowing what has become of someone they love.“We’re asking communities across Australia to make a conscious effort—this week and every week—to stay connected with those around them.”Helen Cheong, sister of missing person Sally Cheong spoke at the launch about the impact her sister’s disappearance has had on her and her family since Sally’s disappearance in 2008.“I got a call in the morning while I was at work and was told my sister Sally didn’t show up at work … Initially I shrugged it off, but as the day progressed it was very clear Sally was nowhere to be found. She had disappeared,” Helen said.“What happened after that was all a blur. The family was frantic, everyone was emotional, there were tears, there was anger, silence, and there was pain. Desperation of all things consumed us all, we were desperate for answers.“My parents hired a private investigator, turned to fortune tellers, sought answers from psychics, and went to temples to pray. We were desperate.”Helen’s story echoes the stories of many families of missing persons, from the shock and disbelief of the initial stages of a person going missing to the long-term issues surrounding coping with the ambiguous loss.

This is a joint media release issued by the Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police.Police are urging families, friends, colleagues, and communities across Australia to stay connected this National Missing Persons Week (31 July – 6 August), which launched today in Melbourne to draw attention to people in our community who are still missing.The Australian Federal Police (AFP), through its National Missing Persons Coordination Centre, has partnered with Victoria Police for this year’s campaign; Missing people leave frayed edges—Stay connected. With more than 35,000 people in Australian reported as missing each year, the campaign aims to draw attention to those still missing, as well as highlight support services available for their family and friends.AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the issue of missing persons in Australia impacts the wider community.“We could fill the MCG more than four times over with loved ones left behind in these heartbreaking circumstances,” Commissioner Colvin said.“The reasons for a person’s disappearance are many and varied; but we do know that with every missing person, there are families, friends, colleagues, and a community left behind not knowing what has become of someone they love.“We’re asking communities across Australia to make a conscious effort—this week and every week—to stay connected with those around them.”Victoria Police has been working with the State’s Department of Justice and Regulation (DoJR) to further enhance support services within the community. Deputy Commissioner Wendy Steendam said these services were available to assist those at risk of going missing, and to family and friends of missing persons.“We currently have several sites across the state at which DoJR have embedded victim support workers from the Victims Assistance and Counselling program,” DC Steendam said.“These workers provide support for families and friends, while our members thoroughly investigate their cases.“Our Missing Persons Unit is also establishing a new webpage, dedicated to not only publicising missing persons cases, but also providing information for the families and friends of missing people to assist them in dealing with the situation.“We want to make sure that the families of missing people are well supported in what is a very traumatic and distressing time.”As part of the national campaign, police are also reminding the public there is no need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. A report can be made as soon as there are fears for the person’s welfare and safety, and their whereabouts are unknown.National Missing Persons Week is supported by Chemist Warehouse, McDonalds, Foxtel and the Outdoor Media Association.To view Australia’s national register of missing persons, visit the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre website at www.missingpersons.gov.au, where information about support services across Australia can also be found.Anyone with information relating to a missing person is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Media enquiries:AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333Victoria Police (03) 9247 5205

On 25 August 1973, 11-year-old Joanne Ratcliffe took four-year-old Kirste Gordon to the bathroom during an AFL match at the Adelaide Oval. They had gone to the bathroom together earlier while Joanne’s parents and Kirste’s grandmother watched the game, but this time round they didn’t return to their seats. After 15 minutes Joanne’s mother went to find them.They were gone.Despite a $1 million reward announced in 2014 the girls have never been found. For the past 43 years their families have never given up hope.On the 25 May 2016, the AFP launched its annual International Missing Children’s Day event, a global recognition of missing children and a support for their loved ones.This year’s theme, ‘Forget-Me-Not’, encourages the public to think about long and short term missing children. Approximately 150 of the 2000 long-term missing persons in Australia are aged under 18.AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin launched the event at the National Arboretum in Canberra. The event was attended by members of the diplomatic community, stakeholders and families of missing persons. Commissioner Colvin said this year’s theme was an opportunity to spread a message of solidarity to the families of missing children, and to remind them we have not forgotten, nor have we lost hope.“For parents, family and friends, not knowing what has happened to a loved one has a profound impact,” he said.“We will continue to work closely with our state and territory partners to find answers to these questions and to ensure the safety of all Australian children.”This year, the NMPCC is raising awareness of the positive work families do when a loved one goes missing.Leaving a light on for JoanneSpeaking at the launch was Suzie Ratcliffe, the younger sister of Joanne, who was born 14 months after Joanne went missing. Suzie recalls her mum leaving the front light on for Joanne.“For years following my sister’s disappearance, my mum left the front porch light on, in the event Joanne ever found her way home,” she said.“Forty-three years later, we still leave a light on in memory of her.”Inspired to do more, in 2015 Suzie launched the ‘Leave a Light On’ campaign. It simply asks Australians to leave on their front lights on October 21 to raise awareness of long-term missing persons. Her family still hopes that one day they will have answers about her sister Joanne, and they will be able to bring her home.

Remembering those children who are still missing and supporting loved ones in their search are key elements to this year’s International Missing Children’s Day campaign, a day recognised globally on 25 May each year.The Australian Federal Police (AFP), through its National Missing Persons Coordination Centre (NMPCC), is launching the campaign in Canberra today.The day highlights the continued efforts of police, family, friends and the wider community to find missing children, and pays tribute to children who have been victims of crime. It is also a celebration of missing children who have found their way home.This year’s ‘Forget-Me-Not’ theme encourages the public to think about children who have been missing for months, and in many cases, decades. There are more than 2000 long-term missing persons in Australia at present, with around 150 of those being people aged 18 or under.AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said the NMPCC plays an active role in educating the Australian community on missing persons’ issues, and noted there was a higher risk of vulnerable people, such as children, going missing.“We know that, of the more than 35,000 people reported missing to police in Australia each year, close to two-thirds are children. While the majority are found within 24 hours, there are still those whose whereabouts remain unknown,” Commissioner Colvin said.“For parents, family and friends, not knowing what has happened to a loved one has a profound impact. Those questions—where are they, are they safe, do they need me—can remain unanswered for weeks, months and, sadly years. But rest assured, we will continue to work closely with our State and Territory partners to find answers to these questions and to ensure the safety of all Australian children.”This year, the NMPCC is raising awareness of the valuable work families do in the wake of experiencing a missing loved one. Suzie Ratcliffe is one such family member. Suzie’s charity, Leave a Light On, aims to raise awareness of long-term missing person’s cases, and asks the community to never forget.“My 11-year-old sister Joanne (Ratcliffe), along with Kirste Gordon, four at the time, disappeared from the Adelaide Oval in South Australia in 1973,” Ms Ratcliffe said.“For years following my sister’s disappearance, my mother left the front porch light on, in the event Joanne ever found her way home. Forty-three years later, we still leave a light on in memory of her.”Kirste Gordon’s parents, Greg and Christine, described the difficulties faced by families left behind, and the strength required to keep moving forward.“When the girls were abducted, we could do little but wait and contemplate the mystery of where they may have gone,” Mr Gordon said.“In the time since, it has been important to us to feel in control of our lives for the sake of our family. We are most grateful to the police for their support and for the effort they continue to apply to find a resolution.”In recent years technology has enabled the AFP and the Daniel Morcombe Foundation to develop smart phone apps to help ‘keep our kids safe’. The foundation’s ‘Help Me’ app sounds a warning and allows children to send an SMS to nominated 'safety' numbers, as part of a child’s Trusted Safety Network. Included in the text are GPS co-ordinates from where the text was sent, so the sender can be located or a last known place of contact is indicated.The AFP’s Australian Police Child ID app—an electronic ‘Identity Kit’ which can be used to file a missing person’s report—helps parents and carers provide information immediately to police about their child’s appearance, images, and networks, in the event a child goes missing.Anyone with information relating to a missing child is urged to contact their local police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.Media enquiries: AFP National Media (02) 6131 6333

In 2016 the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre will focus on raising awareness of the impacts of missing persons within the community. Our key message 'Missing persons leave frayed edges, Stay connected' reminds us all of the importance of staying connected with family and friends and enhancing the support networks for those most at risk of going missing. The impact of missing personsAnyone, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity or educational background, may face the issue of someone they know becoming a missing person. The impact on families and friends, and the missing people themselves, can be both profound and multi-faceted. Commonly reported impacts on family and friends of missing persons include health consequences, time off from work, and financial costs associated with the search.Impacts on Families and friendsMost missing persons are reported to police by family. Research reveals that for every missing person reported, on average at least 12 other people are affected whether it is emotionally, physically, psychologically or financially. For families, not knowing what has happened to someone they love is devastating.Impacts on missing personsFor the missing person themselves it is often difficult to find the support they require to address their situation. Research conducted in the UK found that “being labelled as missing was traumatic […] and the loss of control to talk about their experiences in a way that was meaningful for them added to the trauma.” Geographies of Missing Persons 2013People who intentionally go missing often do so to escape or remove themselves from something that isn’t making them happy. These people are generally lacking the support they require to manage their situation and may feel that going missing is their only option. Improving community support is key to reducing the impacts on missing persons.Impacts on the communityPart of our mandate is to reduce the impact of missing persons on the Australian community. Awareness of the issue and enhancing community support mechanisms are key parts of our strategy.

More than 35,000 people are reported missing in Australia each year, with an estimated 2,000 people currently listed as a long-term missing person—missing for more than three months.That is why initiatives such as our #summerofhope campaign are vital to raise awareness of missing persons in our community.The campaign aims to engage directly with the online community in the hope of resolving long-term missing person’s cases.Every week throughout December and January the AFP and State and Territory police will share profiles of long-term missing persons through their social media channels to reach as many people as possible.We encourage all Australians to visit the AFP’s Facebook page, look at, and share the missing person profiles; using the #summerofhope hashtag. You or someone you know may have information which could help families reconnect, or solve a long-term missing person’s case.If you have information about a missing person profiled contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. For further information visit www.missingpersons.gov.au.