WIREDGOV

The Missing Persons Bureau has yesterday launched a new website to enlist the public’s help to identify people, both living and dead, who are unknown to the authorities.

The website www.missingpersons.police.uk the first in the UK dedicated to unidentified people, aims to maximise chances of identification and bring vital closure for the families and friends of the people featured.

The Bureau currently holds around 1,000 records of unidentified individuals with some cases dating back as far as the 1950’s. The site will feature details taken from case files which include images of the unidentified person or personal items related to the case which family and friends may recognise. The majority of cases included on the site concern unidentified bodies but it will also feature cases of living individuals, such as those suffering memory loss or those unable to identify themselves for medical reasons, when such cases occur.

Joe Apps, Bureau Manager, commented: ‘The aim of the new site is to bring closure to the families and friends of the people featured. With new unidentified person cases we rely on modern forensic techniques for identification but on older cases we look to use every tool available and believe that case publicity is the best chance of getting images recognised. This will be the first time families of missing people have been able to search through records for themselves and it will empower families to play an active part in the search for their loved ones.’

The website will give members of the public the opportunity to search through the unidentified cases featured and provide information through online reporting. The Bureau will pass significant details to the relevant police force or coroner in charge of the case for further investigation.

The website can be found at www.missingpersons.police.uk.