FOI 17204-25 Missing Children
Request to Northamptonshire Police
I would like to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act:
1. The total number of children reported missing in Northamptonshire during the past two years.
2. Details of any actions, initiatives, or measures taken by your organisation to address and reduce the number of children going missing in the area.
Response
Question 1
Northamptonshire Police has conducted reasonable searches and established that a total of 1,728 children were reported missing between 06/09/2023 and 07/09/2025.
Question 2
We work closely with partner agencies and take a multi-agency approach to reducing the number of children being reported missing. After police have located a young person, officers carry out a safe and well check in order to complete a Found Report, any safeguarding concerns the officers may have will result in a referral to Social Services. Partnership working will include strategy meetings, multi-discipline team meetings, professionals’ meetings, Home Return interviews undertaken by the Missing Children Team within Social Services, Early intervention by Social Care, to name but a few.
Northamptonshire Police and partner agencies signed up to Right Care, Right Person. This is a National Partnership Agreement whereby police and partner agencies work together to ensure people get the right support by the right person. Regular meetings allow knowledge sharing and improved services. The aim of the approach is to get the person or people involved, the right help as soon as possible.
Northamptonshire Police’s Missing Persons Investigation unit also initiated Op Satin in 2023 which is a joint initiative with the OPFCC to bring in early intervention from the very first missing episode, to engage the young person and their families, in order to prevent any further missing episodes. Our Early Intervention Workers will signpost young people and their families to varying organisations and charities that are very successful in working with children and teach them life skills and an opportunity to engage with things that interest
them. The Early Intervention workers will also work with the child for up to 12 weeks providing support. To date Op Satin has an 86% success rate with children not having repeat missing episodes after early intervention.
You may find the below links of interest: -