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My child/teenager is missing - what do I do?

Having your child or teenager go missing is a horrible experience and one for which no parent is really prepared. Below is a list of helpful suggestions for finding someone who is missing. Bear in mind that most runaways do not go far and usually come back after a few days. However, you should take action IMMEDIATELY:

• Report you child/teenager as missing to the police. Even if you think you know where they may be, they are still missing from home and the police should be told.
• Think clearly and logically about where the person may be. Also try to think if there is any reason why they may be missing at this particular time. Let the police know about your 'hunches' - this is not the time to keep information back.
• Contact young people and adults who know your child/teenager - relatives, friends and their parents, teachers, youth club leaders - anyone who may have an idea about where they are. Many parents don’t want other people to know their child/teenager has run away because they feel embarrassed, but the person’s safety is the most important thing. You are not the first parent who this has happened to!
• Look for clues at home - talk to your other children, see if clothes are missing, look at telephone bills for numbers they may have called. Although we would normally not encourage you to look through a young persons diary or other personal things, if they are missing it may give you some clues.
• Be prepared for them to phone you. Make sure that you show concern for them - not anger. You will be very worried and it’s easy to react, but you need to let them know you love them and you want them home. Tell them that together you can work on whatever is wrong - reassure them it will be OK.

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