Missing persons procedures
Many missing children are never reported to the police, especially teenagers from poor rural areas thought to be 'runaways'.
A CHILD goes missing in South Africa every six hours.
That was according to the Missing Person Bureau of South Africa in 2013.
The number is not an accurate reflection of the situation today and there is no way to determine the actual number.
The Zululand Observer is often contacted by relatives to circulate images of missing adults and children.
In most cases, the request comes days and even months after the disappearance, by which time the trail has gone cold.
Many missing children are never reported to the police, especially teenagers from poor rural areas thought to be ‘runaways’.
Some are found, but not alive and others are kidnapped by a parent after a domestic dispute or divorce.
And then there are those never accounted for – there are no bodies and no fresh clues.
While previously a waiting period applied before a person could be reported as missing, the official SAPS website now says missing persons must be reported immediately at the nearest police station.
Information
To assist SAPS with the investigation, the following is required:
• A recent photograph of the missing person if possible.
• Provide information of the missing person’s last known whereabouts, clothes they were wearing and any information that can assist the investigating officer.
• Complete and sign a SAPS 55(A) form. This form safeguards police from hoax reports and indemnifies the SAPS to distribute the photograph and information of the
missing person.
• Obtain the investigating officer’s contact details and send any additional information that might become available.
• If a missing person is found or returns voluntarily, inform the investigating officer immediately. A SAPS 92 form must be completed to inform the Bureau of Missing Persons
that the missing person’s report can be removed from the system.
Workshop
Community Policing Forum (CPF) members are invited to attend a free workshop on human trafficking and missing persons, presented by PSARU (People Reach and Rescue Unit).
The keynote speaker is founder Charmaine van Eeden and the event is hosted by Freedom Generation SA.
PSARU specialises in finding missing persons nationally with the help of investigation teams made up of former members of SANAB (South African Narcotics Bureau).
The workshop is aimed at training CPF members and civilian patrol unit members actively involved in the field to identify victims and perpetrators and to know what procedure to follow in cases of missing persons.
The workshop is scheduled for Thursday at the Huberta Hall, Veldenvlei from 6pm to 8:30pm.
Interested parties can contact Caroline Pitout on 072 1255983 or visit Freedom Generation SA’s Facebook page.
