WILTSHIRE Police have launched a campaign today (August 20) looking at the complex issue of missing people and what goes on behind the scenes when someone is reported missing.

The force's Missing Campaign runs throughout the week as part of the Beyond the Beat summer campaign on policing issues the public may not always be aware of.

Wiltshire Police deals with 10 reports of missing people every day. In July, officers dealt with 300 reports of missing people - 193 children and 107 adults.

Whilst 96 per cent of missing people are found within 24 hours, it costs Wiltshire Police in the region of £4.4 million a year to respond to and investigate reports of missing people.

Detective Inspector Mark Kent said: "A significant number of adults and children are reported missing more than once, but we treat each report individually.

"Vulnerable people who are at risk of abuse or exploitation are often those reported missing.

“It’s our job to protect people from harm. We first have to assess the level of risk to the person who is missing.

"We know that people rarely go missing without a reason and it is often the symptom of a wider problem in someone’s life.

“You can report a missing person to the police at any time and don’t need to wait 24 hours before making a report. Call 101, or 999 if you think the missing person is at serious risk of harm."

If someone goes missing, it takes a coordinated approach with police departments including the police dog unit and drones unit, and agencies such as Wiltshire Search and Rescue and the National Police Air Service.

The police added that while choosing to go missing is not a crime, telling someone you’re safe, even if you don’t want them to know where you are, could save precious police time and, more importantly, stop your family worrying about your safety.

People with medical conditions like dementia often go missing and some basic advice could help families and carers trace people more quickly.

During the week the police will share some guidelines to help parents and carers protect children from going missing and what to do when they do.

Wiltshire Police also works closely with Wiltshire Search and Rescue when looking for someone who has been reported missing and assessed as medium or high risk. WILSAR relies entirely on fundraising for income, staffed by a team of trained volunteers. In 2017 the team gave 25,000 hours of voluntary time and attended 41 incidents.

John Needham, Chair of Wiltshire Search and Rescue, said: “We play a vital role supporting the emergency services. Vulnerable missing people who need medical attention are given it by our volunteers who are specifically trained to do this in an emergency situation. We directly helped to save the lives of five people last year who would have died if they had not been found and given lifesaving treatments by Wiltshire Search and Rescue volunteers.”