The number of police investigations into missing persons has fallen across Scotland following the rollout of a national strategy to protect people at risk.
The National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland, first introduced in 2017, was the first of its kind in the UK.
It sets out how agencies including Police Scotland, the NHS, councils, and charities work together when someone is at risk of going missing.
Since its introduction, the number of people who go missing more than once has dropped from one in two to one in three.
The Scottish Government has now launched a refreshed version of the framework to build on that progress.
It includes enhanced training for professionals working with people who have previously gone missing, helping them better understand the underlying causes and risks.
Protocols will also be promoted across Scotland to record key information about people most at risk, including care-experienced children and people living with dementia.
That information will be available quickly to police in the event of a disappearance, allowing faster action.
The updated framework also supports closer coordination between public protection teams and local child and adult protection committees.
Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said the framework was already making a difference.
“It is devastating for families and friends when a loved one goes missing,” said Brown.
“Since we first published the framework in 2017, the proportion of people going missing once who do so again has dropped from one in two to one in three, and our collaborative approach has seen a decrease in the number of investigations needed.”
The strategy is backed by £900,000 in Scottish Government funding, including £150,000 this year to continue the work of two national coordinators focused on missing persons.
“Scotland is leading the way in shared efforts to reduce the number of people who go missing each year,” said Brown.
“To help further reduce the risk and to limit the harm when someone does go missing, we are introducing new measures to make it easier to identify those at risk.”
Professor Hester Parr, Chair of the Working Group for Missing People in Scotland, said the refreshed framework offers a pathway to lasting change.
“Missing is a sticky issue for multi-agency groups, and the new guidance offers support for change and progress in Scotland,” she said.
Martin Crewe, Director of Barnardo’s Scotland, said the charity had been involved in shaping the framework from the start.
“This launch is an important step as we continue our efforts to reduce the instances and impact of missing for children and young people,” he said.
During the launch, the Minister visited Barnardo’s Common Ground service in Glasgow, a weekend outreach project that supports young people in the city centre who may be vulnerable or at risk of harm.
