Introduction. Part One - Guide to investigations. Definition of a missing person. Risk assessment. Definitions of risk. Low risk. Medium risk. High risk. Unauthorised absence. Important factors to consider in risk assessment. Initial interviews. Recording of information. Searching. House search. Local searches. Area or open country search. Planning. Information gathering. Constantly changing circumstances. Responsibility for search. Police search advisors. Documentation. Sightings. Volunteer search teams. Appeals for the public to assist in searching. Ownership of the enquiry. Location of paperwork. Supervision of the enquiry. Reviews and ongoing cases. Family liaison. Police National Missing Persons Bureau. Cross border cases. Interviews on return. Care institutions. Intelligence gathering. DNA. Personal computers. Medical and dental records. Other potential lines of enquiry to follow. Part Two – Relevant powers and offences. Introduction. Powers. Emergency protection order. Police protection order. Parental responsibility – meaning of. Duties re child in protection. Significant harm – meaning of. Police Protection – meaning of. Child – meaning of. Offences. Taking/keeping child from care/Police protection. Abduction of woman/girl. Abduction of female mental defective. Abduction of child by person connected. Statutory defence to child abduction. Abduction of child by other persons. Statutory defence to abduction by other persons. Appropriate consent – meaning of. Takes/sends/detains child – meaning of. Person connected with child – meaning of. Abduction of unmarried girl under 16 yrs. Abduction of unmarried girl under 18 yrs. Search warrant re abducted woman. Kidnap. False imprisonment. Part Three – Agencies that can assist in the investigation. National Missing Persons Helpline. Missingkids website. Reunite. The Salvation Army Tracing Service. The British Red Cross International Tracing Service. Traceline.