A new initiative between police and partner organisations is aiming to reduce the number of young people going missing from home.
Safe Return is launching this week in Sunderland and will see officers from Northumbria Police liaise with counterparts in Sunderland Together For Children and Waythrough to identify children who have begun to go missing from home recently on a regular basis.
The programme has been fully funded by the Violence Reduction Unit, which is within the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth.
Safe Return will offer appropriate intervention support to young people who go missing at an early stage and ultimately prevent them from repeatedly going missing.
The scheme has been used in Northamptonshire Police force area, with positive results.
Detective Chief Inspector Kevin Ashurst, who heads up Northumbria Police’s Missing Person’s Team, said: “Prevention remains one of our Force priorities and we are passionate about getting missing people located quickly and returned to their families, carers and loved-ones.
“This innovative new project will see us work alongside our partners to identify those young people who regularly go missing and get them the support they need at an early stage.
“We appreciate that being a teenager or young person can be difficult and there are a number of factors as to why people start to go missing.
“This scheme will further build on our efforts in identifying why a particular person is going missing and supporting them so that future incidents are prevented.”
Simon Marshall, Director of Children’s Services and Chief Executive for Together for Children, said: “We know that early intervention and getting to the root of the problem is key to not only reducing the number of children and young people going missing, but it also allows us to better support those who are doing so on a regular basis, and their families.
“Partnership working has always been at the heart of what we do, and by working collaboratively as part of the Safe Return project we have been able to strengthen our joint city-wide approach to children and young people going missing and help ensure young people are able to stay safe and thrive.”
A spokesperson for Waythrough said: “We are eager to participate in this innovative programme in partnership with the police and Together for Children, offering vital support to children experiencing missing-from-home episodes.
“We look forward to witnessing the positive impact that the Safe Return initiative will bring to children and families across the Sunderland area.”
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner, Susan Dungworth, said: “Safe Return is a vital and proactive initiative dedicated to safeguarding vulnerable young people in Sunderland. By prioritising early intervention, this programme addresses the root causes of why young people go missing, ensuring meaningful support is in place before these behaviours can become patterns.”
“The approach has already shown promising results elsewhere, and we’re confident that Safe Return will have a similar positive impact in Sunderland. Supporting young people so they feel safe and understood is essential, and this programme highlights our shared commitment to that goal. It not only reassures families, but also actively reduces the risks faced by young people when they go missing.
“This crucial support has been made possible through a close partnership between the Violence Reduction Unit, Northumbria Police, Waythrough and Together for Children. Together, we are building safer, stronger communities for everyone.”
Anyone who needs to report a person as missing can do so by sending Northumbria Police a direct message on social media or by using the live chat function on the Force website.
For those unable to contact the Force via those ways, call 101.
