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WHAT DO I DO IF A CHILD GOES MISSING?

  1. STAY CALM. Contact neighbours, friends, spouse, siblings and anyone who may know where your child may be. Invite a friend or acquaintance with a "calm" to be with you.

  2. CONDUCT A TELEPHONE SEARCH. Call family, friends and relatives who may wish to help. Encourage them to use their telephones to make inguiry calls so your line will remain free for incoming calls. If you have to leave the house, have an answering machine on the line or have a friend or neighbour take incoming calls.

  3. Have friends and relatives conduct a basic land search of the neighbourhood area while you are making a police report. With family and friends, try to recall the present and past few days of family situations and activities (a recent argument or disciplinary action could be the reason for hiding).

  4. Provide the police with the information in your prepared text Identification Kit which include updates clear photographs, birth certificate, medical history, passport, child's name and description including location of scars, birthmarks and any other identifiable data (glasses, braces, earrings, ect). Try to keep a mental note of what your child is wearing each day.

  5. Act quickly. this is very important. Try to keep focused on the task at hand, that is locating the missing child. Ask a suitable friend to provide support for you. Each moment that passes is very important be use efficiently.

  6. Continue your search even if there are no immediate results. Follow up for updates on the case by contacting the investigation police officer and the provincial searching agency who registered your child.

  7. Solicit media support such as radio, television, local publications and newspapers only at the advice of the police and searching agency involved with the case.

  8. Distribute a photograph of the missing child. All police and searching agencies have services available to complete this task.

Places to check

  • your home and property, including the attic for well hidden children. Do not disturb or move anything in your child's room until police have checked it;

  • home of your child's friends, neighbours, and relatives;

  • ex-spouse's home, if you are separated;

  • past and present baby-sisters;

  • school and school yard (The child may have after school activities or detention)

  • community center;

  • park or play areas;

  • shopping centers and corner stores; &

  • video game arcades.

FOR SUSPECTED RUNWAYS

  •  

Check your teenager's room. Older children may pack a few things if they are running away or might leave a note regarding their disappearance:

  •  

Check for signs of possible religious or cult involvement. This may be evident by looking through the book or anything personal belongings;

  •  

Check personal belongings for information which may help determine your teenagers plans, friends name and addresses and possible activities

***

Do not wait too long before contacting the police if you suspect your child is missing. Although it is a good idea to go through these first three (3) steps searching for the child, spending too long may be wasting precious police search time.