The text on this page has been created from Hansard archive content, it may contain typographical errors.
Mr. Peter Bruinvels
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities the police national computer provides for recording details of missing persons under the age of 18 years and of other vulnerable missing persons; and if he will make a statement.
| Persons aged less than 18 recorded as missing by the missing persons bureau of the Metropolitan police*† | ||||
| Year | Recorded as missing‡ | Traced or identified║ | ||
| Aged under 14 | Aged 14 to 17 | Aged under 14 | Aged 14 to 17 | |
| 1979 | 590 | 3,000 | 500 | 2,720 |
| 1980 | 640 | 3,270 | 460 | 2,850 |
| 1981 | 620 | 2,620 | 450 | 2,360 |
| 1982 | 770 | 3,570 | 450 | 3,010 |
| 1983¶ | 690 | 3,260 | 460 | 2,840 |
| 1984¶• | 1,240 | 2,860 | 1,090 | 2,620 |
| * Includes some cases reported by police forces other than the Metropolitan police. | ||||
| † The same person may be reported missing more than once. | ||||
| ‡ Includes some persons first reported missing in previous years. | ||||
| ║ Includes persons traced who were first reported missing in previous years. | ||||
| ¶ Excludes persons reported as missing from overseas (58 in 1984). | ||||
| • Figures for 1984 may have been increased by improved procedures for recording those missing for only a short period. | ||||