Devon and Cornwall Constabulary is using a powerful computer system to track down missing persons more quickly.

The COMPACT (Community Policing and Case Tracking) software improves the process of investigating and recording missing persons cases and enables officers to share information at the click of a button.

Between 1 April 2006 and 31 March 2007, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary received 11,705 reports of missing persons – 1320 of these were in the Exeter sector where the COMPACT system was piloted prior to force-wide roll out (November 2007).

COMPACT builds up case histories of people who go missing frequently and ranks each individual as high, medium or low risk, allowing officers to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment on everyone who disappears.

A ‘briefing sheet’ summary, containing details and photographs of missing persons, is displayed when users log onto the system - these can be easily printed for officers to take on patrol with them as a ready reference.

A snapshot-using COMPACT revealed the majority of cases, 54%, in Exeter to be those missing from home, 23% from Social Care and 12% from Hospitals. Children under twelve accounted for 3% of the total and those between the ages of twelve and eighteen 52%. Over a third of all missing persons reports related to individuals who had been reported missing more than twice and of these 77% were young people under 16.

In 2005 Devon & Cornwall Constabulary commenced a ‘root and branch’ review of how it deals with missing persons cases. The review led by Detective Inspector Ian Fraser-Roe identified Information Technology as a key area for improving performance and reducing individual and corporate risk.

Detective Inspector Ian Fraser-Roe said: “ The majority of Missing Persons cases are resolved within 24 hours, however they can become complex and often involve links to more serious crimes. Modern police service needs require up to date technology to assist them record, manage and investigate such cases. COMPACT not only allows for improved standards in investigation but it also provides senior managers and their partner agencies with vital management information to aid joint prevention strategies to reduce the incidence and consequences of repeat runaways.”

Jonathan Sugden, Devon and Cornwall Constabulary’s missing persons manager, said: “A large percentage of missing people are in the under 16 age bracket which makes them particularly vulnerable. The COMPACT system will help us deal with these and other missing persons cases much more quickly and reduce the amount of time that officers spend on administration.”