National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland 2025
The National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland (2025) provides updated roles and responsibilities of respective agencies, standardising key practice from a wealth of good practice across Scotland, that aims to help and safeguard those who go missing through multi-agency working.
Not At Home Protocol
The Not At Home protocol enables care staff to determine when to contact the police should the whereabouts of a child be unknown and can help care experienced children to experience a similar outcome to children who are living at home. When a comprehensive care plan is in place for an individual, a tolerable risk can be carried by care providers to try and locate the individual prior to contacting Police Scotland, if they are late for a curfew for instance, thus reducing unnecessary police contact for the child.
If, and when the risk becomes intolerable, the child will be reported as missing to police by the care provider. For some children Not at Home will not be appropriate due to individual vulnerabilities or risk. These risks should be assessed to form part of their personal care and prevention plan to determine whether the use of Not at Home is appropriate. Police Scotland are working with the Care Inspectorate to assist in knowledge and training of care staff in using the protocol. Police Scotland missing persons divisional coordinators can be contacted through the national unit - Missingpersonunit@scotland.police.uk - to help implement the protocol.
Contact
Email: contactus@gov.scot