Geographies of missing people: processes, experiences and responses
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: School of Geographical & Earth Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Fyfe N
(2015)
'To the End of the World': Space, Place, and Missing Persons Investigations
in Policing
Fyfe N
(2014)
Missing persons: the processes and challenges of police investigation
in Policing and Society
Hester Parr
(2015)
Families living with ambiguous absence
in Emotions, Space and Society
Parr H
(2015)
Living Absence: The Strange Geographies of Missing People
in Environment and Planning D: Society and Space
Parr H
(2016)
Search/ing for missing people: Families living with ambiguous absence
in Emotion, Space and Society
Parr H
(2014)
Sophie's story: writing missing journeys.
in Cultural geographies
Parr H
(2012)
Missing geographies
in Progress in Human Geography
Parr H
(2015)
'No news today': talk of witnessing with families of missing people.
in Cultural geographies
Parr, H
(2013)
Families Living with Absence: Searching for Missing People
Parr, H.
(2013)
Missing People, Missing Voices: Stories of Missing Experience
| Title | Andrew's Story: Being Missing for 4 Weeks |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81503/ |
| Title | Eddie's Story: Intentionally Going Missing |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81509/ |
| Title | Jayne's Story: A Woman's Experience of Being Missing |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81507/ |
| Title | Jenny's Story: Repeatedly Being Missing |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81510/ |
| Title | Johnny's Story: Being Reported as Missing from Hospital |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81504/ |
| Title | Katie's Story: Being Missing for 2-3 Days |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81502/ |
| Title | Peter's Story: Being Missing and Being Located by the Police |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81506/ |
| Title | Rhona's Story: A Life of Missing Experience |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81512/ |
| Title | Sophie's Story: Being Missing for 24 Hours |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81499/ |
| Title | Stuart's story: A Man's Experience of Being Missing |
| Description | This story is comprised from a narrative interview with people who have been reported as missing and who have returned. The stories are written from verbatim words but most are creatively reassembled from more than one narrative, so as to be representative of the experiences of the 45 people who participated in the ESRC 'Geographies of missing people' research project. The stories exist as audio files read by actors. |
| Type Of Art | Artefact (including digital) |
| Year Produced | 2013 |
| Impact | These stories provide a resource for all those who work in sectors which support people who may be at risk of being reported as missing. The stories are currently being used as educational resource materials in police officer training and are available for other professionals. |
| URL | http://eprints.gla.ac.uk/81508/ |
| Description | This research project was an innovative collaboration between academics and the police and charity sector around missing persons. This has been an internationally unique research project - the first we know of that has recruited returned missing persons for in-depth interview focussing on their missing journeys. By speaking to 45 such people we have filled in the gaps of police knowledge and research and aided their understanding of missing persons. Significant findings include that people do not always know they are missing or what this means; that missing people stay local to points of departure; that return interviews and after-journey talking is critically important to this group and that they lack the opportunity to do so. These findings have been extensively reported to and used by police knowledge-exchange forums and in education and training modules. The research has made a difference to how key figures in UK national policing bodies and Police Scotland think about and act on missing persons enquiries. Interviews with 25 families of missing people have revealed new evidence of both good and poor police practice in the handling of missing persons cases and family liaison. This has been brought into focus in hard-hitting research reports which have resulted in the findings being included in new police guidance in introduced by Police Scotland in 2014. The Missing People charity has acted on the findings to apply (successfully) for Big Lottery Funding to provide a new aftercare service in Wales. We collaborated with the Missing People charity to bring together 60 families of missing people to hear the research results and share experiences with each other. The charity has committed to using the findings to inform their service development in the future. 23 interviews with police officers and analysis of 12 police case files revealed that responding to reports of missing persons represents one of the biggest demands on the resources of police organisations. The research provided insights into the different stages of the investigative process and some of the key influences which shaped the trajectory of a missing person's investigation. In particular, it highlighted how officers understand and construct investigations, which are often shaped by a mix of police craft, 'science' and 'reputational' issues. These findings have contributed new knowledge to police research. The interviews with returned missing people and family members have resulted in research findings that have been taken up into new national guidance for police officers in Scotland and have been included in updated training modules by the UK National Police College. 2 members of the research team now sit on a National policy working group in Scotland and are part of a team creating a new strategy for missing people, led by the Scottish Government. The research was awarded a special category award in the 2013 Scottish Policing Awards for excellence in 'Applied Policing Research'. The presentation was made Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, on Monday 11th March, 2013. |
| Exploitation Route | Professional and charitable communities are using the research findings and creative-artistic products to improve education and training provision in the area of missing persons. We are actively shaping these contributions in new collaborative partnerships eg with the Police National Search Centre and the UK National Police College. The stories of missing people are being used in public (via web and event dissemination) to raise awareness amongst the public about missing people and the experiences they have. 2 members of the research sits on a National Strategy Working Group for Missing Persons, led by the Scottish Government and here we are pushing for further public education and awareness raising, based on our findings. Police Scotland has also changed its guidance to 14000 officers, based on our research findings. We have contributed the production of a Channel 4 documentary on Missing People by providing expert guidance and background information. This documentary reached 2.4 million people in April 2014. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| URL | http://www.geographiesofmissingpeople.org.uk |
| Description | Narrative of impact In 2019-2020 Hester has been asked by the MSP Ash Denham to chair a new Working Group for Missing people in Scotland. This group has a work programme and will report to the minister in 2020. In 2018 Parr has been asked to contribute to an APPG on Vulnerable Missing People in Westminster. In 2017 The National Framework for Missing Persons in Scotland was launched at an event organised and funded by Parr with ESRC Impact Prize Award. In 2016-17 Hester has sat on a special Advisory Group for the Scottish Government for Return Home Interviews. She has also co-convened 2 national workshops on 'Return of Missing Persons' drawing on high level sector professionals. She will co-fund the launch of the Missing Persons Framework for Scotland in 2017 with the Scottish Government and co-ordinate a launch event. Our research project has been awarded the ESRC prize for Outstanding Impact on Society for the 2015 impact prize. Our research project contributed a new and unique resource to police and charity partners in that we were the first international team to recruit and interview returned missing persons. The additional qualitative data collection with police officers, case reconstructions, charity workers and families have revealed important learning points which have been taken up enthusiastically by these groups. National policy and practice • The research led to change in the draft UK APP - the new draft (2014-15) Authorised Professional Practice - due to be published by the College of Policing (www.college.police.uk) - comprises operational guidance for all police officers in England and Wales and this has incorporated draft recommendations from the project research directly relating to the experience of families of missing people in section 4.5.1 Police actions in relation to support for families, which highlights good practice. This includes specific links to the research outputs and alerts all officers to the relevant research reports. This will reach all officers in England and Wales who consult the APP. • The research led to direct changes in Police Scotland's Standard Operating Procedure (SOP, issued 2014). The ESRC reports and recommendations have directly influenced the Standard Operational Guidance (SOP) launched in October 2014 (sections 16 and 19) issued to 13-14000 staff. These sections relate to 'Family Partnership' and 'Management of the Return' where Police Scotland have requested that return interviews take place. In addition there is included a new section on good practice family liaison work. • Hester and Penny's membership of the Scottish Government led Working Group on National Missing Persons Strategy for Scotland 2014-15. The strategy is designed to focus on creating a framework for partnership agreements between Police Scotland (the new Missing Persons Unit) and agencies responsible for children who go missing from care, dementia suffers from care homes and NHS patients going missing from hospital. Hester's role is to bring a research perspective and remind agencies to keep a wider perspective on missing adults not captured by these services. The aim of the strategy is to take a preventative approach to missing and enables joints responses to missing people. The working group is over-lapping with a steering group to achieve effective national strategy. There will be a formal consultation in 2015 with a launch for stakeholders. Building on 19 police knowledge exchange events in the UK, EU and US during the life of the project the following legacy is in place and evolving: • A Knowledge Exchange Agreement between Glasgow University and the UK College of Policing facilitated the impact legacy of the research. The Agreement has a steering group who advised on the placement of the research in existing educational modules but for the purposes of update and enhancement. The modules are available to all police forces in England and Wales. Glasgow University invested £33,000 in a staff post (Stevenson) to enable this work, enhancing and extending the ESRC impact. Linked resources are now available to police officers in England and Wales in courses attracting over 36,000 officers (1 in 4) in the last 3 years. • We have a branded competent of the CPD courses for POLSA (specialist search) officers with the UK Police National Search Centre (PNSC). We have delivered this to around 300 officers in 2014 and now the PSNC deliver our sessions with our resources to around 90 specialist officers per year in 3-4 courses. We evaluate the contribution at the time of delivery (see attached evaluation samples) and are beginning to follow-up with the officers who have undergone this training and education at 6 months intervals to understand more about the impact on working practices and professional change. We are following the research legacy and the impact. The input is designed to affect professional behavioural change around missing people and families. • Police Scotland's Senior Investigative Officer Training (starting in 2015) at the Scottish Police College will now have a missing persons element led by Penny Woolnough and featuring project resources on families of missing people. 30 detectives take the 2 week training course (running approx 3 times per year at SPC) to become Senior Investigating Officers. This will be evaluated after course and after 6 months. Our impact has been pronounced in policing communities where we have engaged in substantial knowledge exchange in police training fora (across the UK, EU and US). The team produced a key report and a resource that is being used by police officers across the UK. In June 2015 the UKPMPB used the research to brief FCOs for good practice across Europe when dealing with British Nationals who have gone missing. Policing knowledge exchange I: real-time delivery The research team have presented at 19 major national UK police KE events since 2010 including to the Society of Evidence Based Policing and UK and EU FBI, and attendance has ranged from 10 to 200 police officers across the events. The research has helped create new EU KE networks amongst researchers of missing people and police via a project event in Brussels, May 2013 (30 attendees from 5 countries). The team have delivered a KE workshop in Washington, US in April, 2013 as part of an International Police and Justice Evidence Based Network and 200 attended this event (supported by the Scottish Government), as part of a new KE network with the Centre for Evidence-Based Crime Policy in George Mason University, Washington. The research findings were also launched at the first International Missing Persons Conference in 2013 via a keynote speech and official launch of the public resource 'Missing People: Missing Voices' (with a co-sponsored reception by the ESRC funding). Highlights of these face to face impacts include a 'scenario' based case study resource workshop being delivered in July 2013 to 30 specialist POLSAR officers in training at the Police National Search Centre, Bramshill, Hampshire. The police evaluation of the use of this workshop was excellent. Charity sector impacts: Missing People Charity, support and public education: The GU team have delivered several workshops to the charity and co-funded the first ever family conference with the charity. 60 families of missing people came together for the first time to listen to research stories and discuss their common experiences. The GU team produced a key report on family interviews and the findings were used by the charity to help an application for funding to the Big Lottery - and this was successful. PI Hester Parr now serves on the advisory board for a new support service in Wales: 'Missing People Aftercare' that was launched with this funding. Hester has worked with the charity since 2014 to start new national conversation on return and she is chairing the 2020 Scottish conference on good practice in missing. Public impacts and engagement The project has a well visited website www.geographiesofmissingpeople.org.uk has over 120,000 'real people' page hits since 2012 and this site carries 10 'stories of experience' in audio and text form for the purposes of public awareness. • The same resources are carried on the UK Missing People charity website: https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/about-us/about-the-issue/research/15-stories-of-missing-people.html The PI and GU research fellow have now used 45 returned missing people's narratives to form 10 'stories of missing experience': 'Missing People: Missing Voice's' is an audio/text resource (read by actors) and provide a public awareness function for those interested in the experience of missing people. Channel 4 screened a documentary, produced by RAW TV, who has liaised with the project team for a year for advice, contacts and guidance. 'The Missing' was screened in April, 2104 and reached 2.4 million people on a variety of C4 platforms. 'Missing People: Missing Voices' has been performed or played at a variety of public events, including the 2014 AHRC 'Being Human Festival'. Public Awards: 2015 ESRC Impact Awards for Outstanding Impact on Society. 2017 Glasgow University Best Policy and Practice Award 2018 Hester Parr's Back Award for Research into Practice The 'Geographies of Missing People' project has been awarded the 2013 Scottish Policing Award from the Scottish Government for 'Applied Policing Research'. This competitive award (from a shortlist of five selected national nominees) was handed to the team by the Scottish Cabinet Secretary for Justice, Kenny MacAskill, on Monday 11th March, 2013. Capacity building academic-professional knowledge • Penny Woolnough (Co-I) is now in an academic post following her position with Grampian Police. • There is a legacy of PhD projects unfolding on missing issues eg, ESRC funded project including Joe Apps - manager of the UK Missing People Bureau - now undertaking a PhD with Fyfe and Parr. Professional Education Writing • This contributes resources in peer reviewed professional journals that assist professional education. 2019 and 2020 have seen new publications. • Woolnough, P. Parr H. Stevenson, O. (forthcoming) 'Investigating missing persons: learning from interviews with families' Journal of Homicide and Major Incident Investigation 10 pp. tbc. • Forthcoming Stevenson, O. Parr, H, Woolnough and Fyfe N 'Geographies of missing people' in K Shalev-Greene (ed) The Handbook of Missing People (Ashgate) • Stevenson, O. Woolnough, P. and Parr, H. 2014 'Geographies of missing people: improving police education and response to missing persons', Translational Criminology 6 pp. 22-25 • Woolnough, P. Parr H. Stevenson, O. 2014 'Learning from missing persons: interviews with missing adults' Journal of Homicide and Major Incident Investigation 9 pp. 14-25 • Woolnough, P and Parr H, 2014 'Geographies of missing people: experiences and responses' Police Professional Magazine March edition (Policeprofessional.com) • Stevenson, O. Woolnough, P. and Parr, H. 2013 'Geographies of Missing People: Improving Police Education and Response to Missing Persons'. Scottish Institute for Policing Research Annual Report Research features, Scotland, pp 28-30. UK testimonial of national stakeholders: 'Until now no research or study has been available to help explain why adults go missing and to explore their experiences. This research report has an immediate relevance and utility in evidence-based operational practice. From a policing perspective, translating the learning from this research study into evidence-based practice and then synthesising it with other practice will lead to huge improvements in safeguarding our most vulnerable people. This is a research study of true value and importance and it is a pleasure to welcome and commend this work'. Joe Apps, Manger of the UK Missing Persons Bureau, National Crime Agency 'I believe the work being done to really understand what happens when people go missing is crucial to improving the police response. Listening to a presentation on the findings so far made a huge impact on me and gave me a greater insight into the psyche of those who go missing, than anything I had experienced in the past 30 years. This work will provide a sound foundation for the future development of police tactics and indeed the way in which the public in general can better understand those who go missing' Chief Constable Pat Geenty, Wiltshire Constabulary and UK Police Lead for Missing Persons The Missing People charity: 'Research is such a vital way to promote understanding and The Geographies of Missing People project has provided valuable insight into the experience of losing someone special, and living with this loss. I wholeheartedly welcome and commend this research. We are grateful to the families who took part in the research and for sharing something so personal for the benefit of others. This report, and its recommendations, will help all of us working with and supporting families of missing people by helping to ground us in the reality of how it feels to lose someone and not know where they are. I pledge that at Missing People we will hear the messages in this report from the families and work with its recommendations. We will embed these in our understanding, our practice, our communication and our development of services'. Jo Youle Chief Executive Missing People Charity 'The stories launched in this project allow us to hear, for the first time, the voices of people who have been missing in the past. [T]hese are stories that we have to hear, and we have to share. We must learn from them. And we owe this team out thanks for bringing us these stories, as we owe our thanks to those people who bravely shared with them their most personal stories.' 'When making a case for support to funders we need to provide evidence of need, and we have previously found it difficult to find information about the experiences of missing people (particularly adults) and their families. The important work of the Geographies of Missing People project has filled this gap. The research has also been a valuable independent endorsement of our work, while providing evidence for needed services developments. Our Partnerships team also regularly use the findings in presentations and in meetings to illustrate the issue.' Lucy Homes, Research Manager, Missing People Charity 'I have seen this research have an impact on professionals' understanding of the mind-set and experiences of adults who are missing. I believe it has commenced a change in attitude towards adults whose behaviours while missing now have more limelight than previously. This research has created a framework through which police can discuss how adults behave and think'. Missing People's Head of Partnerships and Development Police Scotland: 'The main report of the Geographies of missing people has been particularly useful to Police Scotland as this provides an insight into the feelings, emotions, expectations and ultimately the journey of the missing person. This research has allowed Police Scotland to view missing person investigations from a different perspective, and the recommendations provided will be introduced so to improve service delivery. These recommendations given by the research will be incorporated into policy guidance (SOP) and also operational guidance (training and aide memoire). The significant changes which have come as a result of the study are those which have already been mentioned; the use of positive and reassuring language with the family, the sign posting towards support the need to conduct return interviews in the right circumstances and for officers to be mindful of their conduct during such interviews. It is recognised that making these changes should improve service delivery and will assist in gaining support from the family during the investigation and also from the missing person upon their return.' Andy MacKay, National Missing Person Strategic Co-ordinator, Police Scotland. Update in 2018-2019 the Scottish Government invested in new multi-sector training for supporting returned missing people which was co-designed by Hester Parr, PI. They invited her to meet with MSP Ash Denham to discuss ways forward for the National Framework for Missing Persons in Scotland. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2011 |
| Sector | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Education,Government, Democracy and Justice,Other |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | 2019-2020 Working Group for Missing People in Scotland - Hester Parr chairs the group for MSP Denham Minister for Community Safety. |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | Hester Parr was asked by the Minister for Community Safety to chair a new Working Group on Missing People in Scotland. The evidence collated in this group over 2019-2020 will be presented in a report to assess the progress of the National Framework for Missing People in Scotland (launched 2017, with reference to the ESRC research). New actions will emerge from this working group, influencing public services and policy priorities. |
| Description | APPG vulnerable people |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Contribution to a national consultation/review |
| Description | Input to police training (live and on-line) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Between 2011 and 2013 we delivered 15 face-to-face knowledge exchange seminars or workshops to police and charitable stakeholders in the UK, EU and US reaching around 500 police officers across the events and 100 NGO workers and 60 families of missing people. We evaluated those events that were specifically part of formal training for serving police officers and received excellent evaluation indicating how our research-led workshops would change or influence future individual policing practice. In 2014 we began a collaborative agreement - funded by the Glasgow University Knowledge Exchange Fund - with the UK College of Policing and the Police National Search Centre. We have updated several modules that the police college officers its officers in terms of on-line training and education with regards to missing persons. The modules we offered updates on are listed below (with previous figures representing uptake up to 2014). This indicates the potential reach. We are currently waiting for the Police College to make the changes to the on-line modules and deliver on their agreement with us to do so. We have been assured by email from the Director that this is in process. Missing Persons E-Briefing 704 Public Protection - Missing Daughter 6,022 Missing Person Search 6,631 Standard Search 7,354 Mental Ill Health V4.0 79,929 We have also contribute to live CPD events in 3 locations (with officer numbers and impact evaluation completed) 'Police Search Advisor CPD, (14 - 15th April, 2014, Ryton). reaching 118 delegates, in total 116 evaluations Police Search Advisor CPD, (22 - 23rd April, 2014, Tulliallan) reaching 50 delegates, in total 47 evaluations Police Search Advisor CPD, (7th - 8th May, 2014, Bramshill) reaching 92 delegates, in total 82 evaluations There is now an active process in place for the Police National Search Centre to deliver our research workshop based on the findings, and organise officer evaluation. This is successfully happening during 2014. The courses are delivered quarterly and reach around 90 specialist search officers per year. The evaluations ask for self-reported comment on predicated professional behaviour change as a result of exposure to the workshop, and indicative evaluation show that empathetic professional behaviours to both families of missing people and returning missing people are resulting from this knowledge exchange. |
| Description | Membership of Government Advisory Group on Return Homes Interviews |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | The Guidance will be launched in 2017 - as part of the Framework for Missing Persons in Scotland. The intended impacts are noted. |
| Description | Membership of Government led National Missing Persons Strategy Group (Scotland) |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Description | National Framework for Missing People in Scotland |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Impact | A new National Framework was launched after Parr was invited to be on an expert guidance group and on a specialise 'Return Interview Group'. Parr's ESRC funding in 2017 contributed to the launch event where Minister A Ewing attended. |
| Description | Training for multi-sector professionals in Scotland 2018 |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Following the launch of The National Missing Persons Framework in May 2017, Missing People in partnership with Barnardo's Scotland, Shelter Scotland and University of Glasgow (Hester Parr) received funding from Scottish Government to deliver a training programme to assist in providing a consistent approach to the response and support given to missing persons on their return from a missing episode. This project was titled, 'Return Discussions' - Reaching returned missing children and adults across Scotland. This project was designed to ensure that it addressed the following objectives which had been highlighted in the original bid - • Training delivered to 350 - 400 professionals across Scotland on how to deliver effective and safe return discussions to missing adults and children, including an increased knowledge of 'missing risk assessment'; • Trained professionals are better informed of the risks surrounding missing and that people at risk of going missing are treated as a priority, locally; • Trained professionals are aware of the support options available to people who have been missing and their families, and have the resources to make this available following completion of our training course. Hester Parr was part of a specially commission group of partners to design 'Return Discussion Training' delivered across Scotland. Missing People delivered the training with Scottish Government funding. · During the life of the project we managed to reach 27 of the 32 local councils, ensuring 85% council coverage of Scotland · 100% of professionals felt that the training made them more able to conduct a return discussion. · Return discussions are taking place in 10 of the 32 local council areas. · There are 6 areas in Scotland offering return discussions to both adults and children, in line with the recommendations in the Missing Persons Framework. · Trainers trained through the project are delivering regular return discussion sessions in Aberdeenshire, East Ayrshire and Renfrewshire. · Police are regularly training multi-agency partners in Forth Valley, Tayside, Lanarkshire and Argyll & Dunbartonshire. |
| Description | Glasgow University Knowledge Exchange Fund |
| Amount | £29,000 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | Knowledge Exchange Fund |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2014 |
| End | 07/2014 |
| Title | Geographies of missing people |
| Description | |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Year Produced | 2014 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Title | Geographies of missing people database |
| Description | This data collection represents the empirical materials collected from the ESRC project 'Geographies of Missing People'. It comprises 45 interviews with people previously reported as missing, 9 charity workers, 23 police officers of various ranks and 25 families of missing people. |
| Type Of Material | Database/Collection of data |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | It is a unique research and we have used the materials to contribute to police education and training and shared learning points with the charity Missing People. |
| URL | http://reshare.ukdataservice.ac.uk/id/eprint/851480 |
| Description | Knowledge Exchange on Missing Persons |
| Organisation | College of Policing |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Glasgow University funded the project research fellow in an extension in order to update UK National Police College modules with findings and recommendations from the research. There was a memo of agreement between the two organisations. * Public Protection Level 1 learning descriptor * Public Protection Missing Persons Student Notes * Public Protection Missing Daughter e-learning chapter * Missing Persons e-briefing * Public Protection Level 2 learning descriptor * Mental Ill Health e-learning * Standard Search * Missing Persons Search e-learning |
| Collaborator Contribution | The police college are updating their existing modules and building in evaluation questions so the research team can track the impact of the research findings on police education and training. We are currently awaiting the roll-out timetable for the changes that have been made. |
| Impact | Currently changes are being made to the following modules and these count as outcomes: * Public Protection Level 1 learning descriptor * Public Protection Missing Persons Student Notes * Public Protection Missing Daughter e-learning chapter * Missing Persons e-briefing * Public Protection Level 2 learning descriptor * Mental Ill Health e-learning * Standard Search * Missing Persons Search e-learning |
| Start Year | 2014 |
| Description | Audio stories resources |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 10 audio stories read by actors recording missing journeys. These are creattive narrative resources based on verbatim interview with people reported as missing and who have returned. The audio files are currently being used in police education and training. They have been used in police and charity education and training. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| URL | http://www.geographiesofmissingpeople.org.uk |
| Description | Australian dissemination |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | An international lecture given via film to Australian police and charity partners in the Missing Sector. In their first International Conference in Sydney. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018 |
| Description | Practitioner and multi-disciplinary workshops, conferences and seminars (multiple over life of research grant) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | 2010 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses' - Introductory Knowledge Exchange Meeting with Grampian Police Force - 11th November 2010 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses' - Introductory Knowledge Exchange Meeting at the Home Office (London) with Missing People, MPS and NPIA representatives - 12th November 2010 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses' - Capacity building Event organised by Lucy Holmes (Missing People) as part of the ACPO Strategic Oversight Groups' Research sub-group (along with Llian Alys (NPIA) and Zoe Hilton (CEOP) - 12th November 2010 2011 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, MISSING PEOPLE conference, The Court Room, Scottish Police College, Tulliallan, 6th June 2011 US Marshalls service, department of justice knowledge exchange meeting for the project 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses', Feb 2012, NYC 2012 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses', ACPO Compact User Group meeting (Feb 2012, Hull). 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses', Joint Annual Missing Persons Conference, Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry The Police response to reports of Missing Persons - research on current practice, FBINAA European Chapter Personal Development session, Brussels (5-6th September, 2012) 2013 Police Responses to Missing Persons, Society of Evidence based Policing, University of Edinburgh (13th February, 2013) The Police Response to Missing Persons, UK FBINAA seminar, Lancashire Police HQ Hutton Hall (12/13 March 2013) Spatial and social profiling for missing persons investigations workshop, Centre for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (CEBCP) - Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) joint symposium and congressional briefing on evidence-based policing, Washington DC (8-10th April 2013) Missing People: Narratives of missing experience workshop, Centre for Evidence-Based Crime Policy (CEBCP) - Scottish Institute for Policing Research (SIPR) joint symposium and congressional briefing on evidence-based policing, Washington DC (8-10th April 2013) Misper experience and family search knowledge, Missing Persons in a European context: research, practitioner and policy perspectives, Scotland House, Brussels (7th May 2013) 'Geographies of missing people: processes, experiences, responses', professional development input to the UK Missing Persons Bureau and former NPIA units including Crime Operational Support staff, Bramhill (12th July, 2013) 'Geographies of Missing People key note and project launch for Missing Stories, Missing Voices resources, 1st International Conference on Missing Children and Adults, University of Portsmouth (18 -20 June 2013) Engineer Theatre Collective production 'Missing' at the Edinburgh Fridge Festival, at the underbelly, Edinburgh, (Thursday 22nd August 2013) 'Family perspectives on search' findings launch and family conference in collaboration with Missing People, (7th September, UK) 'Listening to missing people, missing voices' family workshop, Missing People family conference, London (7th September, UK) Outreach work for 'Geographies of Missing People: experiences and response', via information stall and conversation at Missing People Family conference with families, London (7th September, UK) 'Geographies of Missing People: Processes, Experiences, Responses', Practitioner Research Workshop: Scottish Policing Award Winners 2013, Scottish Police College (2nd October, UK) Academic 2011 'The Missing'. EXCURSIONS - TELLING STORIES and JOURNEYS: An Interdisciplinary Symposium, University of Glasgow 8-9th December, 2011 2012 'Missing geographies', UCL, (Jan 2012, London) The misper': police case files and writing geographies of missingness, AAG Annual Meeting, New York, (Feb 2012, NYC) 'Geographies of Missing People: processes, experiences and responses'. Missing People Charity (March 2012) 'Geographies of Missing II: narratives of being missing and the process of search', Dundee University (April 2012) 'The misper' and policing geographies of missingness, RGS-IBG Conference, Edinburgh (3-5th July 2012, UK) Geographies of absence-making: Sophie's story, RGS-IBG Conference, Edinburgh (3-5th July 2012, UK) 2013 'No news today: the use of ambiguous emotion and the absent presence of missing people', Human Geography and Counselling studies Seminar, University of Edinburgh (17 Apr, 2013) 'No news today': the use of ambiguous emotion and the absent presence of missing people, Fourth International and Interdisciplinary Conference on Emotional Geographies, University of Groningen, the Netherlands (1-3 July 2013) 'Inserting audio stories into spaces of silence', RGS-IBG Conference, London (27th - 30th August, UK) 'Geographies of missing people: impact and outputs', HGRG seminar, University of Glasgow, Glasgow (12 December, UK) Geographies of Missing People: learning from Knowledge Exchange Glasgow University Knowledge Exchange Conference Our impact narrative tells this story. We have been invited to input to legacy national training and education for police officers. We have assisted with the evidence base for charitable service funding bids. 2 members of the team have been invited to sit in a National (Scotland) Strategy Group for Missing People (led by the Scottish Government). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010,2011,2012,2013,2014 |