Searches for 46 missing persons in Northern Ireland are to be assisted by a new information-sharing scheme between the PSNI and the Missing Persons Helpline, Chief Constable Hugh Orde said yesterday, writes Dan Keenan, Northern News Editor.
Mr Orde was addressing a special conference in Belfast organised by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Garda.
He said the new arrangement between the PSNI and the helpline would become a benchmark for all police services and their investigations into missing persons.
"There must be a consistency of approach," he said. "The national protocol, which is still under discussion, will be a benchmark for all police services in their work to investigate missing persons."
Ms Juliet Singer, of the National Missing Persons Helpline, told the conference that the police forces that had already signed the agreement to work closely with her organisation were effectively operating pilot schemes to improve the exchange of data.
Ms Mary Asprey, co-founder of the National Missing Persons Helpline, said it was particularly encouraging to have the Garda involved in the conference.
"The conference will be an excellent opportunity to debate and discuss the improvements to the services offered to the families and carers of missing persons," she said.
A senior PSNI detective, Det Supt Andrew Bailey, said: "We have designed an agenda which we hope in the first instance will enhance the way in which police in the UK and Ireland deal with missing persons cases so that ultimately there is less uncertainty and suffering for the individuals and families directly involved," he told the BBC.
"Further evidence of our commitment to this issue can be seen in the joint protocol the PSNI has just signed with the National Missing Persons Helpline to ensure we tackle this problem together in the most professional and sensitive way."