Missing persons - An Garda Síochána

A missing person is defined as anyone whose whereabouts are unknown and the circumstances of the disappearance presents a risk of harm to the missing person or any other person.

You can contact your local Garda station or any Garda station to report a person as missing.

A missing person investigation will commence on receipt of the initial report. An Garda Síochána does not require a person to be missing for a certain period of time before commencing an investigation.

The relevant Superintendent will maintain management responsibility for the missing person investigation in their District or Functional area and will review the investigation to ensure it is reflective of the circumstances of the case and the information available. During the course of a missing person investigation, a close family member may be asked to provide a familial DNA sample in order to progress the investigation. If any family member has any queries regarding providing a DNA sample they can contact their local investigating Garda member, or, alternatively the Garda Missing Persons Unit.

Missing Persons Unit The Missing Persons Unit has organisational responsibility for the following matters:

• Review, development and implementation of Garda policy
• Provision of advice, support and assistance to An Garda Síochána, non-governmental organisations and members of the public
• Development of training material
• Liaison with police services in other jurisdictions in relation to missing person investigations and unidentified remains.

An Garda Síochána contacts Interpol in cases where there is an international dimension to any missing persons investigation. Interpol provides assistance in situations where people living in Ireland are reported missing outside this jurisdiction, or where persons who have been reported missing

in this jurisdiction may have left the jurisdiction. Interpol also assists external police services with international missing persons investigations.

An Garda Síochána participates in the Schengen Information System (SIS), the most widely used and largest information-sharing system for security and border management in Europe. SIS enables state authorities, such as police services, to enter and consult alerts on missing persons and other matters.

Child Rescue Ireland Alert (CRI Alert) is a system that enables An Garda Síochána to seek the assistance of the general public in cases where a child has been abducted and there is a reasonable belief that there is an immediate and serious risk to the health or welfare of a child.

CRI Alert is an agreement between An Garda Síochána, the media and information broadcasters to alert the public to a child abduction in order to seek their help. Information relating to the CRI Alert will be broadcast via several media, including, but not limited to: Radio, Television, Internet and Electronic Road Signs. The primary goal of the CRI Alert is the safe and early recovery of the child unharmed.

The Garda Missing Person Unit can be contacted at missing_persons@garda.ie, or 01-6669476

A full list of all Garda stations nationwide together with their contact details is located at https://www.garda.ie/en/contact-us/station-directory