Missing Persons Week - August 1-7

FASTXR · 02-08-2010, 08:15 PM

How many people do you think are reported missing each year in Australia?

1,000?

5,000?

Believe it or not, 35,000 people are reported missing each year - on average, that's one every 15 minutes.

National Missing Persons Week is August 1-7 and aims to educate people about the issue of missing persons as well as giving an insight into the pain and grief suffered by those left behind.

This year, the focus is on busting the myth that you need to wait a certain amount of time (commonly thought to be 24 hours) before you can report someone missing. In fact, you can make a report at any time. The longer it takes to get the police on the case, the harder it becomes to find a missing person, hence this year's campaign slogan - A day spent waiting is a day lost.

If at any time you have fears for the safety or whereabouts of a loved one, report it it to the police straight away.

For more information, check out the National Missing Persons website - http://www.missingpersons.gov.au

pottery beige · 02-08-2010, 11:55 PM

some people go missing because they dont want to be found.. dont be offended by this but i personally wish most of my family would just ...... and leave me alone... as i said please dont be offended i am just the other side of the story...

FASTXR · 03-08-2010, 12:11 AM

Hey I take your point and you're right, there are those people who for one reason or another choose to take off and live their own life. Of course it would be ideal if those people contacted their families or police and said "I'm ok but I don't want to be found"; at least the families and friends aren't left behind wondering whether their family member/friend is alive or lying in a ditch somewhere. And if you inform police that you don't want to be found (provided you're over 18), they will not tell your family where you are, just that you are ok.

The point of my post was more to reinforce that if anyone has fears for someone that they don't have to wait and that they should report it as soon as possible. The trouble is, when some people take off voluntarily, particularly young people, they can find themselves with people or in situations that are even more dangerous than before.

pottery beige · 03-08-2010, 12:26 AM

Delete post

uranium_death · 03-08-2010, 12:56 AM

I've been trying to find the happy, sane me...if you find him, then please tell me...

iCat · 03-08-2010, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by uranium_death

I've been trying to find the happy, sane me...if you find him, then please tell me...

oh, that's such a sad statement ... :(

BENT_8 · 03-08-2010, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iCat

oh, that's such a sad statement ... :(

Agreed!

I opened this thread to learn a bit about this missing persons week only to find the first 3 replies distasteful.

Who honestly believes the first replies to this type of thread should be a poor attempt at humour...?

Honestly, if you have nothing worthwhile, find some other thread to flex your ego's and leave serious threads be.

Peace to those loved ones affected.

||| · 03-08-2010, 12:40 PM

on a positive note, the report today said 95% of people reported missing are found within the 1st week & 98% are eventaully found so that's something good.

uranium_death · 04-08-2010, 12:18 AM

Never meant to offend anybody. I have downers.

I've lost friends to suicide, and I am still haunted by it to this day.

There are underlying factors to things we say sometimes.

I also wasn't trying to be funny.

I hope that nobody has to see their friend in a coffin in their 20s.