Missing Persons

Policy No:
04/10
Effective Date:
Date Amended:
Date Reviewed:
2014

Legislative/Regulatory Requirements

Section 29 of the Adequacy Standards Regulation requires a police services board to have a policy on investigations into missing persons.

In addition, section 12(1)(l) requires the Chief of Police to develop and maintain procedures on and processes for undertaking and managing investigations into missing persons.

Board Policy

It is the policy of the Regional Municipality of York  Police Services Board with respect to undertaking and managing investigations into missing persons that the Chief of Police will develop and maintain procedures that:

  1. set out the steps to be followed for undertaking investigations into reports of missing persons, including situations involving children, teenagers and elder and vulnerable adults;
  2. ensure investigative follow-up on outstanding cases; and
  3. where circumstances indicate a strong possibility of foul play, require officers to comply with the procedures set out in the Ministry’s designated Ontario Major Case Management Manual; 
  4. ensure AMBER ALERT activation is considered in all missing children investigations, and that Major Case Management is implemented in all cases involving AMBER Alert activation.