Page 26 - WMPF Federation FEB-MAR 2022_Neat

FOCUS ON LOCATE

Detective reveals ‘raw

emotion’ that comes with

reuniting missing people

with loved ones

DI who works as part of the Force’s transactions to establish a missing person’s Having helped reunite thousands of people
missing person team has described the movements and help find them as quickly as with their loved ones over the past two years,
A huge reward and emotion that come possible. Phil says the incidents that really stick in his
with reunited people with their loved ones. Thankfully, in the vast majority of cases mind are those when they get to a person
Detective Inspector Phil Poole, who joined there’s been a successful conclusion. before they can cause intended harm to
the Locate team around two-and-a-half years “We have dedicated teams that cover all themselves, or worse, take their own life.
ago, has given an insight into the incredible areas, including operations, who work from “We have to act extremely quickly but if
community effort that goes into finding 7am until 3am, 365 days of a year,” added Phil. we find them, we can often stop them from
thousands of missing people every year. “We also have an intervention and harming themselves and get them the help
Phil, who joined the police 20 years ago, prevention team, along with those dedicated to they need,” he continued.
has revealed that around 13,000 missing safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.” “Last year, I found we were called to a lot
people were reported across the West Phil says that effective partnerships with of middle-aged men, who might have
Midlands last year and only around 20 of local organisations have played a huge role in experienced a significant change in their life,
those have not been located. the department’s success in finding people. like a marriage breakdown. If we can get to
“I like to think we’re pretty unique as a “This is a real community effort,” said the them and intervene before they take their life,
Force, mainly because we have our own father-of-two, “And finding them isn’t good that matters to me.
dedicated missing person unit,” explains enough, it’s all about preventing this from “It’s equally as rewarding when you reunite
44-year-old Phil. happening in the future too. parents with their children, I get a huge
The department was initially formed in “We try to think outside the box, so people amount of satisfaction from that.
2016 as a pilot scheme, after the Force can help themselves in the community. We “And even though it’s rewarding, this is a
recognised a rise in the number of missing also work closely with networks and very challenging job, and we must never lose
people across the region. It became fully organisations like those in social care to sight that there is always a family out there
operational the following summer. support vulnerable people.” wondering where their loved one is.”
A team picks up an investigation, if initial Phil explained that as well as focusing on Phil says that the role can be very
response officer checks of addresses, with new cases, the team regularly revisits and emotional for the team, especially if they have
family and friends and at hospitals draw a reviews inactive files. been heavily invested in searching for that
blank. “Since around 1950, we only have around missing person.
Locate officers then carry out a range of 200 inactive cases now, which I think is “I’ve been present when a family member
enquiries including CCTV, mobile phone and testament to where the Force is at,” he added. is reunited with someone who was missing,
and the whole room is full of such raw
emotion. I don’t think we’d be human if we
“ IT’S EQUALLY AS REWARDING WHEN YOU REUNITE PARENTS didn’t feel anything,” he added.

“There’s never a shortage of people
wanting to join our department and when
WITH THEIR CHILDREN. I GET A HUGE AMOUNT OF SATISFACTION
they’re here, they don’t often have an appetite
FROM THAT. to go anywhere else. After all, it totally
satisfied the one thing most police officers
want to do, and that’s to help people.”

26 federation February/March 2022 www.polfed.org/westmids