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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Missing people strategy launched by Home Office | Missing people strategy launched by Home Office |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The first cross-government strategy for missing people in England and Wales is being launched by the Home Office. | The first cross-government strategy for missing people in England and Wales is being launched by the Home Office. |
| The initiative is expected to emphasise the role police should play in ensuring that relatives of people who go missing are provided with support. | The initiative is expected to emphasise the role police should play in ensuring that relatives of people who go missing are provided with support. |
| Senior officers admit current guidance is not working well, with families saying they have no-one to turn to. | Senior officers admit current guidance is not working well, with families saying they have no-one to turn to. |
| The chief executive of the Missing People charity, Martin Houghton-Brown, described it as a "momentous day". | The chief executive of the Missing People charity, Martin Houghton-Brown, described it as a "momentous day". |
| He said it was the first time any government had devised an "over-arching" policy on the issue. | He said it was the first time any government had devised an "over-arching" policy on the issue. |
| Risk groups | Risk groups |
| The key element is expected to be a commitment that police will direct the families of people who disappear towards services that can give them legal, financial, emotional and practical support. | The key element is expected to be a commitment that police will direct the families of people who disappear towards services that can give them legal, financial, emotional and practical support. |
| The strategy is also designed to ensure that agencies work in a more co-ordinated way to identify people who are at risk of going missing and to find those who do. | The strategy is also designed to ensure that agencies work in a more co-ordinated way to identify people who are at risk of going missing and to find those who do. |
| BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the strategy appears to be of symbolic value as much as anything else. | BBC home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the strategy appears to be of symbolic value as much as anything else. |
| Death certificate impasse | Death certificate impasse |
| Ministers have said they will decide by next April whether to change the law on missing people in England and Wales. | Ministers have said they will decide by next April whether to change the law on missing people in England and Wales. |
| At present financial affairs remain in a person's name indefinitely when there is no death certificate, unlike in Scotland and Northern Ireland. | At present financial affairs remain in a person's name indefinitely when there is no death certificate, unlike in Scotland and Northern Ireland. |
| Ministers are sympathetic to the situation, but Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has not guaranteed that action will be taken. | Ministers are sympathetic to the situation, but Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has not guaranteed that action will be taken. |
| He told the Commons Justice Committee that the present law was "convoluted and cumbersome" but gave no pledge that it would change. | He told the Commons Justice Committee that the present law was "convoluted and cumbersome" but gave no pledge that it would change. |