Join Missing People, the only charity in the UK to provide 24/7 guidance and support to missing people and their families, at our first online conference in Scotland, held in partnership with Police Scotland and Scottish Government.

Since July 2019, Missing People have been delivering a programme of consultancy, training and good practice sharing to support Scottish Government's work to ensure that The National Missing Persons Framework for Scotland is implemented effectively across local areas.

We have been working with partners across Scotland to identify existing good practice of local professionals in the support of missing adults, children, and their families. This conference will showcase elements of this practice from each of these areas, in line with The Framework.

The aims of the conference are to:

• Increase understanding of good and innovative practice for reducing harm related to missing
• Provide an opportunity for professionals to discuss the benefits and challenges of multi-agency responses to missing people and their families
• Launch new education resources about running away and staying safer for young people, and the professionals that support them

This online conference will include speakers from across Scotland, and presentations from our divisional partners to discuss and exhibit a variety of good and innovative practice around missing. There will also be an update regarding how Covid-19 has impacted on missing within Police Scotland.

Speakers will include:

• Ash Denham MSP - Scottish Government
• Chief Inspector Colin Convery - Police Scotland, National Missing Persons Unit
• Annie Marshall - National Co-ordinator, Missing People
• PC Yocksan Bell - Missing Person Operational Co-ordinator, Police Scotland (E Division)
• Sergeant Craig Stephen - Police Scotland
• Martha McBrier - Helplines Manager, Missing People
• Tommy Petillo - Purple Alert Co-ordinator, Alzheimer Scotland
• Carol Munro - Senior Practitioner, Barnardo's Scotland

AGENDA FOR THE CONFERENCE

09.30 – 9.45 : Opening delivered by Chair, Hester Parr

Overview of conference, agenda and housekeeping.

09.45 – 10:00: Annie Marshall - National Coordinator, Missing People

Overview of The National Missing Persons Framework and Year 1 of The National Framework Implementation Project, including further project information and key project highlights.

10:00 - 10:15 : Chief Inspector Colin Convery, Safer Communities - Police Scotland

Overview and Update; Current Trends and Initiatives – Missing Persons.

10:15 – 10.30: Ash Denham MSP, Minister for Community Safety

Launch of Missing People Education Resource/Highlights from the Framework/Comments on the Working Group’s update report.

10:30 – 10.45: Q & A for Annie and Colin.

10.45 – 11:05: Prevent, Respond, Support and Protect : Adults Missing from Hospital - PC Yocksan Bell, Police Scotland (E Division)

Edinburgh has a multi-agency response to adults missing from hospital: good practice in responding consistently and appropriately to missing persons to reduce the harm associated with missing.

11:05 – 11:35 : Fife Missing Person Partnership Protocol – Inspector Craig Stephen, Police Scotland (formerly of P Division)

Fife’s local multi-agency protocol as good practice of multi-agency working, information sharing and the completion of Return Discussions.

11:35– 11:45: Q & A for Edinburgh and Fife

11:45 – 12.00: Break

12.00 – 12:20: Martha McBrier, Helpline Manger - Missing People’s Core Services

Input on the Missing People’s Helpline, publicity appeals, family support, TextSafe and more.

12:20 – 12:40: Tommy Petillo – Purple Alert

Further information and updates regarding Purple Alert, a community minded app that helps to find a person with dementia, if they go missing.

12:40 – 12:50: Q & A for Missing People and Tommy Petillo

12:50 – 13.10: Carol Munro, Senior Practitioner - Barnardo’s Scotland

Further information on the Education Resource that was created in partnership by Barnardo’s Scotland, Missing People and Education Scotland.

13:10 – 13:20: Q & A for Barnardo’s Scotland

13:20 – 13:30 : Closing Statement and Thanks

This event is free and has been funded by Scottish Government.

Please note: This event will take place on Microsoft Teams, and we will ask for everyone’s microphone to be muted and camera off unless they are presenting.