Missing Persns Plicy (Safeguarding) Supprting Prcedures Originatr name: Sectin / Dept: Craig Lwe Implementatin date: March 2016 Related plicies: Student Supprt Services Missing Persns Plicy (Safeguarding) Data Prtectin Plicy / Statement n Data Prcessing Safeguarding plicies (see website 1.2) Prevent Plicy (Prevent Duty under Cunter Terrrism and Security Act) Plicy histry: Update & transfer t new plicy template C. Lwe Jan 2016 1
1 Intrductin This dcument sets ut University prcedures relating t Missing Persns (Safeguarding). 1.1 Purpse The purpse f these prcedures is t prvide infrmatin n standard actins which shuld be taken t establish the whereabuts and safety f a missing student. 1.2 Plicy See, Missing Persns Plicy (Safeguarding) www.surrey.ac.uk/currentstudents/ask/regulatins/ 1.3 Prcedures The prcedures belw relate t different scenaris where a student may be missing and relevant actins which may be necessary. 1.3.1 Need fr crdinatin, recrding & discretin There is ptential t cause distress when investigating suspected missing persns. Therefre cases require careful handling and clear crdinatin. Fr this reasn, any such cncerns shuld be reprted t the (i) Security Office Email - security-advisrs@surrey.ac.uk The Security Office will nminate an individual t crdinate an investigatin, hereafter referred t as the Crdinating Officer. A clear and accurate recrd f all actins taken will be lgged by the security ffice using the reprting system (Archibus). In rder t avid unnecessary distress r alarm, and t prtect the cnfidentiality rights f the student, it is imprtant that n member f staff cntacts the student's hme r ther external persn r agency, except n the advice f the designated crdinating fficer. The crdinating fficer will cmply with data prtectin, disclsure and infrmatin sharing guidelines and prcedures during their inquiries. 1.3.2 Investigatin Initial actins (Phase 1) The Crdinating Officer will carry ut a discreet investigatin f the circumstances, and will cnduct an initial risk assessment, utilising as apprpriate sme r all f the fllwing surces f infrmatin: Student recrds system (SITS) data Name Address Age Subject Year f study Natinality Phtgraph Schl/Department Persnal tutr (SITS recrd) Departmental administrative staff cntact Curse/mdule cntact Placement cntacts 2
Student Supprt Services (visit Student Services Centre r email ask@surrey.ac.uk ) Centre fr Wellbeing (visit Centre fr Wellbeing r email centrefrwellbeing@surrey.ac.uk) Cntact with, r recrds held by: -Wardens (rm check /check with flatmates) -Student Life Central team / Mentrs -Student Centre Teams (Frnt desk/student advice teams) Cntact with, r recrds held by: -Cunselling administratr (including referrals t Hspital) - Chaplaincy Accmmdatin / USL Office Cntact with central ffice regarding n r ff campus students Identificatin f husemates thrugh ffice r student recrds system. Security Office Rm check / enquiries with neighburs Campus searches / CCTV Incident reprts Clubs/Scieties/scial activities Students' Unin UniSprt Utilisatin f University services (where such a measure is warranted and in line with data prtectin plicy) Use f netwrk / e-mail accunt (i.e. traffic statistics, and nt interceptin r reading f message cntent) Use f campus card t access services (e.g. library) Access t card cntrlled buildings Use f Scial Media Recent nline activity Use f scial media If the investigatin leads t making cntact with the student, the Crdinating Officer will nly pursue further actins that are in line with data prtectin and cnfidentiality plicies. Pssible actins might include recmmending that the student cntacts their Next f Kin/family, r ther party that raised the cause fr cncern. 1.3.3 Further Investigatin Subsequent actins (Phase 2) If, after initial investigatin, the student's whereabuts are still nt knwn, the Crdinating Officer will utilise the infrmatin gained t develp a risk prfile in cnnectin with the student's disappearance which als takes accunt f the student's nrmal behaviurs, and the circumstances listed belw: Age Under 18 r ver 65 years? Natinality Overseas student? Length f time since last seen <1 week? <10 days? >10 days? Health Requiring essential medicatin r treatment? Mental-health difficulties? Drugs/alchl dependency? Recent histry Stated intentin t harm self r thers? 3
Suspicin f abductin? Recent invlvement in vilent incident? Victim f crime (esp. harassment, bullying, vilence) Expressin f extremist views - risk f radicalisatin (Prevent Duty) Knwn prblems in life Academic difficulties? Financial prblems? Family/relatinship prblems? Previus histry f ging missing? The Crdinating Officer, in cnsultatin with thers listed belw, will use the risk prfile t identify an apprpriate curse f actin which might invlve sme, all, r nne f the fllwing: Ding nthing fr the time being - this ptin shuld nly be pursued after full investigatin and cnsultatin with the Head f Security. Cntacting the student's family / Next f kin (t inquire abut the student's mvements) taking accunt f data prtectin regulatins and the student's right t privacy /cnfidentiality unless the reprt riginated frm the student's family/next f Kin If there is cause fr cncern, the family/next f kin f the missing student may be cntacted t cnvey that the University has cncerns abut the whereabuts f the student. If, in the light f the Crdinating Officer s investigatins, mre substantial actin is warranted this will nrmally be crdinated by the Head f Security this may include: Cnvening the Silver incident grup Senir management team t actively manage significant cncerns/incident. Were a case is nging this will usually revert t business as usual management, until such time as new infrmatin r updates are available. Cntacting the Plice T make a missing persns reprt. This may allw the plice t use independent ways and means t lcate missing individuals. Supprting the student s family / Next f kin r The University will supprt the family in practical ways if and when they cme t Surrey, fr example during a search. Identificatin f / fllw up enquiries with, r supprt fr, ther students n curse r cresident in n r ff campus accmmdatin. Cncerns may have been raised by these surces. Cnsideratin shuld be given t the need t supprt ther students impacted by any incident / absence, particularly where plice frensic r investigative activity arises. If, in the light f the Crdinating Officer s investigatins, a student may be lcated safe and well. Where a student indicates that absence was intended and they d nt wish t return (want t withdraw/leave the University) this shuld be ntified t Student Services 4
1.4 Review (1.3.2) wh will ntify internal departments. If a student is lcated deceased the Student Death Plicy will apply. Fllwing a missing persn incident a reprt will be cmpleted by the crdinating fficer t highlight lessns learned and infrm the develpment f this plicy / prcedures. 1.5 Further infrmatin If yu have questins relating t Missing Persns please d nt hesitate t discuss them with the Security Office n x2002 (General Security Enquires) r 3333 (Emergency Only). 5