How long does a missing person's case remain open in the UK?

Question

I seem to remember hearing somewhere that a murder investigation remains open forever if unsolved. Just wondered if there's a time limit on a missing person's investigation?

Answer 1

Until solved, but it's not actively pursued after a leads have dried up.

Answer 2

As long as the family presses the issue. It's under common law.

Answer 3

There is no limit, they just stop looking so hard when there is no longer enough evidence to support a lead.  Unsolved cases in the UK do not close, they are archived.

Answer 4

Missing person cases remain open indefinitely.

They will be treated the same as any unsolved crime. They may be filed at some point but that would be pending any further evidence coming the light.

If further evidence comes to light to help in the investigation, the case would be re-opened and re-investigated.

Answer 5

The case is never closed!

Answer 6

There are cases on the Missing People Web site still open after decades (the case of Ben Needham for example. He went missing from Kos, aged 2, in 1991. He'd be 19 now. But there are other cases there going back 25 years plus - particularly those of children. Just recently there's been a lot of publicity surrounding Katrice Lee, who went missing when her father was stationed in Germany in 1981. She'd be 28  now). But the longest open case with Missing People is that of Mary Flanagan who went missing from Newham, East London in May 1959, aged 16).

Answer 7

Hi

I think that the investigation time will depend upon sightings and information provided to the police or family about the missing person.

try this pdf...loads of info in here: