Police have highlighted the median time for finding missing persons
The number of missing person reports made in Northern Ireland during much of 2025 have been revealed.
The PSNI say if you cannot get in touch with someone and are concerned for their welfare, it is important you contact them as soon as possible to report them as missing.
New figures released to Belfast Live following a Freedom of Information request to the PSNI show that between January 1 and December 1, 2025, a total of 5,297 missing person reports were made to police. Of these reports, a total of 2,785 missing persons were juveniles (persons under 18).
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The median time taken (the middle time of all missing person times) to solve these missing person cases was 5 hours 37 minutes.
Detailing the average times to solve such cases, the majority of missing persons (2,652) were found within one to eight hours of being reported as missing.
Police said 509 people were found in under one hour, 833 people were found between eight and 16 hours, and 422 people were found between 16 and 24 hours.
During this time period, 446 people were found between 24 and 48 hours of being reported as missing, 269 people were found between two and seven days, while 87 people were found seven days after going missing.
When a person is reported as missing, police will ask for information as they begin their search, including the person’s details and a physical description of them, where they’re missing from, and any clothing they may be wearing.
Other details they will ask for include whether their absence appears to be planned, any vehicles they may have access to, any addresses they may go to, or any social media accounts they have.
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