Title: Decrease in Missing Persons Cases in Hesse, 2023
Hesse's missing persons tally has taken a downward turn in 2023 compared to the previous year. As of December 15, 2023, the police's information and search system (INPOL) revealed 6132 active and inactive searches for missing individuals, as reported by the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) in Wiesbaden. In contrast, data from 2022 showed a total of 6811 registered cases.
The decline in missing persons was noticeable among adults, young people, and male children. However, a slight uptick was observed in the number of missing female children, as per the LKA experts. They noted that the high number of missing persons is associated with "regularly absent minors," who often go missing multiple times within a short timeframe due to disagreements at home or with friends.
Child abductions, stemming from custody disputes or unaccompanied refugee escapes, also contribute to the list of missing persons cases, LKA added. Parental disputes, even those involving custody, classify as child abductions and can prompt missing persons investigations, as the experts explained.
The LKA further clarified that an individual is considered missing in a crisis situation if they leave their familiar surroundings, their whereabouts remain unknown, and there's a potential danger to their life or limb. This condition applies to both minors and adults, but missing minors differ in that they've fallen victim to a crime, such as child abduction, even if their whereabouts are known abroad.
According to the statistics, nearly half of all wanted individuals were resolved within a week, and an additional 47% were handled within two months. Only 3% of cases persisted for over a year.
Insightful Additions:
- The decrease in missing persons cases could be attributed to a variety of factors like improved reporting methods, intensified law enforcement efforts, positive socio-economic changes, or intense public safety initiatives, although this data is not explicitly cited in the provided sources.
- Proper classification of missing persons, including child abductions, ensures accurate statistics. Clear distinctions between voluntary and involuntary disappearances, efficient data collection methods, and public awareness campaigns are essential in maintaining reliable statistics on missing persons.
