Reporting a Beacon (Missing veteran, service person or blue light worker)
Beacon Alert is not an emergency service. If someone is missing and there is an immediate risk of harm to themselves or others, call 999 immediately. Do not wait, every moment counts in an emergency.
We can only issue Beacon Alerts for veterans, service personnel, reservists, or blue-light workers (police, ambulance, fire brigade). Before submitting a request to us, you must report the missing person to the police and obtain a police reference number if you have not done so already.
Advice for Contacting the Police
When reporting a missing person to the police, you do not need to wait 24 hours. The earlier a missing person is reported, the more effective the search efforts will be.
When speaking with the police, provide as much detail as possible. Use the following A–H guide to ensure you cover all relevant information:
- A – Age: The person’s approximate age or date of birth.
- B – Build: Their body type (e.g., slim, medium, heavy).
- C – Clothes: What they were last seen wearing, including shoes.
- D – Distinguishing Features: Tattoos, scars, glasses, piercings, or other identifying marks.
- E – Elevation: Their height (e.g., 5ft 8in).
- F – Facial features, teeth, glasses, birthmarks, scars etc.
- G – Gait: Describe their movement—do they walk with a limp, use mobility aids, or have a particular posture?
- H – Hair: Colour, length, style.
Provide recent photographs and share any additional details that could help police locate them, such as:
- Last Seen: The exact time, date, and location where they were last seen.
- Likely Locations: Places they might visit (e.g., family homes, favourite spots).
- Access to Vehicles: Include the make, model, and registration number of any vehicle they may have.
- Recent Events: Note any significant life events, trauma, or stressors that could affect their state of mind.
CALL 999
If there is a risk of harm, then it's an emergency.
INFORMATION
Share as much information with the police as you can.
VETERAN
Tell them the missing person is a veteran, service person or blue light worker.
TELL US
Send us the same info, including photographs and a police reference.
Tell Us Now
Send us a message on Facebook Messenger with all of the relevant information. We’ll then get a Beacon Alert out and keep you and the police updated with any relevant information passed on from the public.