Researchers at two Scottish universities are working on a unique project to discover why people go missing, by talking to them when they return home.It is hoped that their findings will be a resource for families, the police and charities to help understand the tipping points that make people disappear.

Around 39,000 people went missing in Scotland last year, according to figures from the National Policing Improvement Agency. The figure for Britain as a whole was nearly 327,000. Some people go missing more than once.

The research, which is being conducted in collaboration with Grampian and Metropolitan police, is being presented to the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)'s annual international conference in Edinburgh today (Tuesday 3 July 2012).

Dr Hester Parr, who is working with colleagues at Glasgow and Dundee universities on the ESRC-funded project, said:

"We are shedding light on a significant social problem, by asking people why they disappeared and where they went, and also by looking at the way police deal with the missing.

"How does the family cope with being left behind? What happens when, and if, missing people come back? These are the questions that lie at the heart of this research."

Data from the Agency suggests that 75-80% of missing persons cases are resolved within a week, 20 people a week are found dead and 2,000 a year remain missing.

ENDS

Notes to editors

1. For further information, and any bids to speak to the presenter of the research (at a studio, in person, or on the phone) please contact the RGS-IBG Media Office: on (020) 7591 3008 (Steven Toole: Policy and Public Affairs Manager; (020) 7591 3019 (Alex Jackson: Commucations Officer); or 07719 712 978; or emailpress@rgs.org

2. The research is being carried out by Dr Hester Parr and Dr Olivia Stevenson of the School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, Professor Nick Fyfe, Geography, University of Dundee and Dr Penny Woolnough of Grampian Police. They will all be available for interview (in person or by phone) during the conference. Their website is athttp://www.geographiesofmissingpeople.org.uk/

3. They will be presenting two papers as part of theRoyal Geographical Society (with IBG)'s annual international conference in Edinburgh, the first exploring how police officers investigate missing person cases and the second presenting a narrative of a returned missing person, showing insights into where they went and what they did. The Missing People charity and the National Policing Improvement Agency are partners in the research, and it is being funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

4. Dr Hester Parr's presentation‘The misper' and policing geographies of missingness is taking place on Tuesday 03 July 2012.Penny Woolnough of Grampian Police will be speaking on Policing Research and the Geographies of Missing People on Thursday 05 July 2012

5. The RGS-IBG conference is the largest gathering of academic geographers in Europe, with more than 300 sessions, featuring more than 1,000 speakers. it is taking place in Edinburgh from Tuesday 2 to Thursday 4 July 2012. Full details on the RGS-IBG annual International Conference 2012 can be found atwww.rgs.org/AC2012

6. The Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers) is the learned society and professional body for geographywww.rgs.org