Missing persons

When a relative or friend goes missing abroad it can be very distressing and you may feel at a loss as to what to do about it.

This page explains what practical help our Consular staff can offer you, what you may wish to do yourself if your relative or friend is missing in Brazil, and where you can go for additional help.

It is important to distinguish between people who have been travelling and keeping in regular contact with family and friends and whom are now believed to be missing, and those with whom families have lost contact over a number of years.  If you wish to trace someone with whom you have long ago lost contact, you may need to employ the services of a solicitor or a tracing agency.

How to report a missing person

If you suspect that a relative or friend is missing abroad you should contact the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) in London on 020 7008 1500 and ask for Consular Directorate, stating the country in which you think the person is missing, if possible.  If you are in Brazil yourself then please contact us.  It is important that you provide as much information as possible about the missing person.

Informing the UK police

You, or a relative in the UK, should also report the person missing to your local police in the UK with a specific request that they inform the UK National Central Bureau of Interpol, who have resources and jurisdiction to investigate missing persons and liaise with foreign (including Brazilian) police.

What our Consular staff can do

In some cases we can check our records to see if there is any trace of your relative or friend.

We can liaise with the local authorities (e.g. Brazilian police) and keep you informed of their progress.

We can pass on to the appropriate UK authorities any requests from the Brazilian government, for help in mounting a search, rescue and recovery operation.

We can provide you with contact details of any relevant local charitable and voluntary organisations specialising in tracing missing persons.  

We will appoint a case worker in London who will maintain contact with you and inform you if we are told of any new developments by the investigating authorities.

If you decide to travel to Brazil to search for your relative or friend, our Consular staff can be available to meet you and offer information on local conditions. They can also help arrange meetings with the local authorities and investigating agencies.

What our Consular staff cannot do

We cannot conduct physical searches on your behalf.

We cannot use public funds to finance rescue operations for people missing in remote areas nor pay for the recovery or repatriation of the body in the unfortunate circumstances where this may be necessary. Costs should be met by relatives or the insurance company.

We cannot control media coverage, in the UK or abroad, although we will not give out information that is not in the public domain.

What you can do yourself

The most appropriate course of action will depend on your particular circumstances. However, you may wish to consider a range of information when trying to trace your relative or friend, such as when an why you were expecting contact; any clues in their last communication; compare notes with the family and any travelling companions; check their bank, building society or internet service provider for information when these were last accessed, etc.

If you decide to travel to the region where your relative or friend went missing, you should consider what you would be able to achieve. If language is a problem, you might have to employ an interpreter. Local authorities may be reluctant to pass on information and we cannot insist that they do.  Neither can we insist that they treat your situation differently than they would any other missing person in their country.

Searches can sometimes be publicised through press conferences or TV appeals either in the UK or in the country where your relative or friend is missing. If you do wish to do this abroad, we may be able to facilitate a press conference.

You might want to initiate a poster and leaflet campaign in the country concerned. We can provide information on local printing companies and on locations where a poster can be placed.

It may be possible to offer rewards for information. It is important to consider the implications of offering a reward and you may want to discuss this with an organisation that has experience in tracing missing persons.

Some insurance policies will cover search and rescue costs. If you have details of your relative’s insurance, you should check the cover and contact them if this is a possibility.

There are also some things you may wish to prepare to assist with identification if that becomes necessary.  Identify and keep safe a personal item such as a tooth/hair brush or razor, which could yield a DNA profile. Also select the most recent and appropriate photograph you have of your relative or friend.

For more information, we have a leaflet called `Missing Persons`on our travel website under ‘Our publications’, which you may find useful.