Dr Karen Shalev Greene
International experts in missing people are to meet for the first time to share good practice and findings from research.
The University of Portsmouth is hosting the three-day conference in June with speakers coming from a wide range of disciplines and from countries including Canada, the US, Australia, Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK.
Why children go missing, what role mental health has to play in those who go missing, when a parent abducts their own child, the geographical area missing people are most likely to be found in, the relationship between police and the families of missing people and people who go missing in the aftermath of a major disaster are some of the many subjects that will be discussed.
Researcher Dr Karen Shalev Greene, a specialist in missing people from the University’s Institute of Criminal Justice Studies, is the conference organiser.
She said: “This is the first time experts in a range of areas related to missing people will come together to discuss what we know and where more research is needed.
“We expect a big turnout and everyone is invited, whether they are academics; police; social, health and youth workers; NGOs and even family members of missing people.”
The conference, Missing Children and Adults ‘Working Across Borders’, will include speakers from national police, UK Missing Persons Bureau, and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre. It is being held at the University’s Richmond and Portland buildings from June 18-20.
To find out more and to register, visit the Centre for the Study of Missing Persons website http://www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/icjs/csmp/conference/
