UK Foreign Office to refer families of people missing abroad to Missing People
Consular teams will connect consenting families with the charity’s support services under a partnership announced on 19 October.
The UK Foreign Office announced on 19 October 2026 that its consular teams will directly refer consenting families of British people missing abroad to the charity Missing People. The agreement is intended to make family support easier to access during overseas missing-person cases, according to the department.
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) consular assistance teams will make the referrals for families they are supporting. The department said the tailored help could involve trained family support teams, peer networks and family events to help people cope with the emotional strain of a disappearance. It did not specify when direct referrals will begin.
How families will be supported
The FCDO said it handles hundreds of cases each year involving people missing overseas. Its consular staff can help families contact local authorities, arrange meetings with them and receive updates on developments. Missing People works directly with relatives and friends, adding support alongside that consular role.
Missing People says its family support is free and confidential for families and friends of missing people. Its services can include practical guidance, emotional support, advocacy and referrals to other help. The charity says it has supported families and friends affected by disappearances for more than 30 years.
Why the overseas cases need support
Stephen Doughty, the FCDO minister responsible for consular services, said distance can make support harder to reach when someone goes missing abroad. Sophie Lapham, Missing People’s director of services, said families may have to navigate unfamiliar systems and language barriers, often from thousands of miles away. Both welcomed the partnership in statements accompanying the announcement.
The government said Missing People supports around 10,000 affected people each year and already works with several national and devolved government departments. The new agreement sets out a direct route from FCDO consular teams to the charity for families who consent to a referral.
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Sources and context
- Families of missing Brits abroad to benefit from new support as government partners with charity Missing PeopleForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office and Stephen Doughty MP
- Family supportMissing People
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