Report calls for specialist Garda missing persons unit

THE establishment of a specialist, dedicated missing persons unit within An Garda Síochána is expected to be recommended in an upcoming report by the Garda Inspectorate.

Chief Inspector Kathleen O’Toole told an Oireachtas Committee yesterday that a draft report which will examine the benefits of such a unit was currently being prepared.

It is understood the creation of an “amber alert” type programme for missing children is under consideration as part of the wider scheme to improve the current handling of missing person reports.