The Philomena Protocol

Nottinghamshire Police has adopted the national Philomena Protocol initiative, which aims to help locate a young person as quickly as possible when they are missing from care. 

How does the Philomena Protocol work?

The scheme enables partner agencies to record, on two dedicated forms, vital information about the young person which can be used to locate them.

The view is that carers, guardians, and parents will complete this form with as much detail as possible, then keep it somewhere safe – along with a recent photo. 

The form needs to be regularly updated with new information on description, friends, associates, locations frequented, phone numbers and identifiers to maximise the opportunity for the young person to be found swiftly and safely.

If a child in care should then go missing the partner agency can quickly supply Nottinghamshire Police, with a copy of this form, which speeds up the response time.

When should the form be given to the police?

The police only need to see the completed form if the child or young person is reported as missing.

What if a young person goes missing?

If you discover the person's gone missing, you should try to find them immediately. If you can't, call 101 and tell the call handler that you have a Philomena Protocol form.

If it's an emergency and the young person is in danger, phone 999 now.