I met with representatives from Gwent Police at the National Missing Person Conference in Parliament today.

The Conference – organised by the COMPACT User group and Ann Coffey MP – included delegates from over 40 UK Police Forces and national charities, and offered an opportunity for stakeholders to share their experiences and best practice in safeguarding vulnerable missing people.

It was good to catch up with Chief Inspector Carl Williams and Detective Sergeant Gareth Jenkins from Gwent Police to hear more about the framework and action plans in place locally to investigate and protect vulnerable individuals who go missing. Gwent Police and its partners have earned a good reputation for its work with missing young people, and it’s reassuring to know that strong multi-agency relationships are in place to protect missing individuals and support affected families during such difficult times.

I was pleased to be able to introduce the officers to Ann Coffey MP, the chair of All Party Parliamentary Group on Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, and she praised Gwent Police for their ongoing commitment to keeping vulnerable missing children safe across the region.

Gwent Police operate their ‘Breaking the Cycle’ Missing Persons project in coordination with Newport City Council, Blaenau Gwent County Council, Caerphilly County Council, Monmouthshire County Council, Torfaen County Council, the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board and the Big Lottery Fund.