Privacy Policy

Last updated: 01/03/2026

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Created by

Missing People UK & IR • 10/01/2026

Last edited by

Josh Storer • 22/01/2026

Review by

01/07/2026

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Josh Storer viewed this policy
22/01/2026, 11:10
Josh Storer edited this policy
22/01/2026, 11:25

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This Privacy Policy explains how Missing People UK & IR collects, uses, and protects personal information. We follow UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018, and we design our systems to prioritise safety, security, and data minimisation.

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1. Who we are 2. Information we collect 3. How we use your information 4. Lawful bases for processing 5. Sharing and disclosure 6. Safeguarding and crisis escalation 7. Enforcement and comment restrictions 8. Retention and deletion 9. Your rights (UK GDPR)10. Cookies 11. FOI and data requests 12. Contact us

1. Who we are

Missing People UK & IR operates this platform to help people report missing person concerns, share information responsibly, and support safeguarding-led workflows. This site is designed to reduce harm and misuse while enabling the public to submit helpful information.

2. Information we collect

Information you provide

This may include your name, email address, phone number (if provided), case details, messages, and images you upload when reporting a concern or submitting an update.

Account and usage information

If you create an account, we store details needed to run the account (for example, login identifiers and basic preferences).

Security information

We may collect IP address, device and browser information, and security logs to protect the platform from abuse, fraud, or attacks.

Communications

If you contact us, we keep a record of your message and our responses to manage support and safeguarding.

3. How we use your information

To run the service

Creating and managing accounts, displaying case information (where appropriate), enabling user dashboards, and supporting reports and updates.

Safety, moderation and safeguarding

Detecting misuse, responding to reports, removing harmful content, restricting accounts where needed, and supporting safeguarding processes.

To protect the platform

Security monitoring, fraud prevention, audit trails, and service reliability.

4. Lawful bases for processing

The lawful basis depends on what you are doing on the site and what information is being processed. We may rely on one or more of the following:

Legitimate interests

For operating a safe platform, preventing abuse, and improving reliability—balanced against your rights.

Consent (where required)

For optional features (such as certain analytics or communications preferences), where you can withdraw consent at any time.

Contract / service provision

Where processing is necessary to provide user accounts and requested services.

Where special category data is provided, additional conditions may apply, and access is restricted.

6. Safeguarding and crisis escalation

If we receive information that suggests immediate risk of serious harm (for example, self-harm threats, suicide-related content, or live life-changing threats), we may need to escalate that information for safety.

Third-party visibility / escalation

In safeguarding or emergency situations, information you submit may be viewed by or shared with relevant third parties (for example, emergency services, law enforcement, safeguarding partners, or service providers involved in protecting the platform). We only do this where reasonably necessary to protect life, prevent harm, comply with law, or safeguard users and the public.

Minimisation and access control

Staff access is restricted by role, and safeguarding actions should be logged. We aim to limit access to the minimum necessary for safety and governance.

View Safety & Moderation

7. Enforcement and comment restrictions

To keep people safe and reduce misuse, we may issue warnings or restrict features (such as commenting) where a user breaches safeguarding rules, harassment rules, or moderation rules.

24 hour and 72 hour warning system

If a user breaches safeguarding or moderation rules, we may issue a 24-hour warning and/or a 72-hour warning. During these periods, the user may be restricted from adding comments on case pages, and attempts to submit comments may show a notice explaining the restriction.

Bans and restrictions after repeated breaches

After repeated warnings, a user may be banned either from the whole site or from adding comments to case pages. Restrictions can be time-based or indefinite depending on severity and risk.

Exception: your own reported cases

Even if a user is restricted from commenting generally, they may still be allowed to add comments or tips to the case pages that they have reported, but not on other users’ cases. (Exact access depends on the restriction type and safeguarding assessment.)

For full rules on content, restrictions, and enforcement actions, see our Safety & Moderation policy.

8. Retention and deletion

We aim to keep information only as long as necessary for the purpose it was collected. Retention may vary depending on safeguarding needs, legal requirements, and operational necessity. Where appropriate, data may be anonymised or deleted.

9. Your rights (UK GDPR)

Right to access your personal data
Right to correct inaccurate data
Right to request deletion (where applicable)
Right to object to certain processing
Right to restrict processing in some circumstances

You can request access or raise concerns via our contact page.

10. Cookies

We use cookies to keep the site working, protect users, and remember basic preferences. Optional analytics cookies are only used if you consent.

View Cookie Policy

11. FOI and data requests

If you want a copy of your personal data, the correct route is usually a UK GDPR data request (subject access). We provide guidance on FOI and data requests on our FOI page.

FOI & Data Requests

12. Contact us

If you have questions about privacy, want to request data, or need to report a concern, please contact the team.