Australia launches Missing Persons Week 2010

Australians were urged on Sunday to report their missing family members to police straight away.

Launching Missing Persons Week 2010, Australian Police Minister Michael Daley said this year's campaign will focus on addressing the common misconception that people must wait 24 hours before contacting police.

"The first 24 to 48 hours in a missing person's case is critical for both the investigation and the well-being of the person. So the message to the community is simple - don't wait to call," Daley said in a statement on Sunday.

Daley said the largest demographic of missing persons are 14- year-old girls.

"Finding them quickly greatly minimizes the risk of getting them into a dangerous situation," he said.

There are currently 789 missing people in state New South Wales, 592 of whom are long-term missing people and 148 of whom are children.

Daley said this year's campaign will also aim to increase the reporting of missing people from different cultural backgrounds, because people from ethnic backgrounds sometimes have limited access to information about the procedures and services available when someone goes missing.

The theme of Missing Persons Week 2010 is "When someone goes missing, a day spent waiting is lost".

Source: Xinhua