Minors reported missing often return home after 24-48 hours but in some cases they disappear due to discomfort or conflicts in their family, clarified justice minister Sam Tanson in a response to a question in parliament..  Photo: Shutterstock

Minors reported missing often return home after 24-48 hours but in some cases they disappear due to discomfort or conflicts in their family, clarified justice minister Sam Tanson in a response to a question in parliament..  Photo: Shutterstock

A total of 490 missing persons were reported to the police in 2021. The number of disappeared minors was significantly higher than that of adults.

In an answer to a question in parliament, justice minister  (déi Gréng) said that there are various reasons for reporting a missing person. Minors reported missing often return home after 24-48 hours but in some cases they disappear due to discomfort or conflicts in their family, the minister explained.

As for adults, some may be motivated as well by wanting to distance themselves from their family environment while others may have made an acquaintance that they don’t want to make official yet. Elderly people on the other hand, have been reported as missing while being unable to find their way back home due to their advanced age.

If a person is found and does not want their family to be informed, the authorities would only inform the family that the individual is no longer missing but without providing further information.

Amber Alert, a nationwide alert system for endangered missing children and child abductions, is one of the tools cited by the government as useful in the location of disappeared persons. Currently 1,188 people are registered for the service.

Social media is by far the most effective tool available to the police with Tanson stating that it is more efficient than the Amber Alert as messages can reach every person in Luxembourg who is on the platform. The minister referred to the possible use of screens in public transport for the dissemination of information about missing persons as “effective in principle” and a way to increase visibility for the message.