Mark Greenhalgh and Dave Grimstead from Locate International talk about their innovative project to engage volunteers in managing and progressing cold case missing person and unidentified body investigations.

Locate International is a volunteer run and led charity dedicated to locating missing persons and identifying unidentified bodies.

They provide expert reviews and mobilize skilled volunteers to drive innovative investigations. The organization was founded five years ago to bridge the gap between search teams and ongoing investigations.

They currently have over 300 volunteers and deliver over 120,000 operational hours, making a significant contribution to society. The organisation, and its volunteers, sit outside of policing, but work very closely with the police. The volunteers bring extra capacity, a fresh set of eyes, a wide range of capabilities, and some new ways of doing things to the investigations thus complementing the Police’s efforts by providing time, resources, and expertise.

They aim to grow their volunteer base, enhance their use of technology, establish formal partnerships with law enforcement agencies, and lead research initiatives to become a global leader in preventing missing person cold cases.

This new model of working is an excellent example of how volunteers can reshape and reinforce how policing roles and responsibilities are delivered, whilst working closely, collaboratively, securely, professionally, and safely with policing.

The project has delivered many major outcomes for families of loved ones, some of which have recently been the subject of a documentary on Channel 4… 

Takeaways

• Locate International is a volunteer-led charity that supports the police in locating missing persons and identifying unidentified bodies.
• They have over 300 skilled volunteers who provide expert reviews and drive innovative investigations.
• The organization aims to grow their volunteer base, enhance their use of technology, establish formal partnerships with law enforcement agencies, and lead research initiatives.
• Their work complements the efforts of the police and provides valuable time, resources, and expertise.

Sound Bites

• “We can perhaps take up that and support police and families”
• “300 people, an entirely voluntary organization that delivers over 120,000 operational hours”
• “We complement the police’s efforts by providing time, resources and expertise”

Chapters
00:00.  Introduction to Locate International and its Volunteer Leaders
02:04.  The History and Purpose of Locate International
05:03   Roles of Volunteers in Locate International
07:22.  Working with Policing and Advantages of Volunteers
09:49.  Advantages of Volunteers Sitting Outside of Policing
12:10.  Volunteer-Led Organization and Pilot Projects
16:59.  Future Development and Growth of Locate International
18:46.  Key Learnings from the Locate International Model
20:50.  Examples of Volunteer Impact in Missing Person Cases
25:05.  Changing Thinking and Ways of Working in Investigations
26:58.  Engaging Students and Developing the International Element
30:48.  Conclusion and Future of Locate International

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