AS POLICE launch National Missing Persons Week, they have asked for help to find the more than 2000 people who have been missing for more than three months, some for decades.
Among them is Ivan Pirovich, who was last seen on July 19, 1996 at 7:30pm working at his industrial sheds at Hillcrest.
Born in 1939, Mr Pirovich did not return home and failed to make contact with friends or family.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A register of long-term missing people is available on the website missingpersons.gov.au
During National Missing Persons Week 2017, the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police have focused on the 25,000 young people missing to police each year nationwide.
A police spokesperson said more than 38,000 people were reported missing each year, with two thirds under the age of 18.
AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin said for every missing person there are family, friends and colleagues left behind, still waiting for them to come home.
“We could fill the Gabba with the number of people reported missing to police in Australia every year,” Commissioner Colvin said.
“...And for every missing person, there are families and friends left behind not knowing what has happened to someone they care deeply about.”
He said young people went missing for a range of reasons, including miscommunication, misadventure, or because of a misunderstanding.
“In some circumstances going missing may be seen as the only option to leave a bad situation, and in the most extreme of cases, a young person may have become a victim of crime.”
Teenagers between the age of 13 and 17 are six times more likely to go missing than the rest of the Australian population.
Queensland Police Service Acting Deputy Commissioner (specialist operations) Tracy Linford said the police would be the application Snapchat so send information and images to people in the 18 and 25-year-old age group.
“It additionally broadens the current social media reach the Queensland Police Service has to further share information about missing people,” she said.
“On average, around 100 people are reported missing to police every week in Queensland. We as a police service do all we can to help families find their loved ones, so this is a logical extension to our already large reach in the social media sphere.”
Police said a person can be reported missing as soon as there are fears for their welfare and safety and their whereabouts are unknown.
Information about support services is also available on the National Missing Persons Coordination Centre website.
