Changes in how the Guyana Police Force responds to missing persons reports are delivering results, with a stepped-up focus on children. Three missing persons cases were reported to be resolved about a week after new emergency protocols went into effect in late April. The revised procedures enable a faster, more coordinated national response to missing persons reports. Reports involving missing children are automatically categorized as high risk and automatically trigger a “Red Alert” that activates a coordinated national response. All missing persons cases now receive immediate response, eliminating the 24-hour waiting period previously in place. Additionally, police officers work closely with the Guyana’s Child Care and Protection Agency and other key entities. The changes stem from an 11-year-old girl’s drowning in a hotel swimming pool.
