Ok or not - police contacting under 18s without informing parent?

[DoinItForTheKids]

DD was called whilst at school about a teenage boy who has gone missing (again). She happened to 'meet' him casually, and for the first time ever, several months ago. Week later police called me said this lads run away from care. They were MOST concerned to know she wasn't with him. He sounded a v concerning person however she had absolutely no contact of any type with him and that was that.

Today she gets directly called by the police, whilst at school - he's gone missing again does she know where he is, has he been in touch (no and no). I'd have thought they'd have called me first - but wondered what the scoop was for my own understanding/knowledge.

How old is your DD??

I am not sure about the rules on the police contacting parents when speaking to young people.

Until very recently, once a young person reached the age of 17 the police could interview them without informing a parent.

I only just found out that now the police now have to treat 17 year olds as they would 11-16 year olds and this can now longer happen.

Sounds like they wanted to be sure she wasnt with him out of concern for her. Perhaps it was case of check urgently and they didn't want to waste time going through an adult.
I don't see the issue really - she hasn't seen him so brings conversation to an end pretty quickly.

It was just asking question, I don't think they would need to ring you first

I would think this was a non-issue frankly. The police haven't got the resources to ask you first, and I don't know why you would need them to, assuming no special needs etc.

She wasn't being interviewed it was just a phone call, probably one of very many the officer would have to make. There's no requirement to get your permission to just phone her.

DD is 15.

Cheers all. The only issue is that if she wanted to go the same exact place where she happened upon him the first time, tonight, and I'd said yes, I'd have been saying yes without knowing this information. If had known prior in that situation, I'd have made arrangements specifically to account for that (bearing in mind he does sound like a really quite dangerous lad).

I do appreciate the call and in essence have no problem with it, but not being in the loop so to speak wouldn't help to keep her safe as her appreciation of risk is not as developed as mine!

Anyway, she's not going out anywhere near that location tonight or any time soon so that's all ok anyway.

Thanks for all the super fast replies!

Once a young person has gone missing before the police will have on record contact details of many people the young person has been associated with. Please don't be surprised if this happens again in the future, it can go on until the young person reaches 18