Although the exact number of vulnerable missing persons reported over the last year is unknown, Inspector Marshal Mallia said that the majority of reports involve minors aged 14 to 18.

Mallia, an inspector within the Vulnerable Victims Police Unit, said that the unit handles approximately 50 to 100 cases each year, some of which involve the same minors being reported missing "six, seven or eight times".

Despite this recurring pattern, the police always treat these cases as new, without bias from the minors' previous history, as "you never know what might happen", Mallia explained. The only difference in cases involving repeat offenders is that the police have more information about their tendencies and usual haunts, providing a starting point for the search.

"The majority of the cases we have involving minors are those who run away or who do not want to return to the (children's) homes," he said.

In such cases, the police force requires the assistance of child protection authorities, such as social workers and carers. These professionals, who are typically familiar with the minors reported missing, often help by contacting the minors through video calls.

When asked whether there was a common reason for these minors leaving their residences, Mallia explained that, in most cases, they are not escapees in the traditional sense but are instead driven by a desire to stay out longer. Many of these cases involve minors living in children's homes, where, for instance, a 17-year-old might wish to stay out beyond the agreed curfew.

Mallia noted that there have been instances when these minors go out with friends and stay overnight at their house or with a partner, sometimes extending their absence for two or three days. In cases where these minors do not want to be found, they may switch off their phones for days, making it impossible to locate them through phone service providers - a process that would otherwise only take a few minutes.

The inspector explained that when a person is reported missing, the first step is to gather all available information about them, particular details such as what they were wearing, their last known location and the circumstances leading to their disappearance. Additionally, understanding why their relatives or the person reporting them missing has reached this conclusion helps to determine the urgency of the case.

Police officers receive specific training on how to gather crucial information in missing persons cases, as "the first few hours are the critical hours". To illustrate, Mallia cited an example involving a person reported missing who was known to be having suicidal thoughts. In such cases, even the first few minutes are vital. The police endeavour to collect precise details, such as what the person was wearing, the type of car they drive and their mobile number, to request urgent localisation from service providers.

Additionally, information, including a photo of the person and their car number plate, is shared with the Rapid Intervention Unit (RIU) so they can patrol areas where such incidents are known to occur. If localisation data points to one of these known spots, the police deploy all available resources to the area.

In addition to gathering all relevant information, the police inspector on duty on the day the report is made is also informed. For cases involving minors, the Vulnerable Victims Police Unit is notified. This unit handles cases involving minors, individuals with mental health issues, and the elderly.

The last person known to have been in contact with the missing individual is also interviewed by police officials. From this point, the police typically request a localisation from mobile service providers. Additionally, they search the areas where the individual was last seen.

Nowadays, most people carry their phones with them. However, there are cases where localisation cannot be done if the phone is not with the individual at the time they are reported missing. When a location is obtained through service providers, this process typically provides a radius of approximately one kilometre rather than exact coordinates. The police also check the individual's usual hangouts.

As part of the procedure, both the district police and the RIU receive all the collected information regarding the missing person's possible whereabouts and are tasked with checking the specified locations. Additionally, the information and photos of the missing person are distributed to all officers within the force to ensure widespread awareness of the incident. Mallia explained that this approach also enables officers, even when off duty, to report sightings of the person if they come across them.

The inspector noted that if the localisation changes, due to the person moving around or if the location is in a highly densely-populated area, a new investigation may be launched, often with public assistance. This type of investigation is typically used as a last resort when the police have exhausted all other options or in urgent cases, such as with individuals suffering from dementia or very young children. In cases involving minors, this approach can also be employed as a final measure, even after previous contacts have been made, if the person has a history of going missing or does not want to return.

When this type of investigation is used as a last resort by the police, it often means that, especially with older minors, the police have already made contact with the individual and confirmed that they are safe. Despite this, they have been unsuccessful in negotiating the minor's return over the course of two or three days and have been unable to locate them.

When a reported adult is contacted and their identity is confirmed through various means, the family is informed if the individual has requested not to be contacted. However, for minors, even if it is verified that there is no foul play, their whereabouts still need to be determined. This is because they are under the care of a parent, guardian or a child protection agency.

Mallia noted that the police often manage to contact the missing minor through video calls and confirm that they are safe. However, some minors remain reluctant to disclose their whereabouts if they do not wish to return to their care facility. While this confirmation provides some reassurance to authorities regarding the child's safety, Mallia emphasised that "at the end of the day, you can never be 100% certain until you meet the minors in person". He also pointed out that even when missing teens return on their own, the police are still required to speak with them to understand the reasons behind their disappearance, including where they were and with whom.

This information is crucial for determining whether the minor was abused or coerced into leaving their residence and for identifying any patterns in their behaviour for later use.

Every case is initially treated as potentially involving foul play, even if the person reported missing has a history of similar offences.

"We still approach it as though foul play might be involved, because you can never be certain of what has happened," he said.

Mallia said that every suspicion or doubt is only put to rest once the person is found. Each case is assessed individually, but when a vulnerable person or an adult, who may be at risk of self-harm or suicide is reported missing, the report should be filed immediately. This is because, given their vulnerability, the circumstances that led to their disappearance may indicate that something serious has occurred.

When informing a family about a person who has died by suicide, Mallia noted that it never becomes easy, as "there is always a certain sensitivity involved".

Mallia stressed that privacy is a top priority, which is why cases of missing persons that are later confirmed as suicides are not reported to the media, even if the person's details were previously published online. He explained that the police are reluctant to share such cases with the media because these incidents are not accidents like car crashes or house fires.

Although not common in Malta, cases of long-term missing persons do exist, Mallia said. He attributed the relatively low numbers to Malta's small size. The possible whereabouts of such individuals can be extensive, including leaving the country or encountering accidents, such as falling into the sea. Depending on sea currents, this can affect how long it takes for a body to be found. Additionally, cadavers can be very difficult to identify due to advanced decomposition. Such cases are only revisited when new information or tips are received by the authorities.