Some have been missing for several years
As hours turn into days, many fear the worst, not knowing what has happened, or if they will see their family member again. Each year in the UK 170,000 people are reported missing from home, with some going missing on more than one occasion.
Josie says this year the cost of living crisis and increased pressure people are facing may lead to more people feeling they have no choice but to run away. "It is especially difficult around Christmas, when people feel conflicted that it isn't the happy time other people might be having", she says. "People do sometimes return home after long periods, sometimes because they were in mental health crisis and weren't able to get back into contact. Sometimes people have been pulled away by others who may wish to do them harm, such as exploitation or trafficking. Sometimes people have died accidentally or criminally but their body has never been identified.
Missing People’s recent research showed that 4 in 10 missing adults tried to take their own life while missing. National Crime Agency figures show that the number of people dying while missing has increased year on year for the past three years, with suicide the most common cause. A £100,000 reward remains in place for any information which could lead to the conviction of Charlene's killer.
At the time of his disappearance, police said they were concerned about his welfare as Chinh was unfamiliar with the area and 'doesn't speak much English' He is described as a Vietnamese male 5ft 6in tall, with short black hair and of a slim build with a large tattoo on his right shin. Thomas Billington - Preston Thomas Billington, 66, has not been seen since 2009. The former plumber was well known around Preston city centre but there have not been any reported sightings of him since his disappearance.
Shane Graham - Lytham St Annes Shane Graham was 26 when he went missing from his home in Lytham St Annes on April 29 2016. Shane, who worked as a landscaper for an artificial grass company, was working at a house on Ansdell Road on the day he disappeared.
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