When a relative or friend goes missing abroad it can be very distressing and you may feel at a loss as to what to do about it.

If you are in the UK and worried about a British national who you think is missing abroad, we can let you know how to produce a missing person's report for your local police so Interpol enquiries can begin. Contact the FCO in London on 020 7008 1500 or contact your local police force and ask them to inform the UK National Centre Bureau of Interpol, who will liaise with the relevant foreign police.

Although we cannot carry out physical searches on your behalf, we can give you information about appropriate local authorities. We can also give you contact details for any relevant local charitable and voluntary organisations specialising in tracing missing people. Where appropriate, we can give you information about the federation or association of any local private detective agencies.

If you want, embassy staff in London can meet family representatives, maintain contact with you and tell you about any new developments.

If you are abroad yourself then contact us here at the British High Commission and ask for our consular staff.