Completing an autistic missing persons protocol: assessing form efficacy and user experience
type: CreativeWork
description: Purpose. The risks and challenges of missing episodes in individuals with ASD could be considered greater than those of non-ASD individuals as those with ASD often have an impaired sense of danger and may leave a safe environment in order to reach a preferred person, interest or place or to hide away (Anderson et al., 2012). Examples of frequently preferred places include water ways and roadways increasing the risk of serious injury or fatality. Therefore, the impact of a missing autistic person cannot be over-emphasized. This combined with the additional support needs of those with ASD means a different approach should be taken by the police when carrying out a missing persons investigation. In response to this, Police Scotland has developed the Autistic Missing Persons Protocol (AMPP), an information gathering tool designed to assist police officers when searching for a person with ASD who has been reported as missing to them. The protocol is a 12-page document containing 14 sections that should be completed by a parent, guardian, or carer to a person with ASD, prior to a missing episode. In addition, where appropriate, the person the form refers to should be supported to contribute towards its completion. Once completed it should be stored in a safe place until needed. Prior to rolling out the protocol Police Scotland wished to evaluate the form. The current research explores the efficacy of the Autistic Missing Persons Protocol form as created by Police Scotland and the user experience surrounding this. Methods. The current research consisted of two studies. Study one involved the analysis of 16 AMPP forms completed by participants who were purposively recruited, via partner agencies and contacts of the researcher, as parents, carers or guardians to an individual with ASD. The sample comprised forms completed by eight police personnel (police officers who are also parents of children with ASD) and eight members of the public. In study two, semi structured interv…
abstract: Purpose. The risks and challenges of missing episodes in individuals with ASD could be considered greater than those of non-ASD individuals as those with ASD often have an impaired sense of danger and may leave a safe environment in order to reach a preferred person, interest or place or to hide away (Anderson et al., 2012). Examples of frequently preferred places include water ways and roadways increasing the risk of serious injury or fatality. Therefore, the impact of a missing autistic person cannot be over-emphasized. This combined with the additional support needs of those with ASD means a different approach should be taken by the police when carrying out a missing persons investigation. In response to this, Police Scotland has developed the Autistic Missing Persons Protocol (AMPP), an information gathering tool designed to assist police officers when searching for a person with ASD who has been reported as missing to them. The protocol is a 12-page document containing 14 sections that should be completed by a parent, guardian, or carer to a person with ASD, prior to a missing episode. In addition, where appropriate, the person the form refers to should be supported to contribute towards its completion. Once completed it should be stored in a safe place until needed. Prior to rolling out the protocol Police Scotland wished to evaluate the form. The current research explores the efficacy of the Autistic Missing Persons Protocol form as created by Police Scotland and the user experience surrounding this. Methods. The current research consisted of two studies. Study one involved the analysis of 16 AMPP forms completed by participants who were purposively recruited, via partner agencies and contacts of the researcher, as parents, carers or guardians to an individual with ASD. The sample comprised forms completed by eight police personnel (police officers who are also parents of children with ASD) and eight members of the public. In study two, semi structured interv…
author: Donaldson, Susan
language: eng
keywords: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Missing people, Police, Elopement
date published: 2025-11-3
date modified: 2026-07-24T00:50:29Z
provider: Abertay University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Abertay University