In Australia, more than 35,000 people are reported missing each year. That’s one person every 15 minutes.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) are taking further action this summer by operating a social media campaign called #summerofhope. The AFP, along with state and territory police, will publish weekly profiles of long-term missing persons on their social media sites during December and January.

Minister of Justice, Michael Keenan, launched the campaign on Friday, December 4. He encouraged people to share these missing persons’ profiles with the hashtag #summerofhope, to reach out to as many people as possible.

Around 2,000 of those who disappeared are listed as long-term missing persons (missing for more than three months).

“This campaign is designed to encourage online communities to assist and further promote the issue of missing persons, with the ultimate aim of resolving long-term missing persons cases,” Keenan said.

The National Missing Persons Coordination Centre says the three groups most likely to disappear are those suffering from mental illness, young people, in particular females aged between 13 to 17 years, and the elderly.

According to the AFP, there is a common myth that people need to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing. However in Australia, the AFP says a missing person is defined as “anyone whose whereabouts are unknown, and there are immediate concerns for their safety and welfare.”

If you have any information about a missing person, please contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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