DNA to help find missing persons

IN AN Australian first, Queensland families with missing loved ones will be able to provide their DNA to help identify our unknown and missing Australians.

From August 1, the Australian Federal Police and Queensland Police Service will launch the first ever Family of Missing Persons Day, to coincide with National Missing Persons Week.

Director of Toowoomba-based Australian Missing Persons Register Nicole Miller said the program was long overdue.

“We had a situation where a lot of remains were just sitting in morgues, there are missing persons found, but we just don’t know it yet,” she said.

“I think this program will make a difference and identify missing people because Queensland is a really big state and there are remains all over the country.

“Previously there hasn’t been the technology, but now there’s a lot of resources and science and staff put into this program.”

Ms Morris said the program would also provide hope to the families of missing loved ones.

“The families of missing people struggle with feelings of helplessness, once they do the initial search and appeal they feel like there’s nothing they can do,” she said.

“They feel like there’s nothing practical they can do, so I think this really helps.”

Queensland families with a missing family member are being invited to register now for the free event at the State Library of Queensland in Brisbane to provide police investigators and forensic scientists with vital information, records and samples to assist with the identification process.

For further information on the Family of Missing Persons Days and to register, please visit the Missing Persons website.