Ex-cops team up with university students to trace missing people... & ease families’ pain

RETIRED murder police and university students have started a missing persons’ squad to help families “living on a rollercoaster to hell”.

Three universities will start by investigating the disappearance of four men – one who was only last week officially declared dead 31 years after going missing. Their help has been welcomed by the men’s desperate mums, one saying it’s “like winning the lottery”.

The mastermind behind the new cold case unit is Dave Grimstead, co-founder of Locate International. The former inspector

SKILLS Leeds Beckett University

and his colleagues are working with Leeds Beckett university, the University of South Wales and University of Central Lancashire.

Any breakthroughs will be shared with the National Crime Agency. “The four cases all involve the family losing their sons over a long period of time,” said Dave, who hopes to increase the unit to eight universities in the future.

He said they also regularly draft in criminologists and forensic pathologists to help them.

The students come from a range of backgrounds including criminology, law, forensic science, police sciences and forensic computing.

Dave Grimstead added: “They will review a case from the start and will speak with family and friends to really understand the person who went missing.

“We are able to work with students who are studying victimology and apply those skills.

“They will review the search strategies to check for any gaps and seek expert advice from a wide range of specialists, including geographic profiling and forensic archaeology. They will analyse inquest files, statements, computers and digital equipment and any other information collected by the family.

“Families collect a huge amount of information and can get overwhelmed by it.

“We will collate, digitalise and archive using the same methodology as used in murder investigation – we are able to engage specialists from around the world.

“Each month we will bring teams of specialists together for a virtual case review.”