Police deal with hundreds of cases of missing people each year, with searches commonly taking two hours to complete.

Statistics relating to vulnerable missing persons inquiries have been released following a Freedom of Information request to the Manx Constabulary.

There were a total of 476 ’Mispers’ between September 2017 and August this year, 421 in 2016-17 and 742 in 2015-16.

The most common time missing was two hours but the average over the past three years was five hours and 55 minutes - although that figure is distorted by the number of lengthy incidents.

Police were also asked in the FoI request to disclose how many police officers and Emergency Services Joint Control Room staff would be engaged in an average Misper call-out.

The Constabulary responded that each case is dealt with on its merits but it does not hold a record of the number of officers involved in such cases.

It was also asked what costs are incurred when applying for data from telecoms providers in helping locate missing individuals.

The Constabulary replied that it ’neither confirms nor denies’ that it would use data from telecommunications service providers as this may ’reveal police tactics and capabilities’.

It added: ’As is already indicated the Constabulary manages missing persons predicated upon risk and any other action the Constabulary takes in respect of such enquiries must be proportionate to that risk.’

Police said factors in favour of withholding this information outweighed disclosure.

It said law enforcement tactics would be compromised and individuals may be placed at risk and their safety hindered.