Recently, there have been more and more reports of missing children. What does the police say about this? 0 7

“Missing!” is not just a word in a news headline, but a reality that repeats too often and raises many questions, reports TV3 News. Every year, hundreds of cases of missing minors are registered in Latvia. Although most children are found on the same day or within a few days, each such case causes serious concern in society.

The disappearance of minors affects not only families but also society as a whole.

The relevance of the problem is evidenced by regular publications in the media, where the State Police report on missing teenagers. Almost under each such publication, one can see worried comments.

Every year, several hundred minors are sought in Latvia, most often teenagers who leave home after conflicts in the family or due to emotional difficulties. Although most of them are found soon, each case is treated as particularly serious and is a priority.

The State Police explain that the statistics change daily and do not reflect a unique number of missing persons. It includes every report of a missing minor, and the same teenager may be reported missing several times within a month.

“In the last five years, there has been no trend of increasing numbers of minors reported missing,” noted Svetlana Lukashenok, Deputy Head of the 1st Department of the Organized, Serious, and Serial Crime Control of the State Police.

In 2024, there were 55 such cases, while last year there were 492. Police data shows an unpleasant reality.

“Most of them are related to vagrancy. Street children for whom this is a way of life,” explained a police representative.

These are teenagers aged 13 to 15, most often from Riga and its surroundings.

“They are mostly on their own. We also know their circle of acquaintances and the places they visit, so the minors are found quickly,” indicated Lukashenok.

Although in 90% of cases, missing teenagers in Latvia are found within a few hours or the first days, each case serves as a reminder of the importance of quick response and community involvement.

“The hardest part for the family is the uncertainty.”

Rasa Busha works in the volunteer organization “Bezvēsts.lv.” Although reports of missing persons come in frequently, not every case turns into a large-scale search operation. However, when necessary, the community responds actively, says Busha.

“Thank you very much to those who participate, especially in the search for teenagers and children. People are active. Search can also refer to messages on social media, when people report that they saw a person here or there, and they are found,” said Busha.

The feelings of parents searching for their children are hard to describe: it is despair, fear, and uncertainty. “We try to support them. The team includes people with psychological training, and we try to talk,” noted a representative of “Bezvēsts.lv.”

Behind each case of disappearance lies its own story — often unresolved problems, conflicts, or loneliness. Unfortunately, there are also tragic cases. The searches for little Ivan and Justina still linger in memory — high-profile criminal cases not only revealed brutal crimes but also prompted reflection on the responsibility of relatives and society.

Since 2004, the State Police have also retained cases in their records where five missing persons — at that time minors — have still not been found.