The Missing podcast: Map reveals Aussie locations with the most missing people
Tens of thousands of people go missing in Australia every year and although most are found, thousands more have not been seen since.
They are referred to as long-term missing people — those who have been missing for at least three months. And in some cases are still missing years later.
According to the latest data from state and territory police, there are currently 2623 long-term missing in Australia — and most of them went missing in New South Wales, it can be revealed.
Currently 816 people are missing from NSW, followed by 559 in Victoria, 386 in Queensland, and 353 in Western Australia.
Tasmania has an overall 176 missing, while Northern Territory has 170, South Australia has 149 and ACT has 14.
In South Australia, out of the 149, police revealed 56 are declared as major crime investigations; 51 are missing, presumably on land; while 42 are missing at sea.
Queensland’s numbers also include those missing overboard from vessels or at sea, or in similar circumstances where the Coroner has since declared the person deceased.
“These missing persons cases remain open, in the hope their remains may be located and returned to family,” a Queensland Police Service spokeswoman said.
“All missing persons reports remain open until the missing person is located, and any new information received is reviewed and investigated accordingly.”
Former police officer Meni Caroutas created The Missing Podcast series to highlight the long-term missing people cases and how it has impacted their families.
He said he believes many of these people are victims of foul play.
“I believe that most long term missing people are victims of foul play, so they have been murdered by someone,” he said.
“These killers are walking around among us, and they need to be brought to justice. If we forget about long-term missing people, these killers will get away with murder, and no one should get away with murder.”
The Australian Federal Police keeps profiles of 773 of these missing people on its website.
News Corp Australia used that AFP data to create a heat map showing where and when these people went missing.
“I don’t want missing people to be forgotten. It is important to keep these cases in the public domain until they are solved,” Caroutas said.
“We spend billions of dollars on road safety and bringing the road toll down but very little in comparison on the issue of missing people, and I think both these issues deserve maximum attention.
“I see my role to report on these cases and to appeal to anyone who has information to come forward and contact police, so that police can solve these cases and bring some type of resolution to the families of these missing people.”
To find out more about long-term missing people across the nation, listen to all episodes of The Missing Australia podcast
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