Buried justice: A critical review into the cross-matching of unidentified bodies and missing persons reports in England and Wales
Research Institution / Organisation
Staffordshire University
Principal Researcher
Emma Tilley
Level of Research
PhD
Project Start Date
January 2021
Research Context
Aims
To critically review the cross-matching process of unidentified bodies and missing persons reports in England and Wales;
To produce a basis for the development of a Code of Practice for the treatment of unidentified bodies in England and Wales.
Objectives
To examine the epidemiology of unidentified bodies in England and Wales;
To identify how information about unidentified bodies is obtained, recorded, stored, reviewed, cross-matched, deleted and shared on a local, national, and international level;
To understand the obstacles and opportunities concerning the cross-matching process;
To produce a basis for the development of a Code of Practice for the treatment of unidentified bodies in England and Wales.
Research Methodology
Mixed methods approach:
Analysis of data from the UK Missing Persons Unit
Freedom of Information requests to police forces, coroners, and local authorities in England and Wales
Semi-structured interviews with practitioners and families of missing persons
Interim reports and publications
Date due for completion
January 2025
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