Yesterday at 4:30 pm police in the Bexley area launched an appeal to find a missing student who was supposed to be at the Queen Mary University of London for part of his course but did not turn up. Jer Le Leow -23 years old- has been missing since Thursday the 12th of January and the police have not yet found his whereabouts. According to the Missing Persons Data Report, 321,992 calls were made to the police regarding missing people in 2014-15 and 62.5% of missing people were 12-21 years old.
Why are young people more likely to go missing that people in other age groups?
The Missing People Charity says that 80% of people who go missing have mental health problems and the increase in mental health issues in young people could increase this figure. According to The Children's Society young people are more likely to be affected by conflict at home/in their neighborhood, neglect, substance issues and stress related to school/college/university than adults. When asked about whether they feel safe in the Bromley area one student-16- said: "Mostly, but I feel unsafe sometimes in more secluded, hidden parts of Bromley." Another –when asked why they think so many young people go missing compared to adults or little children -said "I think many young people go missing in Bromley because of mental health issues like anxiety and depression from pressure they might feel or going into dangerous places at the wrong time-especially in winter."
Contact Bexleyheath CID on 07595 009008 or 101 if you have any information on Jer's disappearance
Missing Persons Data Report 2014-15 www.missingpersons.police.uk/download/56
