More than 500 people who have vanished in Scotland over the past six decades remain the subject of long-term missing person inquiries.
Figures released following a Freedom of Information request revealed there were 31,697 people reported missing in 2013/14 with 2,234 in Tayside and 2,368 in Fife.
Police Scotland said 55% of missing people were traced within the same day and a further 42% were found within seven days of disappearing.
But there are 512 people going back to 1957 who have never been found including four high-profile cases from Tayside and Fife.
A police spokesman said: “In 2014 a strategic assessment was commissioned to ascertain the number of people who had been reported to Police Scotland as missing in 2013/14.
“The analysis found that throughout this reporting period there were 37,640 missing person’s incidents created. Of these incidents police inquiries determined that 31,697 were confirmed as missing persons.
“From the representative sample data relating to length of time missing, 55% of missing people were traced on the same day they went missing and a further 42% were traced within the first seven days of going missing.
“2,234 of the incidents were recorded within Tayside Division and 2,368 were recorded within Fife Division.
“Long term missing persons are those not found within 28 days. These cases are reviewed by a trained senior investigating officer.
“Incidents that are treated as critical and subject to a Gold management structure, are assessed as high risk and early reviews are conducted.
“In all long term missing person inquiries, case reviews take place every 28 days for the first three months, then at six monthly and 12 monthly intervals, then annually thereafter.”
Paul Joseph, operations manager at Missing People, said families are left in limbo when someone goes missing feeling they can’t move on with their lives, until they know what has happened to them.
He told The Courier: “We know bereavement is devastating, but there are accepted stages of grief which allow us to move on, little by little, over time such as mourning, funerals, or being able to visit a grave.
“With the missing issue there is none of this and a family can end up with a void from the absence of someone they love. They can even find themselves more isolated as time goes by, as others seem to move on and no longer want to talk about the missing person.
“Of course, there is always the hope that someone is safe and well elsewhere.
“Missing People is here to walk alongside families in that hope, but also support them on their darkest days.
“The charity is also here to talk to people when they are away, or when they are thinking of going. We can talk through options about what they can do to stay safe or let their loved ones know they are OK. Whether you are missing someone, or missing yourself, it can be a very lonely situation, and Missing People is here throughout that journey.”
Missing People have a free, confidential and 24/7 helpline, 116 000, which is supported by players of People’s Postcode Lottery.