TAYSIDE’S RANK and file police officers want a Scotland-wide review of the way missing persons inquiries are handled to ensure the “best possible chance of a successful outcome.”

Their branch of the Scottish Police Federation put forward a motion at the annual conference that began in Peebles yesterday.

It comes as the force remains involved in a high-profile investigation into the disappearance of Monifieth woman Linda Hill, which received political scrutiny after it emerged that a key detail had been withheld from the public.

“The motion seeks a thematic inspection by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary in respect of how Scottish forces handle missing persons inquiries,” said branch secretary Malcolm Gibbs.

“Such inquiries are high-risk for the police service and the motion suggests a standardisation of protocols and strategies should apply across Scotland.”

The aim of this, said Sergeant Gibbs, was to ensure that the best possible chance of a successful outcome is achieved and best practice from each force is applied nationwide.

He stressed the motion was not related to the Linda Hill inquiry or any other case in particular.

During the investigation, local officers turned to outside experts to direct their inquiry and look over whether anything had been missed in its initial stages.

The missing persons’ motion is one of several put forward by Scottish officers at the conference, with Policing In Scotland—Delivering The Future as its theme.