Introduction
I started this initiative after looking into missing persons cases and seeing how hard it was to find reliable sources. At first, it was just a small collection of links I saved for myself, but it grew into a website to help others. Because I care about using web tools to solve real problems, I built this resource page as a simple place where researchers, families, and communities can find official databases, police contacts, and support organisations.
This is how Help Missing was born.
Help Missing grew from a personal passion project — something I’ve been building on my own time to address a gap I noticed while researching missing persons. But it’s more than just a website. It’s a living directory that can grow with contributions from volunteers. Built with Hugo, it offers a clean, fast, and accessible way to explore resources by country.
The Problem: Fragmented Resources Across the Web
Missing persons cases affect millions of families worldwide. However, accessing resources is often complicated by:
- Geographical barriers — resources are scattered across different countries, languages, and jurisdictions
- Lack of centralisation — no single platform aggregates official police databases, NGOs, and hotlines
- Outdated information — many existing sites are not regularly updated or are hard to find
The Solution: Country-by-Country Directory
Help Missing organises missing persons resources by country. Each page includes official databases, police websites, and support organisations, complete with descriptions and direct links. The site is designed for speed and simplicity — no ads, no clutter, just information.
Key Features
- Country pages — each country has its own page with a curated list of resources
- Interactive map — click a country to see available resources and coverage details
- Home page overview — showcases top countries with complete link lists, plus an international section for global organisations like Interpol and ICMEC
- 22 countries covered — including recent additions like Cyprus and Mexico, with 79 verified links from police databases and NGO hotlines
Challenges
One of the biggest challenges is data verification — ensuring that links are active and accurate. Some sites were not accessible outside their geographical location, which prevented their inclusion. There are also significant differences between countries: some nations don’t maintain any public resources on missing persons, while others have extensive registers. In the United States, public databases exist down to city level; in parts of Eastern Europe, even a single official site can be difficult to find.
How You Can Help
The site has a long path ahead. You can contribute by fixing bugs, suggesting UI enhancements, adding missing country resources, or simply sharing Help Missing with those who need it.
Check it out at help-missing.netlify.app.