Every missing person in Victoria

A person goes missing in Victoria every hour and some haven’t been seen in decades. See the full list and their last sightings.

Every hour one Victorian is reported missing to police.

Fortunately, almost half of those are found within two days and most will eventually make contact, return home or be found safe and well.

But of the more than 8000 cases reported each year, some remain missing for months, years or even decades.

There are more than 65 people classed as a long-term missing person case — missing for more than three months — who were last seen in Victoria.

People go missing for a variety of reasons, including mental illness, miscommunication, misadventure, domestic violence and being a victim of crime.

Some of the people on this list have been missing for less than a year, while others haven’t been seen for more than 40 years.

Reports of missing people in Victoria have risen dramatically over the past decade, from 7,669 in 2011 to more than 18,000 last year.

There are 40 men and 26 women identified as missing in Victoria with rewards of up to $1,000,000 available in some cases.

A Victoria Police spokeswoman said the best chance police has at finding people was immediately after they were identified as missing.

She said the best thing family and friends who are worried about the safety of a missing person could do was contact their local police station immediately.

“Most reported missing people are located within 48 hours,” she said.

“If a person is missing and there are concerns for that person’s safety and welfare, a report can be made at any time.”

Across Australia around 38,000 people are reported missing each year, according to the Australian Federal Police who say the first 24 hours are the most “crucial”.

“This is because the sooner police are able to follow-up leads, such as the availability of CCTV footage, the more likely the person will be found safe and well,” an AFP spokesman said.

“Every piece of information matters. It is important to give the police all the facts and circumstances related to the disappearance, including search efforts already made by you and others.”

While the process of finding missing people can seem daunting, a Queensland mother has played a role in numerous discoveries after founding a website called the Australian Missing Persons Register.

Nicole Morris set up the resource after watching a documentary about one man’s search for his missing aunt in 2005 and learning there was no national database.

“In the program, it said there was no national database for missing people, which is why it had been so difficult to solve,” Ms Morris said.

‘‘I decided to create a site that was a central database where people can look up all the info.’’

This report has been compiled of missing persons identified on the Australian Federal Police’s missing persons register available here.

If you have information on a missing person you should report it to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

Crime Stoppers will refer the information to the relevant missing persons unit or the investigating officer on the case.