Men missing on a night out update: 2010 to 2018

This briefing paper updated the findings in the original Missing On a Night Out study (Newiss and Greatbatch, 2017;2019) with an analysis of 54 new cases which
occurred between 2015 and 2018. Combined with the original sample of 96 cases (from 2010 to 2015) the paper presents an analysis of 150 cases over the period 2010 to 2018. The study aimed to check whether the basic descriptive findings of the new cases (age, employment, duration missing, location found etc.) were broadly consistent with the original study, and to highlight any important differences.

The most notable difference between the 2010-15 and 2015-18 periods was the location where bodies were found. In the 2010-15 period (n=96 cases), just 11 cases (11 per cent) resulted in the body of the missing person being found on land. Double the proportion (22 per cent, 12 cases) were found on land in the 2015-18 period. The increase in ‘land’ cases primarily resulted from a greater number of urban land fatalities, and was offset by a decrease (from 54 per cent in 2010-15 to 39 per cent in 2015-18) in the proportion of cases resulting in the body being retrieved from rivers.

Across the whole period, 85 per cent (n=127) of bodies were found in water, and 15 per cent (n=23) found on land. Of those found on land, seven resulted from a fall; five from hypothermia; three from a drugs overdose; two from obstruction
of the airways (resulting from alcohol intoxication), and two from other
accidental) injuries suffered (in four cases this information was not available). Understandably, drowning remained the most frequently recorded cause of death in all missing on a night out cases.