MP backs campaign to support families of missing people (From Enfield Independent)

MP backs campaign to support families of missing people

12:27pm Friday 26th October 2012 in News By Bruce Thain

An MP has given his backing to a campaign to help families of missing people get the support they need.

Andy Love, MP for Edmonton, joined families of missing people this week in Parliament to pledge his support to the charity Missing People.

The charity has recently launched a campaign called Missing Rights which aims to get government support for families fighting against the bureaucracy of sorting a missing loved one’s affairs.

Missing people is also currently working with 40 families in Edmonton who have a member missing.

Mr Love said: “The fact that there are around 40 cases of missing people that the charity Missing People is aware of in Edmonton alone gives some indication of the scale of the issue and just how many families need support who currently aren’t getting it.

“As it stands, the families of missing people are offered very little emotional, practical or legal support and in some cases can face their homes being seized, jobs being lost, divorce, social stigma and suicidal thoughts.

“We must do more to ensure they get the support they need and know everything possible is being done to find their missing loved one and make certain the families are spared the pain of unnecessary financial and legal bureaucracy."