No more 24-hour waiting period for missing persons reports – Top Cop

– new SOP comes after death of Adrianna Younge

The Guyana Police Force (GPF) has announced the immediate implementation of a new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling missing persons reports, officially eliminating the longstanding and controversial 24-hour waiting period.
The sweeping changes come amid national outrage following the tragic death of 11-year-old Adrianna Younge, whose body was discovered floating in the hotel’s swimming pool the day after she was reported missing, and after claims surfaced that police failed to act promptly on the family’s concerns.
Following the tragedy, the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, swiftly issued a press release outlining the new SOP aimed at reforming how the Force treats missing persons’ reports going forward.
The police are now required to act immediately upon receiving any report of a missing person, without insisting on a 24-hour waiting period. Reports must be treated with the highest level of seriousness, urgency, and professionalism from the outset, particularly when they involve children, elderly individuals, or vulnerable persons.
Additionally, whenever a missing child is reported, a “Red Alert” system will now be triggered, launching a coordinated national response involving multiple agencies.
High-risk cases, such as those involving minors or persons with disabilities, will automatically warrant the rapid deployment of additional resources.
The GPF has also committed to working closely with external agencies, including the Childcare and Protection Agency (CPA), the Immigration Department, health institutions, shelters, and other stakeholders to ensure that no case falls through the cracks.
The Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) has been tasked with issuing timely and accurate public notices about missing persons, while senior officers and divisional commanders will be required to maintain daily oversight of all active cases until they are resolved.
Officers who fail to adhere to the new SOP without a lawful justification will face administrative action under the Police (Discipline) Act and Standing Orders.
The GPF said the new measures are part of a renewed commitment to protect vulnerable citizens and restore public trust.
“The GPF takes its responsibility to protect life and ensure public safety with the utmost seriousness,” the statement read. “The implementation of this SOP underscores our renewed commitment to act swiftly, lawfully, and compassionately when a person is reported missing.”
The reforms come too late to save Adrianna Younge, but authorities say they hope the new approach will prevent future tragedies and ensure that every missing person’s case is met with immediate and decisive action.
According to reports, young Adrianna had been with her family at the Double Day Hotel in Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo (EBE), on the afternoon of April 23, when she was reported missing. Her parents immediately alerted authorities and raised alarm bells over her disappearance.
Tragically, less than twenty hours after the child vanished, her lifeless body was discovered floating in the very pool that police and family members had initially searched and declared clear. When found, Adrianna’s body bore visible signs of injuries to her hands, knees, and face, sparking further suspicion that foul play was involved.
In response to the escalating tensions, President Irfaan Ali ordered a full-scale investigation into the circumstances surrounding Adrianna’s death, as well as the manner in which the police handled the initial missing person report.