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What to do if…
you cannot find where a family member was taken after an arrest

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Call 101 and ask for the police force or custody team responsible for the arrest. Give the person’s identifying details, the time and place of arrest, and any urgent welfare information, but be aware that police may be unable to confirm their location without the person’s consent.

Do not do these things

  • Do not call 999 only to ask where the person is; use 999 if someone is in immediate danger or urgent emergency help is needed.
  • Do not travel between police stations or custody suites unless police have told you where to go.
  • Do not post the person’s name, photograph, alleged offence, or arrest details publicly while searching.
  • Do not assume that silence means the person has been harmed, charged, released, or sent to prison.
  • Do not take medication, clothing, money, or other property to a custody suite unless staff give you instructions.
  • Do not share identification details with unofficial services or anyone demanding payment to locate the person.

What to do now

  1. Write down the family member’s full name, date of birth, home address, telephone number, and any other name they use. Record the approximate time and place of arrest and anything identifying the officers, vehicle, or police force involved.

  2. Call 101. Explain that you are trying to identify where a family member was taken following an arrest and ask to be connected to, or have a message sent to, the relevant force or custody team.

  3. Give one reliable telephone number and ask what information the police need from you. Note the time of the call, the force or department contacted, the name or collar number given by the person handling the enquiry, and any reference number.

  4. Tell the police immediately about urgent medication, illness, injury, disability, communication needs, pregnancy, withdrawal risk, self-harm risk, or another serious welfare concern. Ask for the information to be passed to custody staff even if the police cannot confirm that the person is being held there.

  5. If the family member is under 18 or may need support because of vulnerability, say this clearly. Ask whether a parent, guardian, carer, appropriate adult, or another suitable person needs to be contacted.

  6. Ask whether the custody team can pass the family member your name, telephone number, and a brief request to contact you. The police may limit what they tell you, but they may still be able to record or pass on a message.

  7. If you know the family member’s criminal defence solicitor, contact the solicitor with the person’s full name, date of birth, place of arrest, and approximate arrest time. Ask whether the person or police have contacted the firm and whether the firm can make an appropriate enquiry.

  8. If police indicate that the person is no longer in police custody, ask whether they can say if the person was released or transferred elsewhere. Do not assume they are in prison unless there is a reason to believe they appeared in court and were remanded or sentenced.

  9. If there is a reasonable basis to believe the person is now in prison:

    • For a prison in England or Wales, if they have only just arrived in prison, GOV.UK says it can take up to 72 hours before their first phone call. If there has been no contact after 72 hours, use the official Find a Prisoner service. The prisoner’s permission is normally required before their location is disclosed.
    • For Scotland, use the Scottish Prison Service family and friends pages to find prison contacts or ask which enquiry route is appropriate.
    • For Northern Ireland, contact the Northern Ireland Prison Service and ask which enquiry route is appropriate.

What can wait

You do not need to decide how to respond to the allegation, arrange a prison visit, contact the person’s employer, collect belongings, or make wider legal and family decisions now. First identify the responsible police force, pass on urgent welfare information, and leave a reliable contact number.

Important reassurance

Police may restrict information because of consent, privacy, safeguarding, or operational concerns. Processing, interviews, transfers, court attendance, and release arrangements can also delay contact, so an initial lack of information does not by itself show that something has gone wrong.

Scope note

This guide covers immediate steps for trying to locate a family member after an arrest. Questions about the allegation, legal representation, bail, court proceedings, prison contact, or complaints may require assistance from a solicitor or the relevant police, court, or prison service.

Important note

This is general information, not legal advice. Police custody, disclosure, court, and prison arrangements differ across England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, and officials may be limited in what they can disclose.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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