Nottinghamshire Police's Public Protection Unit has united with the Samaritans to provide suicidal missing people with confidential support.

The new scheme will see the mobile phone numbers of suicidal missing people being passed onto trained volunteers at the charity’s Nottingham branch.

They will then attempt make contact with them to offer a free, confidential listening service.

The Force is the second in the country to implement the tactic.

Emma Adams, Nottinghamshire Police missing person’s manager, said: “If someone has gone missing intentionally, it is usually an indicator that something is going wrong in their life.

“For children and young people, it may be bullying or problems at school. But there can be all kinds of triggers - like a family breakdown, drug and alcohol misuse, loss of a job, or bereavement.

“Some missing people may want to end their lives. In addition to the police work to find that person, the Samaritans will attempt to contact them and provide support at a time of crisis, and potentially in the future as well.”

The Force will notify the Samaritans when a missing person has indicated that they may commit suicide. The charity will be informed of their mobile phone number, their first name, and gender.

Miss Adams added: “The missing person is under no obligation to speak to the Samaritans, but they are offered the opportunity to talk to a trained volunteer, without being judged.

“The service is entirely confidential and the Samaritans will not pass any information from the missing person to their family, friends or the police.”

West Mercia Police were the first to pilot the scheme two years ago and has led to a 60 per cent reduction in missing people committing suicide.

In the last 12 months, 14 people who were reported as missing in Nottinghamshire went on to commit suicide.

Miss Adams: “This is simply about helping someone who is probably in a great deal of suffering and distress. By working with our partner agencies, and with charities like the Samaritans, we can hopefully get them the help they need.”

Nottinghamshire County Councillor Kevin Rostance, portfolio holder for Adult Social Care and Heath, has supported the scheme by making a financial donation to the charity towards the cost of the additional computer systems required to run the service.

Julia Jakeman, Director of Nottingham Samaritans, said: “Hopefully we can make a difference by targeting people who have indicated they want to take their own lives.

“By working with the police, we can reach out to them before they cause harm to themselves.”