Over 400 people were reported missing to Hertfordshire police every month in the last two years.

In a Freedom of Information request made to Hertfordshire Constabulary in January the Force said as many as 427 people were reported missing in the county in 2017 and 2018.

Of those, 12 people were still disappeared according to their “active” list and 35 cases remained unresolved under the Force’s “inactive” list.

Under missing persons that resulted in someone being the victim of murder, two cases were recorded - William Taylor and Luz Margory Isaza Villegas.

Responding to the findings of more than 400 missing persons a month, Hertfordshire police said in 2018 the national definition by which a person might be determined missing was made “much wider” meaning forces up and down the country saw those numbers go up.

The key factors considered in a missing person investigation are:

• Protecting those at risk of harm

• Minimising distress and ensuring high quality of service to the families and carers of missing persons

• Prosecuting those who perpetrate harm or pose a risk of harm when this is appropriate and supported by evidence

Fraser Wylie, manager of the Locate Team, said: “People go missing for many different and often complex reasons.

“Some examples include ill health, such as dementia, mental health challenges, issues at home, feeling unable to cope with everyday life or needing some time out.

“Many of those who are reported missing are found within a short period of time, for example a couple of hours, while others take longer to locate. All of our missing people are risk assessed and the policing response is proportionate to that level of risk.”

In February 2018, Hertfordshire Constabulary launched its Locate Team, who work to help frontline officers to find missing people.