FOI Unidentified Remains (244-2024/25)

Request

Q1. How many unidentified bodies or sets of human remains you currently have under your jurisdiction, broken down by decade found, gender, and ethnicity.
Q2. How many of these unidentified persons cases are represented on the National Crime Agency’s database (found here).
Q3. How many of these unidentified persons have facial reconstructions or facial photos associated with them.
Q4. How many of these unidentified persons have DNA associated with them, broken down according to testing status.
Q5. How many of these unidentified persons are assigned to an investigator.
Q6. How many of the investigations into identifying these bodies or sets of remains would be considered “cold” i.e., all viable leads in the investigation have been exhausted and the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) considers there is nothing further that can be progressed in the investigation at that time.
Q7. Whether you currently engaging with any charities, universities, or other organisations (e.g., Locate International, Missing People) to further investigation of unidentified persons cases.
Q8. Your currently status with regards to the use of forensic/investigative genetic genealogy (FIGG) to investigate unidentified persons cases.

Response

Extent and Result of Searches to Locate Information

To locate the information relevant to your request searches were conducted within North Yorkshire Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by North Yorkshire Police.  

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you which is correct as of 29 July 2024.

Q1. North Yorkshire Police holds no information on unidentified bodies or sets of human remains within our jurisdiction; however, the number of cases we have related to unidentified persons is 5.

Q2. 5

Q3. 3

Q4. 2

Q5. 2

Q6. 5 – These cases are looked after by The Cold Case Review Team and are checked periodically. The team are always able to respond to new leads / information provided to the Force.

Q7. The North Yorkshire Police Cold Case Review Team currently and actively interact with both, “Locate International” and “Missing People” as well as others, to further investigate unidentified persons and Suspect Missing Person cases. The most recent being the “Nude in the Nettles” Case following the CCRT Manager Adam Harland appearing on BBC Crimewatch and making a direct appeal regarding this case, passing out personal information gleaned from the deceased in an attempt to generate further leads.

Q8. This is currently under review. No further information is held.

Please note that systems used for recording information are not generic, nor are the procedures used locally in capturing the data.  It should be noted therefore that this force’s response to your questions should not be used for comparison purposes with any other responses you may receive.