Madeleine case prompts support call

May 2 2009

Gerry and Kate McCann's very public ordeal has highlighted a dearth of support for the families of missing people, a charity has said.

Sunday is the second anniversary of Madeleine McCann's disappearance in Portugal and Missing People believes more could have been done to help her family and those like them.

The charity's director of policy and research, Geoff Newiss, said: "Two years on and Madeleine McCann's disappearance from Praia da Luz continues to highlight the need for better services and support for families affected."

Mr Newiss continued: "Families like Madeleine McCann's need more help with the emotional, social and practical impacts that occur when someone they love goes missing.

"Kate and Gerry McCann have had to deal with an unprecedented level of misinformation about Madeleine's disappearance in the public domain. This has certainly not been helpful to them or the search for their daughter.

"Madeleine is a vulnerable missing child. Her family are in the same desperate situation as the 1,000 other UK families the charity currently supports, all living in limbo."

The charity wants better responses from police forces to the families of missing people and more "timely and appropriate" support.

It is calling for an increased awareness among other service providers - such as counsellors, financial advisers and solicitors - of how they can help relatives.

And it is campaigning for a better range of information and guidance for the families of missing people.

Its recommendations are outlined in a report, called Living in Limbo.