WHEN Veronica Green disappeared after parking her car at Albion railway station in 1976, she became one of the 35,000 people reported missing in Australia every year – that’s one every 15 minutes.

Frightening though that statistic is, it’s worse for the family and friends who wait for news of their loved ones.

While 95 per cent of people are found within a month, the whereabouts of some are unknown, months and even years after being reported missing.

About 1600 people at present have been missing for longer than six months in Australia.

Victoria Police are hoping National Missing Persons Week will encourage people to come forward with information and give the families of missing people much-needed peace of mind.

The theme of the 2008 National Missing Persons Week campaign is: “When communication goes missing, so does our youth. Don’t close the door to communication.”

The theme recognises that young people between the ages of 10 and 14 account for 32 per cent of missing persons in 2007/2008.

About 60 per cent of missing persons are 18 or under.

Sunshine CIU Detective Senior Sergeant Fred Grove encouraged any person who had been avoiding contact with their family and friends, and who may have been reported as a missing person, to let someone know they were safe.

“We would encourage people who are avoiding family members for whatever reason, to make some contact, even if they might not want to return,” Det Sen Sgt Grove said.

“People need closure; even if they’ve got issues in the family, they need to know that the person is all right.

“Not a shift goes by when there’s not a person reported missing and a majority of those are in their teens.

“They might have issues at home and can’t cope with them and have decided to take time out.

“There are some, of course, that don’t return, and for whatever reason known to themselves feel they can’t return.

“But their loved ones are all seeking some closure.”

Police have released 12 images of missing people they are keen to find.

Assistant Police Commissioner Bob Hastings said they were of varied ages and backgrounds but all had one crucial thing in common - their family and friends were desperate to know their whereabouts.

“When a family member or friend vanishes from your life it’s the sense of not knowing that can be absolutely devastating,” Mr Hastings said.

“Some of the missing persons cases we are highlighting today involve people who have been missing for more than 30 years, whereas others have been missing for just a few months.

“Any piece of information can be of help to police in a missing persons’ case. A possible sighting, a conversation, a telephone call or any detail relating to a missing person could be the final link police need to end the questions of family and friends.”

He stressed that it was not a crime to be reported missing.

Anyone with information about a missing person can report to their local police station or phone the missing persons information line on freecall 1800 000 634.