Kent Police Appeal for Missing Folkestone Man Last Seen in Ashford

The use of the 999 number, rather than the non-emergency 101 line, indicates that Kent Police are treating this as a potentially urgent or high-risk missing person enquiry. A formal missing person notice has been published on the force’s official channels, according to the post, which included a link to further information.

What the Reference Number Means

The reference number 11-1923 allows Kent Police to log and track all calls and information relating to this specific case within their incident management systems. Members of the public who contact the force should quote this number to ensure their information is correctly recorded and passed to the relevant investigating officers.

Both Folkestone and Ashford fall within the Kent Police force area, meaning neighbourhood policing teams and local officers from both towns may be involved in efforts to locate Jason Lawrence.

The Scale of Missing Person Cases in Kent

Missing person appeals form a serious part of Kent Police’s safeguarding responsibilities. The force recorded 7,643 missing person incidents in the year ending 31 March 2023, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Nationally, police in England and Wales record between 170,000 and 180,000 missing person incidents each year, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council.

National figures also indicate that around 60 to 70 per cent of missing person reports relate to individuals who have gone missing on more than one occasion, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council. Kent Police follow national guidance for missing person investigations, which requires officers to assess risk levels — categorised as low, medium or high — and allocate resources accordingly.

How the Public Can Help

Residents in Ashford, Folkestone and surrounding areas are being asked to remain alert to any sightings of Jason Lawrence. Those with relevant footage — including CCTV recordings, dashcam footage or doorbell camera footage — that may assist the investigation are encouraged to contact the force. Kent Police have specified that urgent information should be reported by calling 999 and quoting reference 11-1923.

Specific details about Jason Lawrence, including his age, physical description and health status, had not been independently verified at the time of publication. Kent Police’s official missing person notice, linked from the force’s social media post, may contain further details for those seeking to assist the search.

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Key Takeaways

• Jason Lawrence from Folkestone has been reported missing and was last seen in Ashford, according to Kent Police.
• Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call 999 and quote reference 11-1923.
• Kent Police are treating the disappearance as sufficiently serious to warrant a public appeal using the 999 emergency number.

What This Means for Kent Residents

Residents across Ashford, Folkestone and the wider Kent area are being asked to assist police by reporting any sightings of Jason Lawrence. Urgent information should be reported by calling 999 and quoting reference 11-1923, while those with non-urgent information can contact Kent Police via the 101 non-emergency number or through the force’s online reporting portal. Any relevant footage from CCTV, dashcam or doorbell cameras that may assist the investigation should also be reported to the force through the same channels.