Police have clarified their procedures for handling reports of missing minors after residents raised concerns about how such cases are managed and communicated to the public.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, Commissioner Everton Jeffers said officers begin an investigation as soon as a report is made that a minor is missing. Police may also issue a public notice asking the community for help in locating the child.

Once the minor is found, authorities inform the public that the individual has been safely located, but further details are usually not released.

Mr Jeffers said the child is typically taken to a police station until their parents or guardians arrive.

“When a missing person report is made, an investigation will commence, and when that person is found they would be held at the station while their parents or guardians come to pick them up,” he said.

He added that the circumstances surrounding where and how the minor is found determine whether additional police action is taken.

“If that person is found with a minor, there are times that person would be arrested,” he said, adding that adults found with the child may also be detained while investigations continue.

Mr Jeffers said police must balance the public’s demand for information with the need to protect the privacy and welfare of minors.

However, some residents say the limited information released after a child is found often fuels speculation and have called for greater transparency from authorities.