Dog alert issued before missing man plea

Friends of Shane Austin, 38, from Somerset, who disappeared earlier this month, have complained that officers first went public with the wayward German shepherd Kessie.

But yesterday Avon and Somerset Police said they had to exhaust all avenues before they released a missing person's identity.

The Press release about the dog "in no way detracted" from the hunt for Mr Austin, the force said, adding that it was in close contact with his family.

Kessie, who went astray during the search for Mr Austin in Over Stowey, has been found safe and well. But Mr Austin, earlier described as vulnerable, is still missing.

The appeal for Kessie was posted on the police website on the morning of Sunday April 4. The site was updated around an hour later with news of Kessie's safe return to duty.

The appeal for Mr Austin was posted online just before 3am on April 5, the following morning.

The press release said he had gone missing from his home in Cannington, near Bridgwater, and that there had been "possible sightings" of him in the Quantock Hills, at Over Stowey, and also in Watchet.

Officers said they were becoming "increasingly concerned" for his welfare.

Jo Ward, 43, told the Western Daily Press: "I do think it's rude and insensitive to the family the way they have done this."

Inspector Paul Fell said: "We took the search for him very seriously and made use of all the resources at our disposal to be able to trace him, including deploying police search dogs, two police helicopters and working with Exmoor Search and Rescue. We carried out house-to-house inquiries in the area, put up posters and liaised with other agencies.

"The decision to issue an appeal to the media is made only after we are confident that we have exhausted all other search avenues as there are obviously issues in terms of making public the names of a missing person, who may be vulnerable.

"There are specific guidelines in place for issuing press appeals about missing people."

He said none of these restrictions applied to a missing dog.