High-risk missing person cases will soon be helped by thousands of postmen and women.
The charity Missing People will send alerts to Royal Mail postal workers' handheld scanners to tell them if there's a case in their area.
It's hoped the 10,800 Scottish staff can assist at an early stage during investigations.
The alerts will also appear on Royal Mail's employee website and, where possible, on 1,800 television screens across its offices, reaching all 148,000 staff. It will be the first time an organisation has made its business-wide communication channels available to the Missing People charity.
Currently, 123,000 people directly receive Child Rescue Alerts, as well as other members of the public being informed of missing person appeals through Twitter, Facebook, digital billboards and media and corporate partnerships. The new partnership with Royal Mail will effectively double this.
Rob Jenson, Operations Director, Scotland and the North of England, Royal Mail, said:
"Royal Mail's postmen and women are out in the community six days a week, across the country. We are all very aware of the trauma experienced by the families and communities of missing people, particularly children. We want to use our unique position to support this important service and perhaps help to reunite families with their missing loved ones."
Jo Youle, CEO of Missing People said:
"When someone goes missing and is at risk, every minute after a disappearance is crucial to bringing them home safely. Our partnership with Royal Mail is a truly inspired way to spread an alert quickly and to the very people who are the eyes and ears of their local communities."
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