Locating people in the UK who have disappeared from view, whether they are offenders, missing persons, witnesses, or beneficiaries, is a vital task for many investigators. This process often involves scouring a range of public record sources. In the US, this is commonly known as "skip tracing," based on the idea of locating individuals who have "skipped" their obligations or disappeared from known addresses. Although the term is much less popular in the UK, the concept remains the same, with some differences in the sources and workflows used internationally.

Traditionally associated with debt collectors, private investigators, and law enforcement, skip tracing is now applied across various industries, from finance to legal services, where tracking down missing persons, debtors, or witnesses is essential. Open-source intelligence (OSINT) has transformed this process, providing access to a range of digital information that allows investigators to locate individuals more quickly and efficiently.

In this article, we’ll explore the nuances of locating people in the UK and how OSINT can elevate this practice by offering access to a variety of data sources that aid in finding elusive individuals.

What is Skip Tracing?

Skip tracing refers to the methods used to locate individuals who are difficult to find, often because they have deliberately tried to evade detection. This practice is essential in many fields, including:

• Debt Collection: Locating debtors who have defaulted and disappeared without updating their contact details.
• Legal Services: Finding individuals needed for legal proceedings, such as witnesses, those owing child support, or those owed an inheritance.
• Insurance: Investigating fraudulent claims by locating individuals who may have misrepresented themselves or vanished after filing claims.
• Law Enforcement: Identifying and locating individuals involved in criminal activities who have fled.

Historically, skip tracing relied heavily on manual investigation and street-level detective work. However, OSINT has transformed the process, providing access to disparate information sources that allow professionals to locate missing persons more efficiently.

Key Data Sources for Skip Tracing in the UK

When looking for people in the UK, investigators must rely on a range of public data sources to create a comprehensive profile of the individual they’re searching for. Since public data on UK citizens is less widely available than in the US, this often involves looking at a variety of sources. Some of the most effective UK public data sources include:

• Electoral Roll: The electoral register contains names and addresses of registered voters, providing a current or last known address. While the full register is not publicly available, the edited ‘open’ version includes records for 16.3 million people (37% of registered voters), offering a valuable starting point for many investigations.
• Planning Records: People leave digital traces when applying for planning permission to build or modify a property, which includes names and addresses. These records can be useful for linking individuals to specific properties or locations. However, many portals require a search by property rather than the owner's name.
• Insolvency Records: The UK government maintains a public register of individuals and businesses declared insolvent, including details of bankruptcies, individual voluntary arrangements, and debt relief orders. These records often contain the individual’s address.
• Companies House: For those involved in businesses, Companies House records provide detailed information about directors, shareholders, and their associated addresses. For smaller ventures, individuals often use a home address to register the company, making this a valuable resource for investigators.
• Rental Properties: Local councils maintain public registers of licensed Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and selective licensing registers, which often include the owner’s home address. However, searches are typically conducted by property address rather than individual name.
• Social Media: Platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter) can be useful for locating individuals by revealing their rough location through tagged posts or check-ins.
• Hobbies & Community Groups: Involvement in local activities like sports clubs often leaves a digital footprint, with team lists or public groups potentially offering leads on the town where an individual resides.
• Professional Registers: Many professional associations and certification bodies maintain public directories listing members' names and sometimes their addresses, which can help in verifying someone's career and location.

Techniques for Effective Skip Tracing

Successfully locating an individual requires an analytical approach, piecing together data points to build a coherent picture of the person’s movements. Here are some techniques to enhance your skip-tracing efforts:

• Cross-Referencing Data Sources: Aggregating information from multiple sources allows investigators to verify accuracy and uncover additional leads. For example, a name and date of birth from Companies House records can be cross-checked against the electoral roll to confirm the individual’s identity and current address.
• Timeline Reconstruction: Create a timeline of significant events, such as property moves or job changes, to determine whether an address is current or historical.
• Relationship Mapping: People rarely live alone their whole lives. Identifying family members, business partners, or close associates can help locate the individual, as these connections may reveal where the subject resides or works.
• Digital Footprint Examination: Investigate the subject's online presence for clues about their location. Social media check-ins, photo geotags, and public comments often contain geographical data. Images posted online can be analysed using AI-driven tools like GeoSpy to determine a rough location.

How Cradle Simplifies Locating People with OSINT

Locating individuals in the UK is essential across industries, from debt collection to law enforcement. By leveraging publicly available data, professionals can find people more efficiently than ever before.

We built Cradle to streamline this process, bringing together data from the electoral roll, planning permissions, insolvency records, and more. Cradle consolidates these public records, providing investigators with comprehensive information on individuals’ associated properties and locations. This saves time and eliminates the need to sift through fragmented data sources. Whether you’re tracking down debtors, locating witnesses, or investigating fraudulent claims, Cradle helps investigators work efficiently while adhering to the highest ethical standards.

Sign up for a trial today at https://cradle.publicinsights.uk/.