If your child has been kidnapped or is in immediate danger, call 999 straight away.
When starting a public or media campaign for a kidnapped or missing child, official safety and legal protocols must come first.
1. Contact Emergency and Authorities First
Call 999: Dial the emergency services immediately if your child is in immediate danger, is a young child, or is vulnerable to harm. Do not wait 24 hours; there is no waiting period to report a missing child.
Call 101: Use the non-emergency police number if you need to pass on specific background details, passport information, or custody paperwork later on.
Request Specialist Alerts (if applicable): If you suspect your child is being taken abroad or is at risk of imminent border crossing, ask the police to request a port alert via the National Border Targeting Centre.
2. Connect with Support Charities
Missing People: Contact the UK’s dedicated charity for missing children and families by calling or texting 116 000 (free and confidential). They can help coordinate publicity appeals, text-back campaigns, and emotional support.
Childline: If the child is under 18 and has a way to reach out, they can contact Childline at 0800 1111.
3. Coordinate Your Public Campaign with Police
Work with the Police Media Strategy: Do not launch a private social media campaign or distribute flyers without consulting the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) or police family liaison officer. Uncoordinated public posts can sometimes jeopardize active police operations, tip off an abductor, or compromise forensic evidence.
Prepare Key Materials: When police or support agencies ask for campaign assets, have these ready:
A clear, recent photograph of your child.
A detailed description of what they were wearing.
Names and contact details of friends, regular hangouts, or digital accounts.
Preserve Personal Spaces: Avoid cleaning or tidying your child’s room or personal devices, as police may need them for forensic clues, DNA samples, or digital traces.
To help me provide more tailored guidance, could you share:
Has a formal police report already been filed with 999 or 101?
Is this a parental abduction or taken by someone else?
Since you already have a police reference number, your immediate priority is to ensure any public campaign is tightly coordinated with the investigating team so it does not accidentally disrupt their ongoing search.
1. Notify the Police of Your Campaign Plans
Before posting anything publicly, call the police on 101 (or speak directly to your assigned Family Liaison Officer) and quote your reference number.
Tell them you plan to launch a public appeal.
Ask the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) if there are specific details or photos you should or should not share. In sensitive cases, releasing certain information prematurely can compromise active leads or tip off a suspect.
2. Launch an Official Publicity Appeal via Support Charities
Instead of managing a campaign entirely on your own, work with established missing person organizations. They have direct pipelines to the media, transport networks, and billboard companies.
Contact Missing People: Call or text the UK charity Missing People on 116 000 (free and confidential). Give them your police reference number. They can launch a coordinated Publicity Appeal, which can include:
Creating official missing posters for social media.
Triggering localized alerts or community text-backs.
Utilizing digital billboards in key areas (via partnerships with outdoor media companies).
International Parental Abduction: If this is a parental abduction where the child may have been taken out of the UK, immediately contact Reunite International on their advice line at 0116 255 6234. They specialize in international custody disputes and cross-border recovery campaigns.
3. Organize Digital and Community Campaigns Safely
Once the police give you the green light to go public, you can structure your campaign using these steps:
Action Item Best Practices What to Avoid
Social Media Hub Create a dedicated Facebook Page or Instagram account (e.g., “Find [Matthew “). Direct all tips to 101 or 999 rather than your personal inbox. Do not post your personal phone number or address, as this exposes you to scams, trolls, and extortion.
Poster Distribution Use clear, recent, high-resolution photos where your child’s face is fully visible. Print the police reference number and the forces involved clearly at the bottom. Do not use heavily filtered photos, old pictures, or images where their features are obscured.
Media Engagement Ask the police press office to issue a formal media release. Local newspapers and news stations will usually only publish appeals that are verified by the police. Do not pay private investigators or online “fixers” who promise quick results without thoroughly vetting them first.
To help me provide the most relevant advice or draft materials for you, could you tell me:
Is there a specific geographic area or transport route where you believe they might be?
Do the police suspect your child is still within the UK or has been taken abroad?
Would you like me to help you draft a template text for a social media appeal or a press release?
Here is a template you can adapt depending on how you intend to use it.
Option 1: An open letter to be shared with the public/media
Use this option if the police have agreed that a public letter could help raise awareness, prompt someone to come forward, or appeal directly to anyone who might know where your child is.
An Open Appeal for the Safe Return of Matthew
To anyone who can help us bring our child home,
On [since 2014 went missing], our lives changed completely when our [12 ]-year-old [son/child], [Matthew], was taken from [London East Ham..
We are appealing directly to anyone who may have seen [Matthew Moldovan, noticed anything unusual in the area on [from 2014-2026], or who has any piece of information no matter how small or insignificant it might seem to you. Your observation could be the missing piece the police need to bring [him] back to safety.
If you are holding [Matthew ], or if you know where [he] [is], please find it in your heart to do the right thing. Please take [him] to a safe place a hospital, a police station, or a church/Synagogue or contact the authorities immediately.
If you have any information, please contact the police straight away on 101 (or 999 in an emergency) quoting police reference number [757-21/09/2026]. Alternatively, you can contact the charity Missing People on 116 000 or report information anonymously to Crime stoppers on 0800 555 111.
Thank you for keeping [Matthew] in your thoughts and for helping us spread this appeal.
Option 2: A direct letter to your child (for media broadcast)
Sometimes the police or family liaison officers will suggest writing a direct message to your child. This is often published in the news in the hope that, if the child sees a television broadcast or a newspaper, they will know you are looking for them and love them.
To our dearest Son Matthew,
We want you to know, more than anything, that we love you so much and we are looking for you every single day.
Everyone at home [ Your brothers cousin’s anties uncles and other family members plus our pets, your grandma,misses you terribly. Still have your things since you’re a baby and ever event and birthdays we celebrate for you and we are waiting to welcome you back with the biggest hug.
If you can see this, or if you can hear us, please know that you have done nothing wrong. We are working with the police and very kind people who are doing everything they can to bring you home safely.
If you get a chance to speak to someone, please tell an adult like a police officer, a nurse, a teacher, or anyone you trust who you are, so they can help you get back to us.
Stay strong, [Matthew]. We love you, we miss you, and we will never stop looking for you.
Love always,
/Mum and the rest of the family]
⚠️ Crucial Safety Reminders Before Sending/Publishing
Police Review: Show this text to your Family Liaison Officer (FLO) or the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) before you publish it. They will ensure it does not conflict with active investigation strategies.
Keep Contact Details Official: Never replace the official police or charity phone numbers with your personal home address or personal mobile number.
If you want to adjust either template, let me know:
Your child’s name, age, and any brief details you’d like included
The specific tone you want to strike (e.g., appealing to the public, or a direct message to a parent/individual who has taken them)
I can rewrite the letter to fit those exact details
I understand how incredibly stressful and terrifying this situation is. Knowing that Matthew Moldovan (DOB: 19 March 2014) has been taken unlawfully by his biological father who has no legal parental rights and is actively being hidden to evade immigration authorities or deportation makes this an urgent cross agency matter.
Because the father is actively trying to hide from the authorities, a public campaign must be structured carefully so it forces awareness without causing him to flee further or go deeper underground.
The templates below are tailored exactly to Matthew’s details and your specific custody situation.
Option 1: Open Public & Media Appeal
Use this version for social media pages, local press releases, or community flyers. It clearly highlights that the father has no legal rights and that Matthew is being hidden unlawfully.
URGENT APPEAL: Help Us Find Missing Child Matthew Moldovan
We are desperately appealing for any information regarding the whereabouts of 12-year-old Matthew Moldovan, born on 19 March 2014.
Matthew was taken unlawfully by his biological father, who has absolutely no parental rights and is actively hiding the child from his sole legal parent. It is believed the father is intentionally concealing Matthew to evade immigration authorities and avoid deportation.
Matthew is loved, deeply missed, and needs to be returned to his legal home immediately.
If you have seen Matthew, if you know where he is being hidden, or if you have any information about his father’s movements, please do the right thing and contact authorities. You can report information completely anonymously if you fear repercussions.
How to report information:
Police: Call 101 (or 999 in an emergency) quoting police reference number [Insert Your Reference Number].
Missing People Charity: Call or text 116 000 (Free, confidential, 24/7 helpline).
Crimestoppers: Call 0800 555 111 to leave a 100% anonymous tip.
Option 2: Direct Alert for Community Groups & Border Points
Because this involves evading deportation, the father may attempt to move across regions or use community/religious networks for cash-in-hand accommodation or transport. You can share this text with localized community networks, landlords, or transport workers.
MISSING CHILD ALERT: Matthew Moldovan (Age 12)
DOB: 19 March 2014 | Current Location Suspected: [Insert City/Region if known]
Matthew Moldovan has been unlawfully abducted by a biological father with no legal custody or parental rights. The abductor is actively hiding from the Home Office and police to avoid deportation.
If you are a landlord, neighbor, or community member who suspects an adult and a child matching this description have recently moved into your area under suspicious or secretive circumstances, please contact the police immediately.
Police Reference Number [757-21/09/2026] or contact the Missing People UK Charity on 116 000. Assistance in hiding an abducted child or a person evading law enforcement is a serious criminal offence. Help us bring Matthew home safely.
⚠️ Vital Next Steps for an Abduction Involving Immigration Risks
Flag the Immigration Status to the Police SIO: Ensure the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) handling your case has forwarded Matthew’s details directly to the Home Office and the National Border Targeting Centre. Because the father is fleeing deportation, a Port Alert must remain active across all UK airports, ferry ports, and international train terminals (Eurostar) to ensure he cannot slip out of the country with Matthew.
Engage Specialized Legal Support: Contact Reunite International on their advice line at 0116 255 6234. They specialize exclusively in international child abduction and cross-border custody. They can coordinate with international authorities if there is a risk the father tries to flee to his country of origin.
Protect Your Digital Footprint: When running a campaign under these high-stakes circumstances, keep a dedicated log of every tip or message sent to your campaign page. Do not engage directly with the father if he reaches out through fake accounts to bargain; forward everything immediately to your Family Liaison Officer.
To help me refine this or provide further materials, please let me know:
Would you like me to draft an official letter or email template to send to your local MP or the Home Office to demand urgent intervention?
Is there a specific nationality, language, or country the father is associated with where he might try to flee?
Have the police given you permission to distribute Matthew’s photographs publicly yet?
I am so sorry you have had to endure this horrific abuse, violence, and terror. What you are describing is a series of severe criminal offenses, including coercive control, physical assault, domestic abuse, and stalking, alongside his history of identity fraud.
Because this individual has a violent history, has served time for fake documentation, and is actively evading law enforcement, your personal physical safety and legal protection are just as critical as the campaign to find Matthew.
1. Secure Your Evidence and Share It Correctly
The evidence you hold regarding his physical assaults, stalking, and forced abortion is incredibly vital. It establishes a pattern of severe danger, which changes how both the police and immigration authorities view his threat level.
Do not confront him or send the evidence to him: If he or his associates contact you, do not reply or threaten them with the evidence.
Submit it formally: Ensure this evidence is handed directly to the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO) handling Matthew’s abduction case. Demand that it be linked to the abduction file to demonstrate that Matthew is in the custody of a violent, convicted criminal. This will escalate the urgency of the police response.
2. Immediate Safety and Protection for You
Because he has a history of stalking and violence, launching a highly visible public campaign could cause him to fixate on or retaliate against you. You must protect yourself while fighting for Matthew:
Contact National Domestic Abuse Services: Call the National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247 (free, confidential, 24/7). They can help you create a personal safety plan, secure your home, or find a safe refuge if you feel at risk.
Apply for a Non-Molestation or Family Court Order: If you haven’t already, ask a family solicitor or a domestic abuse support worker about securing an emergency Non-Molestation Order or an All-Ports Warning through the family courts. This gives the police immediate powers to arrest him if he attempts to come near you or breach certain boundaries.
National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV): You can contact NCDV on 0800 970 2070 for free, fast legal help to get emergency injunctions within 24 hours.
3. Escalate the Case via Your MP and the Home Office
Given his status as a convicted fraudster from Cameroon evading deportation, bureaucratic delays between the Police and the Home Office cannot be tolerated. You can use your position to force high-level attention on Matthew’s case.
Here is a template email/letter you can send to your local Member of Parliament (MP) to demand they intervene with the Home Office and the police on your behalf. You can Find Your Local MP Here.
Subject: URGENT: Child Abduction & Domestic Abuse Case – Matthew Moldovan (DOB 19/03/2014) – Police Ref: 757-21/09/2026
Dear [MP’s I am writing to you as your constituent under circumstances of extreme urgency and distress. My 12-year-old son, Matthew Moldovan (DOB: 19 March 2014), has been unlawfully abducted by his biological father, who has absolutely no parental rights.
The abductor is a citizen of Cameroon and a convicted criminal who has previously served a prison sentence for fraud and using a fake EU passport. He is currently actively hiding my son from me and law enforcement to evade immigration control and avoid deportation.
Furthermore, this individual has a severe history of domestic violence, stalking, and physical abuse against me. I possess clear evidence of his violence. My son is currently in the custody of a violent convicted fraudster who is actively fleeing the state.
A police report has been filed under reference number 757-21/09/2026] with [Police Force, Greater Manchester Police], but I am terrified that bureaucratic gaps between the police and the Home Office will allow him to flee the country with my son using fraudulent documentation.
As my MP, I urgently request that you:
Contact the Home Office and Immigration Enforcement to ensure an active, high-priority All-Ports Alert is maintained across all UK borders.
Intervene with the police force to ensure Matthew’s case is treated with the highest possible risk level given the abductor’s violent criminal history.
I am terrified for my son’s safety and my own. I would appreciate your urgent intervention.
Yours sincerely,
Elisabeta Moldovan
Flat 3 The Mount
Vine Street Salford M7 3NB
07301 895273
4. Adjusting the Public Campaign
With this new information, do not publish your own location, your workplace, or your personal contact details on any missing posters or social media pages.
If you launch the “Find Matthew Moldovan” campaign online, route all communication through the police (101) or the charity Missing People (116 000). If anyone leaves a comment claiming to have seen them, screenshot it immediately, save it, and send it straight to your police liaison. Do not attempt to investigate the lead yourself.
Please take a moment to contact the Domestic Abuse Helpline (0808 2000 247) to ensure your own physical surroundings are safe tonight.
I am glad you have handed that evidence over to the police. Having those records on file is vital because it proves to the police and the courts that Matthew is in immediate danger, which elevates his case to the highest priority.
Taking a child without the consent of the parent who holds sole legal custody is child abduction, which is a severe criminal offence in the UK.
Since the police now have the evidence of his past violence and fraud, here are the immediate, targeted actions to take to ensure the investigation stays moving fast:
1. Demand an Immediate “Port Alert” and Interpol Notice
Because this individual has a history of using fake EU passports and is evading deportation, he is a high flight risk.
Call 101, give them your reference number, and ask to speak directly to your Family Liaison Officer (FLO) or the Senior Investigating Officer (SIO).
Ask them to confirm on the record that an active Port Alert (All-Ports Warning) has been flagged with the National Border Targeting Centre. This alerts all UK airports, ferry ports, and international train hubs to stop him if he tries to leave.
Ask if they have involved Interpol or the National Crime Agency (NCA), given his ties to Cameroon and history of document fraud.
2. Contact specialized Child Abduction Legal Support
Do not rely solely on the police to handle the cross-border and immigration side of this. Contact Reunite International immediately on 0116 255 6234 (or visit reunite.org).
They are the leading UK charity specialising in international child abduction.
They can look at your case for free and advise you on how to get an emergency High Court Order (a Wardship Order). A High Court Order forces every state agency including the Home Office, Border Force, and the police to act instantly and coordinate to track Matthew down.
3. Instruct the Police Media Team
Now that the police have the evidence, ask the SIO if the police press office can issue a public media appeal for Matthew.
A media appeal backed officially by the police will carry Matthew’s photograph and the father’s description to national news and newspapers.
This puts immense pressure on anyone who might be helping him hide, as assisting a child abductor or someone evading law enforcement is a serious criminal offence.
Please keep yourself safe, and ensure the police know exactly how to contact you at any hour of the day.
To help you take the next step, would you like me to:
Draft a formal message you can send directly to your Family Liaison Officer demanding updates on the border alerts and High Court options?
Provide contact details for emergency family law solicitors in your local area who can help you file for urgent court orders?
Dear Officer’s
Following up on the evidence of domestic abuse, identity fraud, and document forgery that I have formally submitted to you, I am writing to urgently request an operational update regarding the search for my son, Matthew Moldovan.
Given the suspect’s violent criminal history and his explicit motivation to evade deportation using fraudulent documents, Matthew is at extreme risk. Can you please confirm the following as a matter of urgency:
1. Has a high-priority All-Ports Warning (Port Alert) been officially registered and verified with the National Border Targeting Centre and Border Force?
2. Has the Home Office / Immigration Enforcement been formally notified of his identity and the active abduction investigation?
3. Is the National Crime Agency (NCA) or Interpol involved to prevent him from fleeing the country with Matthew using fake documentation?
4. Will the police press office be issuing an official public media appeal with Matthew’s photograph to enlist public help?
Please advise on these points as soon as possible. I am deeply terrified for my son’s safety.
Thank you,
2. Legal Aid and Emergency Family Law Contact Details
Because your son was taken without consent by someone with no parental rights, you may be eligible for Legal Aid (free legal help), as child abduction and domestic abuse cases are strictly prioritized for funding.
The following specialized, verified organizations can help you secure an emergency High Court order or connect you with a solicitor immediately:
• Reunite International (Child Abduction Centre)
• Phone: 0116 255 6234
• What they do: They are the premier UK authority on international abduction. They will guide you through the exact legal steps to stop a child from being taken abroad.
• Child Law Advice Service
• Phone: 0300 330 5480
• What they do: They provide free legal advice on child abduction and parental rights in England.
• National Centre for Domestic Violence (NCDV)
• Phone: 0800 970 2070 (or text NCDV to 60777)
• What they do: They can help you obtain emergency court injunctions (like Non-Molestation Orders) within 24 hours, completely free of charge.
• Rights of Women (Legal Advice Helpline)
• Phone: 020 7251 6577
• What they do: They provide free, confidential family law advice specifically for women who are survivors of domestic abuse.
What to do right now:
1. Send the email/message to your police contact straight away.
2. Call Reunite International (0116 255 6234) and tell them you have a police reference number for a child abduction where the father is a deportation flight risk. They will act quickly to advise you.