Give or take, there are 300 UK children abducted or who disappear anually.

Unlike a child that is the fatal victim of a traffic accident or who has been killed by some maniac, there is no closure, no coming to terms with the loss.

Whilst you might say there is always hope and also the possibility of the victim being recovered, this is small recompense when weighed against the fact that there will never be a moment when the loss of that child to abduction allows you to move on.

The longer the period of time between the first report of kidnapping and an eventual recovery, the greater the possibility that the victim's parents will never see, let alone recognise their child. Allied to the ability of the mind to create the most horrific images, coming to terms with this scenario must be a living hell.

When you have exhausted every media avenue. When you have beaten yourself over the possibility that you were somehow at fault. When you have lain awake in the small hours of darkness and relived every awful moment. What other course of action is left to you?

For the rest of your life you will wait as the grief and sorrow gradually etch themselves into your very soul.

It will be the waiting that hurts most.

The last resort.