''Missing Persons Unit'' is an Australian television

documentary A documentary film (often described simply as a documentary) is a nonfiction Film, motion picture intended to "document reality, primarily for instruction, education or maintaining a Recorded history, historical record". The American author and ...

series on the

Nine Network Nine Network (stylised 9Network, and commonly known as Channel Nine or simply Nine) is an Australian commercial free-to-air television network. It is owned by parent company Nine Entertainment and is one of the five main free-to-air television ...

hosted by actor and personality

Steve Bastoni Steve Bastoni (born 4 March 1966) is an Italian-born Australian actor. He became a household name in Australia for his role as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos in ''Police Rescue'' and as Steve Parker in ''Neighbours''. His memorable per ...

. The show documents people who have gone missing in Australia and the police who investigate their cases. The show was hosted for its first three years by

Mike Munro Michael Kenneth Munro, (born 12 April 1953), is an Australian journalist and television presenter. Early life Munro cites a tough childhood—with an abusive and alcoholic mother—as one of the main reasons behind his motivation to succeed ...

before he moved to the

Seven Network Seven Network (stylised 7Network, and commonly known as Channel Seven or simply Seven) is an Australian commercial free-to-air Television broadcasting in Australia, television network. It is owned by Seven West Media, Seven West Media Limited, ...

. The program is produced by Sydney production company Freehand, executive producer for series 1-3 was Ivo Burum. The first series of ''Missing Persons Unit'' screened from February 2006 as 30-minute episodes. The second series began airing in a 60-minute format from February 2008 and remained in that format with the third series airing from June 2009. It began airing on UK television in 2007.Freehand Production listings
The Freehand Group Pty Ltd

Synopsis

''Missing Persons Unit'' is an observational documentary series that explores the world of the

New South Wales New South Wales (commonly abbreviated as NSW) is a States and territories of Australia, state on the Eastern states of Australia, east coast of :Australia. It borders Queensland to the north, Victoria (state), Victoria to the south, and South ...

Police MPU and the families of missing people. Filmed at police stations, forensics labs, with families and on location with search and rescue, the program follows MPU operatives as they investigate cases and piece together the jigsaw that might lead to closure for a grief-stricken family.

References

{{reflist

External links

Official ''Missing Persons Unit'' site''Missing Persons Unit''
Southern Star International

Ruth Ritchie, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 20 May 2006

Tim Irons, ''Inside Film Magazine'', 8 February 2006

''Australian Missing Persons Register''
Official Freehand Website
2000s Australian documentary television series Nine Network original programming 2006 Australian television series debuts 2010 Australian television series endings Documentary television series about policing Television series by Freehand Productions 2010s Australian documentary television series