Unidentified bodies database launched

3D reconstructions and forensic images of the faces of unidentified bodies are to be put on the internet by a charity to try to solve cases of people who go missing in the UK.

The National Missing Persons Helpline has launched the online database on its website with the images and descriptions of more than 40 unidentified bodies.

The charity said that while many missing people are eventually found the reconstructions may help solve some of the 200,000 cases reported each year and end the uncertainty for those families.

Auriole Prince, head of the identification and reconstruction department at NMPH said in a statement: "More and more, coroners, police and hospitals are sending us information about people they are trying to identify. As well as running a search against our database and making enquiries, we can now share this information with the public via the internet. We hope that more cases will be resolved as a result."

The new section of the NMPH website offers help and advice as well as 2D and 3D reconstructions and forensic sketches to illustrate descriptive details of the unidentified person.