A MISSING Suffolk man's mother has helped organised a march to urge the government to create a dedicated missing person's team in every police force.Nicki Durbin, mother to Luke, who disappeared on May 12, 2006, after a night out with friends at Zest nightclub in Ipswich, hopes the event, set to take place next month, will highlight the vast numbers of missing people in the UK and encourage the government to set up a support group for the families of the missing.

A MISSING Suffolk man's mother has helped organised a march to urge the government to create a dedicated missing person's team in every police force.

Nicki Durbin, mother to Luke, who disappeared on May 12, 2006, after a night out with friends at Zest nightclub in Ipswich, hopes the event, set to take place next month, will highlight the vast numbers of missing people in the UK and encourage the government to set up a support group for the families of the missing.

There are currently around 80 people set to take part in the march across London on March 12.

Ms Durbin, of Coronation Avenue, Hollesley, near Woodbridge, said: “The main problem is getting more people involved in the march.

“Each police force deals with the reporting of missing persons differently. They need more specialist training. We feel there is a gender difference. I was told that teenaged boys disappear like this sometimes, but I knew Luke would not just go like that. However when it became an investigation, it was taken very seriously and everything changed.

“I have spoken to a lot of families with missing children, and I think those with missing boys feel they were treated the same. Everybody who goes missing should be entitled to the same treatment from the police and media.”

The last possible sighting of Luke was earlier this month in London and since then, Ms Durbin has travelled to the capital in the vain hope of finding him.

Ms Durbin, 38, added: “I went to London with a friend and I really did get a sense of looking for a needle in a haystack. Every road I passed and didn't turn down, I thought what if that is the road I should have gone up.

”In my heart of hearts I do not think the sighting was him but I would like it to be - more than anything else in my life.”

The march is starting in Cumberland Place, London, at 10am on March 12. Anyone wishing to attend should email: themissing@hotmail.co.uk.

If you have seen Luke, call Suffolk Police on 01473 613500 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.

Will the march help? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk.