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Hampshire police issued a new request for information about a top British diplomat who has been missing since he ran last week.
People in and around the Bentley area of Farnham were urged to check out sheds and gardens to assist in the search for Richard Morris, 52, who has a distinctive birthmark on his face.
Police also requested any CCTV video that could offer clues to what happened to the married father of three children, as the Foreign Ministry says it is “extremely concerned” about his disappearance.
Morris, who will become the United Kingdom’s high commissioner in Fiji in July, was last seen around 10:30 a.m. May 6 when he left his home in Bentley.
A diplomatic colleague said his disappearance was very out of place. Morris’s previous diplomatic position was as ambassador to Nepal.
Hampshire police issued an information appeal the day he disappeared. He noted that he has a port wine birthmark on his face, he is white, 6 feet tall, with gray hair and a beard.
“His family is understandably concerned about his well-being,” the statement said.
Monday’s second police appeal thanked the public for their response.
“We are now asking residents in the surrounding areas if they can help by checking out sheds, outbuildings and gardens,” the police statement said.
“We would also love to hear from any resident or company with CCTV who can help us with our inquiries.”
Morris hasn’t been seen since he ran
The police urged the local population not to attempt to search for Mr. Morris off their property.
“We would like to assure individuals that we have professional search teams that conduct a comprehensive search of local areas,” the statement said.
“This is so that teams can accurately monitor all areas that have been searched by the police to a professional standard and so that search dogs can potentially track.
“We again appeal to anyone with information and also ask residents to check their premises for signs that someone has been sheltering there or for discarded items.”
“If you can help, get in touch by calling 101 and quoting the reference 44200160398.”
An FCO spokesman said: “Richard is a very appreciated and valued colleague. We are extremely concerned that he is missing and we all hope that they will find him safe and well soon.”
A career diplomat, Morris was ambassador to Nepal for four years until November 2019.
Before that position, he was head of the Pacific department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
He had previously been consul general in Sydney and served in Mexico City.
A graduate of the University of Aberystwyth, Morris joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1990.
He worked in various departments, including defense issues, cultural relations and spent time on the UK mission to the United Nations in New York.
He has a wife, a daughter, and two sons.
Her biography from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that she “enjoys running, reading, traveling, listening to music and spending time with her family over a long distance.”
Morris had completed a Mount Everest marathon for a charity to support people with facial disfigurement.
He had finished the 42km run from base camp to Namche in seven hours and 51 minutes on May 30 of last year.
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