Missing boy Tyldesley: GMP appeal for information on Finley 2026

Key Points

• Greater Manchester Police are asking for information to help trace the whereabouts of 13-year-old Finley, who is currently missing from Tyldesley.
• Finley was last seen in Tyldesley, Wigan, at about 7.00 pm on Friday 21 August 2026.
• It was reported that police were “increasingly concerned” about the welfare of Finley.
• The appeal was put up on the social media page of GMP Wigan and Leigh, which included names of officers Tony Ellis and Georgia Evans.
• The Greater Manchester Police asked anyone with any information to contact them on 0161 856 7102 and quote the relevant log number.
• In addition to this, the police reminded the public that information could be provided anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Manchester Police ( Manchester Mirror) August 22, 2026 – Greater uk/police/">Manchester Police have issued an urgent public appeal for information after a 13-year-old boy from Tyldesley was reported missing. As reported in a post by GMP Wigan and Leigh on Facebook, officers are seeking help to trace Finley, who was last seen in the Tyldesley area of Wigan at around 7.00pm on Friday, 21 August 2026. In the post, the force said officers are “becoming increasingly concerned for Finley’s welfare” and stressed the priority is to ensure he is safe and well. The appeal names officers Tony Ellis and Georgia Evans in connection with the missing person inquiry, and urges anyone with information to contact GMP directly on 0161 856 7102.

Who is Finley and when was he last seen?

According to the GMP Wigan and Leigh social media update, Finley is a 13-year-old boy from Tyldesley. He was last seen in Tyldesley on the evening of Friday, 21 August 2026, at approximately 7.00pm. The post does not provide further physical description details beyond his age and location, but it emphasises that officers’ concern for his welfare is growing as time passes.

What have Greater Manchester Police said about the appeal?

In their public statement, GMP Wigan and Leigh said they are “appealing for information” to assist in the search for Finley. The force added that officers are “becoming increasingly concerned for Finley’s welfare and want to ensure he is safe and well”. The post directs members of the public with any information to call GMP on 0161 856 7102. It also notes the standard option to contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111, a route often highlighted in missing person cases to encourage tips from people who may prefer not to speak directly to police.

How can the public help in the search for Finley?

GMP has asked anyone who saw Finley in Tyldesley on the evening of 21 August, or who has any information about his whereabouts since then, to come forward. The force provided a direct contact number, 0161 856 7102, for people to call with information. In addition, the post reiterates the Crimestoppers route, under which individuals can pass on details anonymously by calling 0800 555 111. Police typically rely on local knowledge, CCTV, transport records and witness accounts in such cases, and even small details—such as sightings near bus stops, shops, parks or friends’ addresses—can be significant.

What is the wider context of missing children cases in Greater Manchester?

Missing children inquiries are a regular part of GMP’s work, and the force frequently issues appeals through social media and local news outlets. In recent days, other missing person appeals in Greater Manchester have included a 16-year-old boy last seen in Trafford and a 41-year-old woman missing from Newton Heath, with officers in each case stating they are “increasingly concerned” for welfare. Separately, Cheshire Police have sought help to find a 12-year-old girl with links to Greater Manchester, again urging the public to contact police or Crimestoppers. These parallel cases underline the volume of missing person work handled by forces across the region and the reliance on timely public information to locate individuals quickly.

Background to the development

Missing person investigations involving children are treated as high priority by UK police forces, with immediate actions typically including checks at home, school, friends’ addresses, local hospitals and transport hubs, alongside reviews of available CCTV and digital footprints. In Greater Manchester, GMP routinely uses its social media channels—such as the GMP Wigan and Leigh page—to circulate missing person appeals quickly to local communities, naming officers leading the inquiry and providing direct contact numbers. The reference to Crimestoppers in the appeal reflects standard practice, giving an anonymous route for anyone who may have information but is reluctant to speak directly to police. The timing of this appeal, issued the day after Finley was last seen, is consistent with the usual pattern in which forces escalate public appeals when initial enquiries do not locate a child and concern for welfare increases.

Prediction: how this development could affect families and communities in Tyldesley and Wigan

If Finley is not located quickly, the case is likely to heighten anxiety among families and schools in Tyldesley and surrounding Wigan areas, particularly among parents of children of similar age. Increased police visibility, door-to-door enquiries and requests for local CCTV could become more prominent in the neighbourhood, while community groups and schools may reiterate safety messages about letting parents know whereabouts and avoiding isolated areas after dark. Conversely, a swift resolution—such as Finley being found safe would reinforce the value of rapid public response to police appeals and could encourage greater engagement with future missing person calls in the region. In either scenario, the case is likely to sharpen local awareness of missing children issues and the role residents can play by reporting even minor sightings to GMP or Crimestoppers.