As London police continue to investigate the disappearance of a city woman, they’ve responded to public calls for a ground search by saying it wouldn’t be effective — for now.

Police did not originally do a ground search for Shelley Desrochers because of the lapse of time between when she was last seen and when she was reported missing, Const. Sandasha Bough said.

As well, Desrochers’ disappearance when she was first reported missing was not considered suspicious in nature, she said.

“We consider whether to do a ground search based on a case by case basis, based on our search urgency evaluation,” Bough said.

But police haven’t ruled out a search in the future, if additional information warrants it, she said.

Friends of Desrochers, desperate for answers, have publicly wondered why police did not do a ground search for her or why they don’t now.

They’re considering trying their own, although they have already looked in parts of east London for clues.

The 42-year-old mother and grandmother was seen in the area of Ernest and Bradley avenues about 2 p.m. on Jan. 2, and about 10 a.m. Jan. 5, near Hamilton Road and Rectory Street.

Desrochers worked in London’s dangerous street-level sex trade.

Police didn’t get a report about her disappearance until Jan. 21. They issued a missing person’s notice Feb. 1 after Desrochers didn’t access her bank account for a government deposit.

Desrochers’ disappearance is the third of a woman involved in what police call a “high risk lifestyle” in six years in London, and has renewed calls for improving safety for women.

Some of Desrochers’ friends and advocates are planning a meeting Monday to discuss how to keep women at risk safer.

As well, a city hall-led plan to help women in the street-level sex trade, developed with the help of 24 organizations, is expected to be launched this year.

The same committee steering that plan also is looking at how agencies can share information when anyone struggling with homelessness, addiction, mental illness or life on the street goes missing.