Concerns have been raised regarding the care and support received by children who go missing from care. In response to these concerns, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults and the APPG for Looked After Children and Care Leavers called a parliamentary Inquiry to examine these issues more closely.
They took evidence from children who have run away, ministers, national agencies such as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) and Ofsted, as well as the voluntary sector, police forces and local authorities. All spoke about the need for urgent change.
The Inquiry heard harrowing stories, from children themselves as well as professionals, of what happens when children go missing from care, including the physical and sexual abuse they encounter.