Councils will now need to offer children who go missing from home or care an independent interview on their return.
Announcing the new rules, children and families minister Edward Timpson said local authorities needed to make ‘dramatic improvements’ to the support they provided for missing children within the next six months.
Every child who returns from having run away will now receive an independent interview organised by its local authority.
Developed in conjunction with The Children’s Society, the new rules were published as part of the Government’s revised statutory guidance on children who run away or go missing from home or care.
‘For too long support for children who have gone missing has been patchy,’ Timpson said. ‘Councils must now rise to the challenge.’
‘Within the next six months I expect all to have made dramatic improvements to the support they provide missing children, and for all to offer return interviews to every child that has been missing from home or care.’
Chief executive of The Children’s Society, Matthew Reed, said: ‘This is fantastic news for children, a crucial step forward.’
‘The spotlight is now on councils to make sure these changes happen. It is crucial that they rise to this challenge so that every child who runs from home or care gets the help and support they need.’
