Mark Whitehead 26 April 2023

Parents reluctant to report missing children, report finds

Parents reluctant to report missing children, report finds image
Image: Jozef Sowa / Shutterstock.com.

Low trust and confidence in the Metropolitan police is making some parents and carers reluctant to report children missing, according to a report from the London Assembly.

Its police and crime committee says that instead, some parents are deciding to search for their children themselves.

The report says every incident of a missing child requires a full safeguarding response, but the committee’s investigation has found that this is ‘not always being delivered’.

In the last year more than 9,000 children went missing in London, many more than once, resulting in 29,455 missing incidents recorded by the police.

The committee recommends London Mayor Sadiq Khan to carry out a review of the experiences of parents, carers and staff in reporting children missing and draw up a new strategy.

It says City Hall should be declared a safe haven for all children who feel at risk, threatened or in danger.

The committee’s chairman Susan Hall said: ‘The issue of missing children is all our responsibility.

‘We hope that the recommendations in our report are taken forward to better prevent children from going missing and find and protect those that do.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Director of Law & Governance

South Kesteven District Council
c. £110k inc.
Effective decision-making in local government leads to better outcomes for communities. Lincolnshire
Recuriter: South Kesteven District Council

Regeneration Manager

West Northamptonshire Council
£65,098 - £71,353
The Major Projects and Regeneration Team, part of our Place, Economy and Environment directorate, is at the heart of delivering this vision. Working with government, private sector partners and our local communities, we are driving forward projects funded One Angel Square 4 Angel Street Northampton
Recuriter: West Northamptonshire Council

Director of Streetscene

Fareham Borough Council
£92,027 - £105,394 (Director Grade) Pay award pending
We continue to have big ambitions for our borough Fareham, Hampshire
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Shared Lives Social Worker

Oxfordshire County Council
£37,035 - £43,693
About the Role Your role will be working with Shared Lives Carers and people who use the service to ensure that there is a good outcome for everyone. Assessing people for their suitability to become carers, presenting assessment reports to the Shared Live Abingdon with some agile working/working from home
Recuriter: Oxfordshire County Council

Lawyer Employment

Durham County Council
£45,718 to £49,764 p.a. (Grade 13) pay award pending
An opportunity for an Employment Lawyer has become available to work at Durham County Council as part of the Legal and Democratic Services Team. Durh Durham
Recuriter: Durham County Council
Linkedin Banner