More than half of children reported missing in Northamptonshire during a 12-month period were living in care

A large number of children who were reported missing to Northamptonshire Police in a 12-month period were living in care.

Data obtained by this newspaper from a Freedom of Information (FOI) request reveals between November 1, 2019 and November 1, 2020 nearly 4,000 people - adults and children - were reported missing in the county.

Of those 3,957 people, 2,379 were under the age of 18 and more than half of the children reported missing were living in social care.

In that 12-month period, 1,312 of those under 18s were living in care and 109 of those were reported to be off grid more than once in the same time period.

To help get to the route of the issue of children in care going missing, Northamptonshire Police created a protocol in March this year to work with other agencies with the aim to reduce the number of instances of children missing from care.

A spokeswoman for the force said: “Northamptonshire Police has a dedicated Missing and Vulnerability Identification Team (MAVIT).

“The team works hard to understand the reasons why any child goes missing and to prevent it happening again, alongside our partners in children’s services and other agencies.

“In relation to children in care, we introduced the ‘Philomena Protocol’ in March 2020.

“This protocol is nationally recognised best practice for all children’s care providers to follow to help manage missing episodes.

“We have been working closely with care homes and social services across the county to train them in its use which includes understanding the reasons why a child went missing.

“The aim is to reduce instances of children missing from care.”

An East of England NSPCC spokeswoman added: “Children can go missing for numerous reasons; some may be trying to escape from difficult and traumatic situations, while others may have been groomed for exploitation.

“All missing children must be treated as vulnerable, and where there is any intelligence or evidence that a child has or is at risk of being abused then immediate effective steps must be taken to find them and take them to a safe place.

“It is so important that children and young people are aware that whatever they are going through, they will be listened to and help and support is always available.”

Children can contact Childline for free on 0800 1111 or at childline.org.uk 365 days a year, and speak to a counsellor about any worry or concern they may have.

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