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Over 2,400 children under the care of local authorities in England went missing during 2024, according to a report by ECPAT UK and Missing People.
The figures include unaccompanied minors and children identified as potential victims of trafficking.
Among 2,638 children recognized or suspected as trafficking victims, 864 (about 37%) were reported missing. Similarly, of the 12,530 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children placed in care, 1,501 (roughly 13%) disappeared while under state protection.
Some local authorities failed to provide data when requested, meaning the published numbers likely represent a minimum estimate rather than a definitive national total.
Inconsistencies in documentation and reporting across regions make it difficult to track long-term missing cases versus children who return to care after brief absences.
Children who most often go missing are classified as “trafficked” or “unaccompanied asylum-seeking”. Factors linked to disappearances include insecure immigration status, temporary accommodation, frequent relocations, and lack of long-term placements.
While missing from care, these children face risks such as criminal exploitation, trafficking and abuse.
The report concludes that existing care and safeguarding mechanisms failed to prevent these disappearances.
Systemic shortcomings were identified in monitoring, information sharing, and long-term protection for vulnerable children in local authority care.
Even children officially registered as “looked after” often lacked protection suitable for their specific vulnerabilities.
Child-rights organizations and migrant support charities issued statements calling for strengthened protections for children in care and improved monitoring systems.
The data attracted media and advocacy attention, highlighting ongoing issues despite repeated warnings over the past decade.
Tracking children who go missing from care in England is complicated by fragmented data systems and delayed reporting.
Many local authorities update records only sporadically, making it difficult to establish whether a child has returned or remains at risk.
The report notes that children often move between placements or temporary accommodations, further complicating monitoring efforts. These systemic challenges hinder both immediate interventions and long-term policy planning.
To address the high number of missing children, ECPAT UK and Missing People recommend several measures.
These include: improving information-sharing between local authorities, establishing consistent monitoring protocols, providing secure long-term placements for high-risk children, and increasing resources for follow-up investigations.
The report emphasizes that protecting vulnerable children requires coordinated efforts across all levels of the care system, especially for unaccompanied minors and trafficking victims.
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