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Date: April 29, 2024 Mon
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Results for missing children
27 results foundAuthor: Fox Valley Technical College Title: The Crime of Family Abduction: A Child's and Parent's Perspective Summary: Family abduction is the most prevalent form of child abduction in the United States. This publication is designed to provide the searching famliy, law enforcement, and mental health professionals with strategies to build a comprehensive, child-centered approach to recovery and healing. Details: Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2010. 61p. Source: Internet Resource Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: Shelf Number: 118816 Keywords: Child AbductionMissing Children |
Author: Dalley, Marlene L. Title: The Left-Behind Parents' View of the Parental Abduction Experience: Its Characteristics and Effect on the Canadian Victims Summary: The purpose of this descriptive study was to determine the characteristics of parental abductions, including the financial difficulties experienced by the searching parent and the trauma experienced by the abducted child. Since both the study about left-behind parents, and about abducted children, involved the same sample group, it was decided the best approach was to gather this information from both groups in the same questionnaire. The study was limited to left-behind parents who contacted not-for-profit agencies for help finding their missing children. The not-for-profit agencies whose clients participated were Child Find Canada provincial offices, the Missing Children’s Network of Canada and the Missing Children Society of Canada. In most cases, the questionnaire was limited to information about one child in a family who went missing, except for factors like the age of the child. In seven cases, more than one child went missing. Forty-eight questionnaires were sent out and 19 returned. The number of children abducted was 28. This study found that over half the couples were separated or divorced when the child was abducted. Prior to the abduction, over half the child victims had a much better relationship with the abductor than did the left-behind parent, who rated their relationship as poor. All the children in this study were living in Canada at the time of the abduction, but 63 per cent were taken outside Canada. More children were located in the United States than other countries. Over half of the left-behind parents’ reported there was a known reason or connection to the place where the child was eventually located. Furthermore, an abduction act is not usually an impulsive act but a premeditated type conspiracy. Most abductors work alone during the actual “snatching” but after the event has happened they receive help from family, friends and relatives. At the time of the abduction, 75 per cent of the left-behind parents had a custody order. Over half the left-behind parents made a Hague application for the return of their children to Canada and found this process useful. Five of the 12 abductors who fled to another country were extradited back to Canada. This study showed that Canadian law enforcement took a longer period of time than law enforcement in other countries to find the missing child. Fifty-three per cent of the Canadian children were found in less than one year, while it took more than 1 ½ years to locate the other 47 per cent. Other researchers reported that most of the children were recovered in a few months. Details: Ottawa: National Missing Children Services, national Police Services, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, 2007. 61p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 1, 2010 at: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/omc-ned/leftbe-laisderr-eng.pdf Year: 2007 Country: Canada URL: http://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/pubs/omc-ned/leftbe-laisderr-eng.pdf Shelf Number: 119721 Keywords: Child AbductionKidnappingKidnapping, ParentalMissing Children |
Author: University of Stirling and Ipsos MORI Scotland, University of Stirling: Cheryl Burgess, Margaret Malloch, Fiona Mitchell, Ipsos MORI Scotland: Vanessa Chan, Jane Eunson Title: Grampian Police Return Home Welfare Interview Pilot for Young Runaways: Pilot Evaluation Summary: The overall aim of this evaluation was to explore the most effective means of delivering Return Home Welfare Interviews ( RHWIs) to ensure the best outcomes for the child/young person. It set out to examine the operation of the pilot as implemented in Aberdeen City and Elgin, to reflect the range of models of delivery used and the overall impact of the pilot. One area in Aberdeenshire (Fraserburgh) formed the control area to illustrate original practice in Grampian and current practice outwith the pilot areas. At the point where a missing young person is traced in both pilot areas, a 'safe and well' check will be undertaken by an operational police officer. This is a visual check to ensure the young person is safe and well. At this stage, the young person will be informed that a RHWI will be arranged. The RHWI team will make contact with the young person within five working days and the RHWI will take place as soon as possible after that. The RHWI is an interview conducted by a specially trained individual (members of a dedicated team comprising two civilian employees and a seconded police officer in Aberdeen, and Community Beat Officers ( CBOs) in Elgin). The purpose of the RHWI is to gather relevant information on the young person and missing incident and to speak with the young person in order to identify any factors that prompted them to run or incidents which happened while they were away. This information is then used to ensure that the young person is referred to the appropriate service/s. The principal conclusion of the evaluation is that RHWIs are an appropriate intervention; helping identify young people who require further support and referring them to an appropriate agency. Even without an onward referral, they can improve outcomes by helping young people appreciate the value of talking about their problems rather than running away. RHWIs are of most benefit to young people not already involved with services (just under a third of those who received a RHWI were not already involved with social work services). When young people were already accessing other services, other professionals were less convinced of the benefits of the RHWI. However, as the evaluation highlights, even where other services were in place, the RHWIs could provide benefits by obtaining information from young people which was not already known to services; and by providing the young person with an additional opportunity to engage and to access support by doing so. Details: Edinburgh: Scottish Government, 2010. 89p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed October 9, 2010 at: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/317710/0101168.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Resource/Doc/317710/0101168.pdf Shelf Number: 119903 Keywords: Missing ChildrenRunaways |
Author: Grampian Police Title: Missing Persons: Understanding, Planning, Responding Summary: When presented with any missing person enquiry, it is important to first consider the various scenarios which may account for the person not being where the informant expects them to be. There may be clear evidence that explains the absence, or points the enquiry in a particular direction. Unfortunately, in many cases there are no clear indicators as to what the missing person might have done, or where they may have gone. There are various ‘Profiling Tools’ set out in this booklet to assist officers with focusing in on the most likely scenario, as well as formulating the most appropriate response. The purpose of this booklet is to provide officers with background information on the most common mental illnesses, and the associated behaviour traits a missing person suffering from one of these conditions is likely to display. The booklet contains chapters on the following mental conditions: Depression; Suicide; Dementia; Psychosis / Schizophrenia; Bipolar Disorder (Manic Depressives); Attention Deficiency Disorder (ADD) Chapters regarding ‘Missing Children’ and how to search for ‘People Missing in Water’ are also included. Once officers have established which, if any, mental condition a missing person is suffering from, they can consult the relevant chapter in the booklet. The missing person profile can then be further refined using the age and gender of the person as set out. Details: Aberdeen, UK: Grampian Police, 2007. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 18, 2011 at: http://www.missingpersons.gov.au/Assets/Files/169deac2-9629-45bb-9408-cabb9d9ded82.pdf Year: 2007 Country: International URL: http://www.missingpersons.gov.au/Assets/Files/169deac2-9629-45bb-9408-cabb9d9ded82.pdf Shelf Number: 120829 Keywords: Missing ChildrenMissing PersonsPolice Investigations |
Author: ECOTEC Research & Consulting Title: A Report on the Young Runaways Situation in London: for the Government Office for London Summary: The aim of this research is to provide Government of London and other stakeholders with an up to date picture of the situation for young runaways in London. This approach was informed by a review of relevant research and qualitative interviews with key stakeholders, including strategic bodies, local authorities, police, third sector organisations, and organisations representing young people. This is particularly important piece of research given the high risks to children and young people who run away. Not only the risks to the young people whilst running away such as: sleeping rough or in unsafe places; sexual exploitation; physical or sexual assault; and/or criminal behaviour. But also the long term problems such as increased likelihood of substance misuse, mental health problems, teenage pregnancy, longer-term involvement in crime, as well as increased detachment from school and homelessness. Details: London: ECOTEC, 2010. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 4, 2011 at: http://www.londonscb.gov.uk/files/2010/resources/runaways/london_young_runaways_report.doc Year: 2010 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.londonscb.gov.uk/files/2010/resources/runaways/london_young_runaways_report.doc Shelf Number: 121614 Keywords: HomelessnessMissing ChildrenRunaways (London) |
Author: Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP) Title: Scoping Report on Missing and Abducted Children Summary: This scoping report provides an overview of what is known about the nature and scale of the multifaceted series of problems collectively known as ‘missing children’ and what the current response is, both locally and nationally. It also explains what role the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre will play in supporting the good work already being undertaken in the statutory and voluntary sectors and how it will work with practitioners in those sectors to protect and safeguard more children and tackle those who would seek to abuse them. CEOP intends to bring a different approach to this problem; one that seeks to use the limited resources available nationally to target problems that have a national/international complexion; require specific oversight and coordination; suggest some form of serious and/or organised criminality; and recognises that it is more economic to provide specialist resources at a national level to support local activity. Our approach will be partnership-driven, working with existing national and local organisations that already do valuable work and identifying new partners who may be able to help. Our aim will not be to replicate that already being done but to deliver complementary activity. The new CEOP capability will provide: educational resources and awareness for children and their parent/careers; training for the police; support to police operations through targeted research and analysis (for example development of problem profiles on nature and scale of the issues and emerging trends); operational support for forces and missing children by extending the CEOP ‘one stop shop’ to include online missing children resources; and assurance that co-ordination arrangements and capability are in place to manage complex or high profile missing children cases. A missing child is a child at risk from harm, irrespective of the length of time they are away from home or a caring environment. The causes are many, whether that it is simply losing them in a crowd or a busy shopping centre, through to family breakdown, becoming detached from society, looking for a better life in another country, being abducted from the street or lured by a ‘stranger’ on the internet. In 2009/10 there were an estimated 360,0001 missing person incidents, of which approximately 230,000 (64%) related to a child under the age of 18. In a CEOP child trafficking report from 2010, of the 287 children identified as potentially trafficked, 17% (50) of those children had gone missing from care at some point and 15% (42) were still recorded as missing. In 2004, a Home Office study of 768 incidents that were recorded as child abductions, 56% (447) involved a stranger and 23% (183) involved a parental dispute. Details: London: CEOP, 2011. 58p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed July 27, 2011 at: http://www.ceop.police.uk/Documents/ceopdocs/Missing_scopingreport_2011.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.ceop.police.uk/Documents/ceopdocs/Missing_scopingreport_2011.pdf Shelf Number: 122182 Keywords: Child Abduction (U.K.)Child ProtectionKidnappingMissing Children |
Author: Lanning, Kenneth V. Title: Child Molesters: A Behavioral Analysis For Professionals Investigating the Sexual Exploitation of Children. 5th ed. Summary: The sexual victimization of children involves varied and diverse dynamics. It can range from one-on-one intrafamilial abuse to multioffender/multivictim extrafamilial sex rings and from nonfamily abduction of toddlers to prostitution of teenagers. Sexual victimization of children can run the gamut of “normal” sexual acts from fondling to intercourse. The victimization can also include deviant sexual behavior involving more unusual conduct (e.g., urination, defecation, playing dead) that often goes unrecognized, including by statutes, as possibly being sexual in nature. There are, therefore, no step-by-step, rigid investigative standards that are applicable to every case or circumstance. Investigative approaches and procedures have to be adjusted based on the dynamics of the case. Larger law-enforcement agencies tend to have more specialized investigative units that investigate the different types of cases. One unit might investigate intrafamilial, child-abuse cases; another might investigate missing-, abducted-, or murdered-children cases; and another might investigate extrafamilial, sexual-exploitation cases. Offenders, however, sometimes cross these investigative categories. For example a father might produce and distribute child pornography images of his own child or might molest other children in addition to his own. Investigators have to be trained and prepared to address these diverse realities. This discussion will focus primarily on the behavioral aspects of the sexual exploitation of children perpetrated by adult offenders who have an acquaintance relationship (i.e., not strangers or family members) with their child victims. Some of the information, however, could have application to acquaintance juvenile offenders and other types of child-molestation cases. Although some legal and technical aspects involved in these cases will be discussed, those are not my areas of expertise. The law and emerging technology can change rapidly and significantly in a short time. Experts in those areas should be consulted before applying this information, but underlying human behavior tends to remain the same. The concept of the acquaintance molester and other related terms will be defined and insight will be provided into the behavioral patterns of offenders and victims in such cases. For purposes of this publication, investigation is defined as any objective, fact-finding process. This certainly includes the work of law enforcement and prosecutors, but may also sometimes include the work of other professionals such as social workers, forensic mental-health or medical personnel, and youth-serving organizations. One major goal of this publication is to increase objectivity and professionalism in these investigations. This is the fifth edition of this publication. Details: Alexandria, VA: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, 2010. 212p. Source: Internet Resource: accessed July 28, 2011 at: http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC70.pdf Year: 2010 Country: United States URL: http://www.missingkids.com/en_US/publications/NC70.pdf Shelf Number: 122223 Keywords: Child MolestationChild PornographyChild Sexual AbuseCriminal InvestigationMissing ChildrenMissing Persons (U.S.)Sex OffendersSex Offenses |
Author: Rees, Gwyther Title: Still Running 3: Early Findings from our Third National Survey of Young Runaways, 2011 Summary: A quarter of child runaways in the U.K (26 per cent) have been the victim of a harmful or dangerous experience, reveals shocking new research from The Children’s Society. Still Running 3, the first comprehensive picture of running away for under 16s for six years, also shows that one in five child runaways have begged, stolen or done 'other things' to survive. One in nine (11 per cent) was hurt or harmed on the last occasion they ran. One in six (18 per cent) children said they had slept rough, or stayed with, someone they had just met. Yet teachers, social workers, police and other professionals are not stepping in and supporting the vast majority of young runaways. Around two-thirds of children who run away are not 'visible' to professionals. The research also exposes, for the first time, that there is a very strong link between family relationships and running away. Children who have experienced family change are more than three times as likely to have run away in the past year as those who have not. Children who have experienced high family conflict are around six times as likely to have run away in the past year. Seven in ten runaways were not reported missing to police the last time they ran away. A quarter of child runaways were forced to leave home. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2011. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 15, 2011 at: http://makerunawayssafe.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/u24/Still-Running-3_Full-Report_FINAL.pdf Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://makerunawayssafe.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/u24/Still-Running-3_Full-Report_FINAL.pdf Shelf Number: 123361 Keywords: Missing ChildrenRunaways (U.K.) |
Author: Great Britain. Home Office Title: Missing Children and Adults: A Cross Government Strategy Summary: There are an estimated 360,000 reports of people going missing in the UK each year amounting to approximately 200,000 missing people. Children and young people make up approximately two thirds of the missing reports and although the vast majority of people who go missing return, or are found quickly, many vulnerable children and adults suffer harm and exploitation whilst missing and some never return. Identifying and ensuring the safest return possible for these vulnerable children and adults is a key part of the police service’s child protection and wider safeguarding role. However, tackling this issue requires a multi-agency response and co-ordination across a range of policy areas and operational partners including the police, local authorities and the health sector. This strategy document sets out a small number of strategic objectives which we believe provide the right foundations for any effective local strategy and which provide a framework for local areas to put in place their own arrangements which seek to ensure we do all we can to prevent people going missing in the first place but that we also ensure we reduce the harm to vulnerable children and adults when they do go missing, focusing on those most at risk, and ensuring that families are supported. Details: London: Home Office, 2011, 28p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 27, 2012 at: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/missing-persons-strategy?view=Binary Year: 2011 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk/publications/police/missing-persons-strategy?view=Binary Shelf Number: 124282 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing Persons (U.K.)Runaways |
Author: Uzzell, Donna Title: AMBER Alert Best Practices Summary: The AMBER (America’s Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response) Alert Program began following the 1996 abduction and murder of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman in Arlington, TX. In response to this tragedy, representatives from law enforcement and the local media joined forces to develop and implement a groundbreaking series of protocols to be followed in the event of a child abduction. The program has since expanded to include 133 state, local, regional, tribal, and territorial plans in the United States and Canada. As of March 2012, AMBER Alerts helped directly in the safe recovery of 572 children in the United States. The AMBER Alert Program is a voluntary partnership involving law enforcement, broadcasters, transportation agencies, and the wireless industry. It is designed to disseminate timely, accurate information about abducted children, the suspected abductor(s), and the vehicle(s) used in the commission of the crime. During an AMBER Alert, an urgent news bulletin is broadcast over the airwaves and via text messages as well as on highway alert signs to enlist the aid of the public in finding an abducted child and stopping the perpetrator. Participants and subject-matter experts attending a federally sponsored national AMBER Alert conference identified emerging practices that have enhanced the ability of law enforcement, other stakeholders, and partners to safely recover missing and abducted children. This report provides a “what works” approach based on what was garnered during the conference as well as the experience and knowledge gained since the inception of the first AMBER Alert plan. It offers the field additional information about effective and promising practices and is designed for interpretation at the state and local levels in a manner that allows teams to consider their resource limitations and diverse demographic and geographic needs. In addition, because the AMBER Alert Program is a collaborative effort involving multiple agencies, the public, and the media, the report provides a general overview of each discipline’s responsibilities along with suggested practices to improve the approach to responding to cases of missing or abducted children. Significant progress has been made since 1996; however, as with any major multiagency initiative, all program partners and stakeholders must remain vigilant and work collaboratively to improve their understanding of the roles and responsibilities of every agency and organization involved in the program. Partners must be openminded when communicating with each other and always strive to meet the ultimate goal—keeping our children safe. Details: Washington, DC: Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice, 2012. 64p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 5, 2012 at http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/232271.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United States URL: http://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/232271.pdf Shelf Number: 126277 Keywords: AMBER AlertChild AbductionChild ProtectionEvaluative StudiesKidnappingLaw EnforcementMissing Children |
Author: Quinton, Paul Title: Risk, Bureaucracy and Missing Persons: An evaluation of a new approach to the initial police response Summary: Three forces piloted a new approach to missing persons for a three month period. While officers were previously required to attend all incidents as the default initial response, the pilot introduced a new risk assessment process and ‘absence’ category. During the pilot, this category of incidents (involving a person who was not where they were expected to be but not thought to be at risk of harm) were to be monitored by police call handlers without officers being deployed immediately. The evaluation found promising qualitative evidence of the pilot having achieved its primary aim – to make the initial police response to missing persons reports more proportionate to risk. It was thought – as a side benefit – that a more proportionate approach might also help free up police capacity. The evaluation found consistent evidence of the pilot having achieved this secondary aim. Did the pilot result in a more proportionate and risk-based response? • The qualitative research found a widespread perception among officers that the pilot had helped to better identify those at risk, and ensured that higher risk incidents received the attention they required. • This result was not reflected in some of the survey findings. Based on officer descriptions, a high proportion of incidents in the pilot sites were assessed to be low risk. Did a more proportionate response help free up police capacity? • Despite an increase in the number of recorded incidents in the pilot sites, around a third were classified as absences and, thus, did not require officers to attend. • By being more proportionate, the pilot forces were able to target resources better and free up capacity. A saving of 200 shifts over the three month period was estimated as a result of officers not attending absences. The amount of time spent on the initial response to missing persons was also reduced in the pilot sites (-23%) relative to the comparison sites (-3%). In theory, these resources could be redirected towards higher risk incidents. Did the pilot improve officer attitudes and job satisfaction? • Most response officers and supervisors who were interviewed welcomed the pilot, and said their attitudes about attending missing persons incidents had improved. • A survey of officers, however, did not reveal a consistent pattern of attitude change. How did partners view the pilot? • There was widespread view among partners that the police should move away from a ‘one size fits all’ approach to missing persons. • About two-thirds of respondents were positive or neutral about the pilot. A third were more critical, mainly raising concerns about the application of the new category. • The quality of the engagement partners reportedly received from the police before implementation seemed to affect their level of support for the pilot. • The reduction in missing person coordinators in the pilot forces – an organisational change that was unconnected to the pilot – was potentially regarded as a greater problem. How was the pilot perceived to have affected police safeguarding work? • There was no evidence to suggest the pilot had undermined forces’ ability to carry out proactive safeguarding work (though it was a perceived concern for some partners). • The reduction in missing person coordinators in the pilot forces reportedly would have placed pressure on monitoring and partnership work after the pilot (though it continued). Details: Ryton-on-Dunsmore, Coventry, UK: College of Policing, 2013. 55p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 20, 2013 at: http://www.college.police.uk/en/docs/130320_Missing_persons_PUBLICATION_PQ.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.college.police.uk/en/docs/130320_Missing_persons_PUBLICATION_PQ.pdf Shelf Number: 128750 Keywords: Missing ChildrenMissing Persons (U.K.)Police InvestigationsRunaways |
Author: Newiss, Geoff Title: Taken: A Study of Child Abduction in the UK Summary: This study gives an account of the current knowledge stock on child abduction. In July 2011, the ‘strategic and operational lead’ on missing and abducted children was transferred to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP). Understanding what is known – and not known – about child abduction should equip CEOP and its partners with a good sense of what the priorities are for protecting children from abduction. This knowledge could also contribute to establishing how best to respond when a child is abducted. There is no single, comprehensive definition of child abduction in the UK. Different laws in different parts of the UK criminalise various acts which involve the taking of a child. This study examines different types of child abduction including; • parental abduction (often resulting in a child being taken overseas). • abduction by a stranger. • abduction resulting from exploitation, revenge or financial gain. The Aims of this Study -- 1. To examine the number of abductions of children which occur in the UK. 2. To establish the different types of child abduction and provide information on the circumstances in which they occur. 3. To explore how data collection on child abduction can be improved so as to provide an effective measure of trends. 4. To identify any immediate policy and practice issues in response to child abduction. Details: London: Parents and Abducted Children Together (PACT) and Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, 2013. 76p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed June 25, 2013 at: http://ceop.police.uk/Documents/ceopdocs/TAKEN_Final%20Copy.pdf Year: 2013 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://ceop.police.uk/Documents/ceopdocs/TAKEN_Final%20Copy.pdf Shelf Number: 129157 Keywords: Child Abduction (U.K.)Child ProtectionKidnappingMissing ChildrenParental Abduction |
Author: Christie, Christine Title: The Child Sexual Exploitation Service and Missing children service for young people in Stoke-on-Trent: A Review Summary: This report presents the findings from a high level independent review of two separate service areas which currently operate across Stoke-on-Trent. The service areas are: - Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE); and - Missing Children The report is organised as follows. It opens with a description of the policy background and methodology for the review. It presents key issues from published material providing a framework for a good practice response to CSE and missing children; and examines Stoke-on-Trent documentation in order to form a baseline in terms of the current local strategy, systems, policy and practice. The report then considers current services for sexually exploited and missing children and young people in Stoke-on-Trent. It does this in the light of the requirements for good CSE and missing children responses as described in the national CSE guidance - Safeguarding Children and Young People from Sexual Exploitation, Supplementary guidance to Working Together to Safeguard Children (the DCSF, 2009 CSE guidance); and the Statutory guidance on Children who Run away or Go missing from Home or Care (the DfE, 2014 Missing children guidance). It looks at current training for Stoke-on-Trent staff. The report draws conclusions from the review as a whole, and finally, makes a series recommendations for action over the short and longer term. Details: Bedfordshire, UK: University of Bedfordshire, 2014. 62p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed February 16, 2015 at: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/449948/CSE-Missing-Service-Review-Stoke-on-Trent.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.beds.ac.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/449948/CSE-Missing-Service-Review-Stoke-on-Trent.pdf Shelf Number: 134633 Keywords: child ProstitutionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual Exploitation (U.K.)Missing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Children's Society Title: Make Runaways Safe: The local picture Summary: Every year 100,000 children and young people go missing from home or care. Going missing is a key indicator that a child might be in great danger. When children go missing, they are at very serious risk of physical abuse, sexual exploitation and are sometimes desperate enough to rob or steal to survive. Recent cases in Rochdale and Derby have exposed how the lack of concerted efforts to protect children and identify predatory individuals early on allows abuse to continue for a long time. Children involved in these horrific cases had repeated incidents of missing for a number of hours or overnight. Many children who run away do not seek help, either because they are not aware of the help available or because they do not trust professionals and are worried about the consequences of disclosing information about what is happening in their lives. Therefore, it falls to local police and children's services to ensure the safety of children who have run away and to help ensure that they do not run away in the future. Following the launch of our Make Runaway Safe campaign, we wanted to establish how children who go missing are supported in their local areas and also identify any improvements needed to ensure they are provided with an adequate safety net. As no standardised reporting or monitoring of responses to children who run away from home or care currently takes place in the local area, we undertook a series of Freedom of Information requests (FOI) to police constabularies, local authorities and Local Safeguarding Children's Boards (LSCBs) to establish the national picture of local responses. In this report, we set out the responses we received to our requests about the services and protocols in place to keep these children safe. These responses revealed that the support available to children who go missing or run away varies greatly between local areas. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2012. 20p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 17, 2015 at: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/make_runaways_safe_-_the_local_picture.pdf Year: 2012 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/tcs/make_runaways_safe_-_the_local_picture.pdf Shelf Number: 136798 Keywords: Missing ChildrenRunawaysStatus Offenders |
Author: Kohli, Ravi KS Title: Evaluation of Independent Child Trafficking Advocates trial: Final Report Summary: This report presents findings from an evaluation of a one-year trial of the Independent Child Trafficking Advocates (ICTA) service that took place across 23 local authority areas in England. The trial was part of the Government's commitment to section 48 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015, which sets out provisions for the ICTA service. The role of the independent child trafficking advocates is to provide specialist independent support to trafficked children and to act in the child's best interest across the areas of social care, immigration and criminal justice. This is in addition to the existing statutory service provision for trafficked children. Aims and approach of the evaluation This independent evaluation of the ICTA trial by the University of Bedfordshire sought to answer three questions. - How was the advocacy scheme implemented? - How did the role of the advocate work in practice? - What was the impact of the advocacy scheme for trafficked children? The trial used alternate allocation to place children identified as potentially trafficked into an advocacy group or a comparator group. The evaluation employed a mixed-methods approach comprising surveys, interviews and focus groups with a range of stakeholders and the children themselves. Case files for the children in the trial were analysed to understand the different experiences of the children in the advocacy and comparator groups. The circumstances of the trial presented considerable challenges in addressing the key questions. There were complexities in looking across 23 local authorities, each having their own policies and practices. The evaluation was set up to look in detail at the work of the advocates with trafficked children, meaning that there are more and better quality data about the children in the advocacy group than those in the comparator group. This means that there is limited information to assess the impact of the advocacy service, relative to existing provision. The report focuses on the impact of the service on trafficked children, drawing on the views of a range of stakeholders and the children. In addition, one year is a very short time to build, deliver and measure the effectiveness of a new advocacy service for trafficked children. It will take longer to establish many of the sustainable beneficial outcomes for this vulnerable group of children. Details: London: Home Office, 2015. 59p. Source: Internet Resource: Research Report 86: Accessed February 2, 2016 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486138/icta-horr86.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/486138/icta-horr86.pdf Shelf Number: 137743 Keywords: Child TraffickingHuman TraffickingMissing Children |
Author: Missing Children Europe Title: Best practices and key challenges on interagency cooperation to safeguard unaccompanied children from going missing Summary: On 31 January 2016, Europol reported that 10,000 unaccompanied children are unaccounted for after arriving in Europe, with many feared to be exploited and abused for sexual or labour purposes. While systematic and comprehensive data on the disappearance of unaccompanied children in Europe is unavailable to date, it is clear that the rate of children that go missing from care facilities is staggering - and continues to increase in the recent refugee crisis. In 2015, the Swedish coastal town of Trellerborg reported that 1000 out of the 1900 who had arrived in the town had gone missing within the span of a month. The Italian Ministry of Welfare declared that 62% of the children that had arrived between January and May 2015 were unaccounted for. In January 2016, the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) reported that 4749 unaccompanied child and adolescent refugees are considered to be missing, of which 431 were younger than 13-years-old. Each and every one of these children is a child with hopes, dreams and fears, who are entitled to the same human rights as the rest of us. The vast majority have arrived in Europe following long and difficult journeys over land and sea, having left their home because of conflict, war or poverty. Some have been separated from their families during the journey. Some others have been sent to Europe by their parents, who stay behind hoping their child will find a better future in Europe. Once in Europe, some children go missing from care facilities with a specific migration plan in mind, often linked to a wish to be reunited with family members in other Member States. Many run away because of the fear of being sent back to the situation they tried to escape from, or to avoid an unwanted Dublin transfer. Others are groomed by traffickers and end up being exploited in prostitution, forced labour or begging. Irrespective of the reason why they go missing, many of them slip through the net of child protection systems in place that increases the risk of children becoming victims of violations of their basic human rights. Protecting these children is a shared responsibility of all EU Member States, at the level of law enforcement authorities, guardians, reception centres, hotline professionals and more. Too often failing cooperation and coordination, nationally and transnationally, between these stakeholders becomes an obstacle to achieving what we ultimately all aim to do: bringing these children to safety and protecting them from harm. The SUMMIT project coordinated by Missing Children Europe in partnership with the University of Portsmouth (UK), NIDOS (NL), Defence for children-ECPAT (NL), TUSLA (IR), KMOP (EL) and Child Circle (BE), and with the support of the European Commission, aims to contribute to improving effective interagency cooperation in preventing and responding to the disappearance of unaccompanied children. The current report provides for a first deliverable in the project: the analysis and findings of interviews conducted with grassroots practitioners in 7 EU Member States. These findings highlight a number of challenges encountered by professionals working for the protection of unaccompanied children, but also several good practices On 31 January 2016, Europol reported that 10,000 unaccompanied children are unaccounted for after arriving in Europe, with many feared to be exploited and abused for sexual or labour purposes. While systematic and comprehensive data on the disappearance of unaccompanied children in Europe is unavailable to date, it is clear that the rate of children that go missing from care facilities is staggering - and continues to increase in the recent refugee crisis. In 2015, the Swedish coastal town of Trellerborg reported that 1000 out of the 1900 who had arrived in the town had gone missing within the span of a month. The Italian Ministry of Welfare declared that 62% of the children that had arrived between January and May 2015 were unaccounted for. In January 2016, the Federal Criminal Police (BKA) reported that 4749 unaccompanied child and adolescent refugees are considered to be missing, of which 431 were younger than 13-years-old. Each and every one of these children is a child with hopes, dreams and fears, who are entitled to the same human rights as the rest of us. The vast majority have arrived in Europe following long and difficult journeys over land and sea, having left their home because of conflict, war or poverty. Some have been separated from their families during the journey. Some others have been sent to Europe by their parents, who stay behind hoping their child will find a better future in Europe. Once in Europe, some children go missing from care facilities with a specific migration plan in mind, often linked to a wish to be reunited with family members in other Member States. Many run away because of the fear of being sent back to the situation they tried to escape from, or to avoid an unwanted Dublin transfer. Others are groomed by traffickers and end up being exploited in prostitution, forced labour or begging. Irrespective of the reason why they go missing, many of them slip through the net of child protection systems in place that increases the risk of children becoming victims of violations of their basic human rights. Protecting these children is a shared responsibility of all EU Member States, at the level of law enforcement authorities, guardians, reception centres, hotline professionals and more. Too often failing cooperation and coordination, nationally and transnationally, between these stakeholders becomes an obstacle to achieving what we ultimately all aim to do: bringing these children to safety and protecting them from harm. The SUMMIT project coordinated by Missing Children Europe in partnership with the University of Portsmouth (UK), NIDOS (NL), Defence for children-ECPAT (NL), TUSLA (IR), KMOP (EL) and Child Circle (BE), and with the support of the European Commission, aims to contribute to improving effective interagency cooperation in preventing and responding to the disappearance of unaccompanied children. The current report provides for a first deliverable in the project: the analysis and findings of interviews conducted with grassroots practitioners in 7 EU Member States. These findings highlight a number of challenges encountered by professionals working for the protection of unaccompanied children, but also several good practices Details: Brussels: Missing Children Europe, 2016. 110p. Source: Internet Resource: Summit Report: Accessed April 23, 2016 at: http://missingchildreneurope.eu/Portals/0/Docs/Best%20practices%20and%20key%20challenges%20for%20interagency%20cooperation%20to%20safeguard%20unaccompanied%20migrant%20children%20from%20going%20missing.pdf Year: 2016 Country: Europe URL: http://missingchildreneurope.eu/Portals/0/Docs/Best%20practices%20and%20key%20challenges%20for%20interagency%20cooperation%20to%20safeguard%20unaccompanied%20migrant%20children%20from%20going%20missing.pdf Shelf Number: 138792 Keywords: ImmigrationMissing ChildrenUnaccompanied ChildrenUndocumented Immigrants |
Author: Queensland Family and Child Commission Title: When a Child is Missing: Remembering Tiahleigh: A report into Queensland's Children Missing from Out-of-Care Summary: In November 2015, the Premier requested for the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) to undertake a broad whole-of-government systems review into children missing from out-of-home care following the disappearance of Tiahleigh Palmer. The Premier asked two things when calling for this review. Could more have been done when concerns were first raised about Tiahleigh's disappearance and how can systems be improved to provide timely and appropriate information that is actioned responsively when critical incidents occur. The review examined current legislative frameworks, policies and guidelines for key government agencies in sharing information and responding when a child in out-of-home care is missing or absent from their placement. The QFCC worked closely with government agencies including, the Queensland Police Service, the Department of Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services, the Department of Education and Training, Queensland Health, the Office of the Public Guardian and the Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation. The QFCC also worked with non-government agencies throughout the review, specifically Bravehearts, CREATE Foundation, Foster Care Queensland, the Family Inclusion Network and the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Protection Peak. The review contains 29 recommendations to achieve whole-of-government system improvements in responding to children missing from out-of-home care. The recommendations are designed to provide quality systems and improved responses through revised policies and procedures, a marked cultural shift across agencies, enhanced media campaigns and improved information sharing between agencies. Details: Brisbane: The Commission, 2016. 219p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed August 1, 2016 at: http://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/when-a-child-is-missing Year: 2016 Country: Australia URL: http://www.qfcc.qld.gov.au/when-a-child-is-missing Shelf Number: 139907 Keywords: Child Abuse and NeglectChild ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing Persons |
Author: All-Party Parliamentary Group for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults Title: Inquiry into the safeguarding of 'absent' children. 'It is good when someone cares.' Final Report Summary: In recent years missing children have been moving up the local and national policy agenda. Increased awareness of the link between going missing and child sexual exploitation, prompted by horrific cases across the country, as well as by reports from this APPG and the Office of the Children's Commissioner (OCC) have led to more concerted efforts across all agencies to disrupt exploitation and lessen the risks to children who go missing. The changes that the government introduced to improve the safeguarding response to children in residential care and the publication of the revised statutory guidance in 2014 on missing children also created opportunities to review and strengthen local responses to missing children. The greater awareness of the risks missing children face has not necessarily resulted in improved responses to missing children across the country however. Cuts to children's social care and police funding, on-going reforms and an increase in the numbers of children who require help from children's social care services has meant that often only cases identified as high risk are getting prioritised for response. It has been acknowledged in written submissions and through the roundtables for this inquiry that there are many positive examples of agencies working well together to protect missing children, particularly those identified to be at risk of harm. There is a lot more clarity around what a good response looks like when the child is recognised to be at high risk of harm and categorised as 'missing', even though a lack of consistency in the implementation of good practice prevails. It has been acknowledged in a recent HMIC report that 'in most straightforward cases the police's response is timely, proportionate and appropriate'. At the same time the inquiry heard that absent children, for whom the police establish there to be 'no apparent risk', often end up not being on the radar of other services, like children's social care, until things in their lives get much more serious. As one roundtable participant said, 'It is perverse, because children need to go up tariff, and things must become more serious before they can get a service and yet we know that early support reduces the risk of repeated missing incidents'. At one of the roundtables the National Policing Lead, Chief Constable Mike Veale voiced concerns that 'risk assessments are not completed consistently throughout the service' and that for some police forces the 'absent' category may be 'not doing very much more than recording an event'. 14 These are important concerns to address, particularly given that those in social care appear to rely excessively on the police getting the risk assessment right on every occasion and therefore believe their lack of response to absent children is evidenced When children's social care do not to properly participate in the risk assessment, such a position is not justifiable and children can be left at terrible risk which could have been prevented. Further evidence submitted to the inquiry by organisations providing return interviews questioned decision making around the use of the 'absent' category. 'In areas where we work where the absent category is used we are worried that children 'fall through the net' as they are not being properly identified and supported. Where absent episodes are not correctly referred to agencies, families and children are prevented from accessing preventative and early intervention support'. 'Whatever happens to the category of 'absent' there is going to have to be changes to what call handlers base their decisions on because we all have got examples where young people are classified wrongly'. The inquiry identified a number of issues that contribute to making the absent category unsafe. Details: London: Children's Society, 2016. 54p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2016 at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/appg-absent-inquiry-final-report-may-2016.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/appg-absent-inquiry-final-report-may-2016.pdf Shelf Number: 140445 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild Sexual ExploitationMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Pona, Iryna Title: Safeguarding children and young people who go missing in London Summary: Each year around 100,000 children and young people in the UK run away from home or care - Around 60% of all missing persons cases reported to the police involve children and young people with majority of them being adolescents aged 12 to 17. From our research and work with children and young people we know that running away is a signal that all is not well in a child's life. When things go wrong young people do not always know how, or feel able, to ask for help. Instead, many of them run away from home or care and become exposed to great risks in order to survive - staying with strangers or begging and stealing to survive. In some cases going missing signals that a child is under the influence of a predatory adult or even peers trying to exploit them, enticing them away from home with promises of fun and excitement. In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the risks of running away, particularly in relation to child sexual exploitation and, increasingly, involvement in criminal activity. Changes to national and local policies have been made aimed at improving responses to this vulnerable group of children and young people and ensuring that agencies are working together to keep young people safe. Despite the progress made, many young runaways still do not have an offer of help when they need it and continue slipping through the net of services until their cases are deemed 'high risk' or only get a tokenistic support that is not sufficient to help them resolve the issues they face. The Children's Society has over 30 years' experience of research , campaigning and direct work with children and young people who run away from home or care. In July 2015, The Children's Society launched a network of services across London to tackle the risks facing the city's vulnerable young people, specifically looking at providing responses to young people who run away or go missing in London. This report explores the scale of children running away or going missing in the capital and looks at how recent national policy changes have impacted on local responses to children who are reported as missing from home or care. The report is based on responses to our Freedom of Information requests to 33 London boroughs and the Metropolitan Police Service - Throughout the report we have also used anonymised cases studies and quotes from our direct work with young people who run away or go missing. Details: London: The Children's Society, 2016. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 24, 2016 at: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/safeguarding-children-and-young-people-who-go-missing-in-london_reduced.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/sites/default/files/safeguarding-children-and-young-people-who-go-missing-in-london_reduced.pdf Shelf Number: 146107 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Shalev Greene, Karen Title: Repeat reports to the police of missing people: locations and characteristics Summary: Hundreds of thousands of people are reported missing to the police each year. Out of the 313,000 reports to British police in 2011-2012 (SOCA, 2013) 64% involved children. Most research on missing persons tends to focus on the causes for going missing or the vulnerability of the people who go missing (for example, CEOP, 2011; NPIA, 2011; Rees, 2011). However, relatively little research attention has been given to the locations from which people go missing (Bartholomew, Duffy & Figgins, 2009; Parr & Stevenson, 2013; Stevenson, Parr, Woolnough & Fyfe, 2013). The current study focuses on the locations from which people are reported missing repeatedly in a one year period. Some of these locations are individual households but the majority are organisational facilities. Thus, our aim is to highlight issues surrounding the 'duty of care' and 'safeguarding' responsibilities of agencies in relation to people who go missing from organisational addresses (such as mental health establishments and children's care homes); specifically in relation to preventing them from going missing in the first place and the responsibility of the organisations helping to locate them. The data in this study was gathered from ONE Police force which uses the COMPACT database. This database holds the reports for all missing person reports where the person has been missing for over 2 hours. In 2011, 2,745 missing person cases opened and closed in this police force (or 40% of over 6,000 missing person cases overall). Given that the focus of this study is the location from which people went missing, only cases where the same address was linked to three cases or more in one year were included. Thus, the analysis in this report is based on 1,321 cases and 149 addresses. In the current study young people make up the great majority of those reported missing three times or more in a year. Missing people, in our sample, do not travel very far, usually travelling under 5 miles. In terms of missing persons vulnerability, only a minority of young people, in this sample, are categorised as 'high risk' and only a small minority report injury or harm while missing or are known to be involved in criminal activity. Proportionally, the highest risk group are older people, over the age of 50 years. However, the findings in this study raise some concerns about the risk assessment process and the extent to which the type of location from which a person is reported missing is used (or can be used) as an indicator of potential risk. The results show that people went missing from a variety of locations but that private care homes (57.1%) were the most common place. Almost all (99.5%) of those who went missing from private care homes were young people aged 18 years and under. Going missing from a home address (16.0%) was the next most common location; followed by mental health units (9.9%) and hospitals (7.7%). In 2011, 149 different addresses in the police force we examined reported people missing three times or more. The study highlights the impact that a few organisations have on police workload, with one private care home making 93 missing person reports in the year 2011. The cost to the police of responding to reports from the top 10 locations is estimated to be £482,250 to £879,060 (Shalev Greene & Pakes, 2013a). These repeat reports should raise the issue of the duty of care and responsibilities of health and social care organisations towards the vulnerable people for whom they are caring. The authors recognise that repeated incidents of going missing is often a reflection of the life situations of the people within these individual settings as they will often have personal difficulties, find it difficult being away from 'home' far from their family and friends, etc. However, the study raises the question of why organisations that report people missing so frequently do not always share with the police the responsibility of locating those who go missing. Details: Portsmouth, UK: University of Portsmouth, Centre for the Study of Missing Persons, 2014. 21 p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2016 at: http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/icjs/csmp/Repeat-reports-to-the-police-of-missing-people.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.port.ac.uk/media/contacts-and-departments/icjs/csmp/Repeat-reports-to-the-police-of-missing-people.pdf Shelf Number: 145318 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsRunaways |
Author: Beckett, Helen Title: Evaluation of Safe Choices/PSNI Co-Located Pilot Initiative Summary: In 2012, Barnardo's Safe Choices service and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) commenced a 20 month pilot initiative in which a specialist missing/child sexual exploitation (CSE) senior practitioner was co-located with a police Missing and Vulnerable Persons Officer (MVPO) in a Public Protection Unit (PPU) in a Belfast police station. The pilot initiative was developed in response to accumulated learning about the need for, and benefits of, multi-agency working in the fields of missing and CSE, and the specific contribution that co-location can make to the effective facilitation of this (Jago and Pearce 2008; DCSF 2009; Beckett 2011; Jago et al 2011). This report presents the findings of an externally commissioned evaluation of this pilot initiative, undertaken by 'The International Centre: Researching Child Sexual Exploitation, Violence and Trafficking' at the University of Bedfordshire. The evaluation was small-scale in nature, focusing on high level outcomes and process learning, rather than any detailed assessment of benefits to individual stakeholders engaged in the pilot initiative. That said, the triangulated approach adopted enables evidence-informed commentary on the benefits delivered to various stakeholder groups and the procedural and contextual factors that facilitated or hindered effective delivery of these benefits. The report commences with an overview of the pilot initiative and the anticipated outcomes identified by the project partners. These provide the core framework for the evaluation and consequently the structure of the report. Before reporting on outcome delivery, an overview of the evaluative approach is presented, alongside a commentary on the challenges experienced within this and the implications of these for the commentary contained within this report. The report proceeds with an overview of the identified benefits of the pilot initiative, presented by the stakeholder cohort: the project partners, young people, parents/carers and colleagues from other professions. It concludes with an exploration of potential barriers and enablers and associated learning for future similar endeavours. Details: Ilford, UK: Barnardo's, 2014. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 8, 2016 at: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/sc_pilot_initiative_revised_evaluation_report.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.barnardos.org.uk/sc_pilot_initiative_revised_evaluation_report.pdf Shelf Number: 146282 Keywords: Child ProtectionChild Sexual AbuseChild Sexual ExploitationMissing Children |
Author: Freeman, Marilyn Title: Parental Child Abduction: The Long-Term Effects Summary: This small-scale qualitative study was undertaken to investigate the lived experiences of those who were abducted many years earlier. The aim was to learn whether, and how, in the views of the participants, these abductions had affected their lives, and whether such effects had continued long-term. The study is based on personal interviews undertaken by the principal investigator with 34 participants including three sets of abducted children and one set of an abducted child and non-abducted sibling. The interviews took place principally in England and the USA in 2011–2012, with an opportunity for updating by email provided in 2014. The study found that a high proportion of the participants reported suffering very significant effects from their abductions in terms of their mental health, and that these effects were ongoing into their adult lives very many years after the abduction. These findings tend, therefore, to support those from earlier studies about the long-lasting effects of abduction which are emphasised in this project by the direct reporting of the abducted children, as adults, long after the event. The study concludes that, as the effects of abducted can be seriously negative and long-lasting, more must be done to protect children against abduction and its effects. Recommendations are made relating to the prevention of abduction, reunification when abduction occurs, and support for abducted children and their families including where the abducted child is not found, or is not returned to the State of habitual residence, as well as when the child is reunified with the left-behind family. Details: Bushey Heats, Herts, UK: International Centre for Family Law and Practice, 2014. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2016 at: http://www.famlawandpractice.com/researchers/longtermeffects.pdf Year: 2014 Country: International URL: http://www.famlawandpractice.com/researchers/longtermeffects.pdf Shelf Number: 147764 Keywords: Child AbductionChild ProtectionKidnappingMissing ChildrenParental AbductionParental Kidnapping |
Author: Newiss, Geoff Title: Police-recorded child abduction and kidnapping 2012/13 to 2013/14: England, Wales and Northern Ireland Summary: In 2014 Parents and Abducted Children Together (PACT) sent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to each police force in the UK. The FOI requests asked forces to provide the number of parental child abductions, non-parental child abductions and child kidnappings recorded in 2012/13 and 2013/14. This statistical paper reports the key findings: Overall, child abduction and child kidnapping offences increased by 13 per cent from 2012/13 to 2013/14, to a total of nearly 900 offences across England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Non-parental child abductions increased at more than twice the rate of parental child abductions (14 per cent compared to 6 per cent). Child kidnappings increased at an even higher rate of 18 per cent over the two year period. Whilst increases in this type of offence are clearly alarming, the explanation for their increase may – at least in part – lie in changes to police crime-recording practices. There is enormous variation between regions and police forces in the number, and rate, of child abduction and kidnapping offences. Whilst the large city police forces all recorded higher rates of child abduction and kidnapping offences than the national average, some smaller forces recorded even larger increases. Details: London: Parents and Abducted Children Together (PACT), 2015. 32p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed December 21, 2016 at: http://www.childabduction.org.uk/images/PACT_Child_Abduction_report_2015_final.pdf Year: 2015 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.childabduction.org.uk/images/PACT_Child_Abduction_report_2015_final.pdf Shelf Number: 147796 Keywords: Child Abduction (U.K.)Child ProtectionKidnappingMissing ChildrenParental Abduction |
Author: Great Britain. Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary Title: Missing children: who cares? The police response to missing and absent children Summary: Each year thousands of children go missing from their homes. The majority of them will return, or be found soon after they have been reported missing. There are many reasons why children go missing. On very rare occasions they may be abducted. All children who go missing are potentially at risk of harm, and a significant number, because of their circumstances, will face the risk of sexual, criminal or economic exploitation. Although not every child who goes missing is at risk of sexual exploitation and not every child who is at risk of sexual exploitation goes missing, the two are inter-linked. It is often the most vulnerable children who are sexually exploited, and who are targeted by those who intend to commit crimes against them. These children may have been abused or neglected, lack affection or have already experienced trauma in their lives. A number will be in the care of the local authority because of serious concerns about their well-being or the risks they face. Responding to missing incidents places a high demand on police time. Managing this demand is a major challenge for police forces but the consequences of not investigating cases can be extremely serious, leaving some children at risk of exploitation and/or significant harm. Effective outcomes in police responses to children at risk of abuse require specific skills and knowledge and excellent partnership working, in particular with children's social services. But more than this, effective outcomes rely on recognition, by all in the police service, that children are inherently vulnerable by virtue of their age, and that those who come into contact with police for any reason are often the most vulnerable. As the Chief Inspector of Constabulary observed in his recent State of Policing report, the work of the police in child protection is probably the most onerous and demanding of all police work, and it is the most important simply because children have the most to lose. Recent revelations about the scale of child sexual abuse, whether online or involving high-profile individuals, institutions or local communities, have presented the police with a complex challenge. Many crimes go unreported and those who are vulnerable often have greater difficulty in bringing their concerns to the attention of those who are able to help them. In its protective and preventative role, the police service has the responsibility to root out crime and the circumstances in which it may be committed, particularly where the victim is vulnerable, afraid or actively prevented from seeking help. Our inspections in relation to missing and absent children have found some good approaches with prompt action to find missing children and joint work to protect them. However, our principal finding was of inconsistencies in properly assessing risks, managing investigations, and providing support and help to the child. Consequently, our conclusion must be that this is leaving some children at unacceptable risk of harm. This report focuses on the experiences and outcomes of police contact for children who go missing. For the first time, we publish findings from HMIC-commissioned research on children's experiences of police contact. While we found clear evidence of positive experiences and outcomes for some children, we found a weighting towards negative experiences in the majority of cases. In particular, we found evidence of some police officers' negative attitudes towards missing children, which determines their responses, and in turn undermines children's confidence in the police service as a source of protection and help. These findings signal an imperative for cultural change in the police service if children and young people who run away from home or care are to have trust that the police will help them, and if the police are to be better able to afford them that protection. Details: London: HMIC, 2016. 72p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 10, 2017 at: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/missing-children-who-cares.pdf Year: 2016 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/wp-content/uploads/missing-children-who-cares.pdf Shelf Number: 145394 Keywords: Child ProtectionMissing ChildrenMissing PersonsPolice InvestigationPolice ResponseRunaways |
Author: Dodsworth, Jane Title: Routes into Sexual Exploitation: Personal perspectives about going missing, agency and victimhood Summary: There is a rapidly growing awareness and concern in government, in safeguarding agencies and amongst the wider public about the extent and risks of child sexual exploitation across the country. Many of the young people involved have childhood histories of adversity and there is an evolving understanding of the additional vulnerability of those who have experience of the care system and/or of going missing from care or home. The sense individuals make of these experiences has an impact on how they perceive themselves, their sense of victimhood or agency, the directions their pathways take and receptiveness to safeguarding services. Young people at risk of, or involved in, sexual exploitation, particularly those who have a history of care and of going missing are often rendered powerless, voiceless and increasingly disempowered from assuming any agency over the decision-making processes affecting their lives, whilst older, young people often do not 'fit in' to the services provided. Evidence from existing good practice indicates that the most effective way forward is early intervention and the provision of relationship-based practice which develops a 'secure base' from which these young people can begin to develop qualities of resilience, view themselves positively and believe alternatives are possible. The aims of the study: To gain an understanding of the experiences and perspectives of young people who became involved in sexual exploitation, particularly those who have gone missing from care or home and are involved in substance misuse, in order to inform multi-agency practice. To explore whether it is possible to identify risk and protective factors in terms of young people's perceptions of agency and victimhood which may inform Local Safeguarding Children Boards (LSCBs) about more effective multiagency safeguarding practices and multi-professional training for working with this vulnerable group which has meaning to the young people involved. Details: Norwich, UK: Centre for Research on Children and Families University of East Anglia, 2014. 52p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed May 26, 2017 at: http://www.baspcan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Routes-into-Sexual-Exploitation-Final-report-Dodsworth-and-Chedgey.pdf Year: 2014 Country: United Kingdom URL: http://www.baspcan.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Routes-into-Sexual-Exploitation-Final-report-Dodsworth-and-Chedgey.pdf Shelf Number: 145813 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Child Protection Child Sexual Abuse Child Sexual Exploitation Missing Children |
Author: Lushey, Clare Title: Evaluation of the No Wrong Door Innovation Programme Summary: The North Yorkshire County Council (NYCC) No Wrong Door (NWD) innovation provides an integrated service for young people, aged 12 to 25, who either are in care, edging to or on the edge of care, or have recently moved to supported or independent accommodation whilst being supported under NWD. Edging to care is defined as when, without an intervention package being put in place, there is a strong likelihood of the case progressing to edge of care. Edge of care is defined as those children and young people who are at imminent risk of becoming looked after, due to significant child protection concerns, or to prevent a long term placement; or because they have ceased to be looked after and their needs are escalating. The NWD innovation operates from 2 hubs in North Yorkshire: Scarborough (the east hub), and Harrogate (the west hub). The hubs were set up in April 2015 and each hub has a team that consists of a manager, 2 deputy managers; one responsible for the residential element of the hub and the other the outreach service; NWD hub workers ; a communications support worker who is a speech and language therapist; a life coach who is a clinical psychologist and a police liaison officer. The integrated team supports the young person throughout their journey to ensure that they are not passed from service to service but instead are supported by a dedicated team. Some young people are placed in the hubs, and others are supported by outreach while either in foster care, or living with their families. Central to the NWD innovation is that all staff are trained in Signs of Safety, and restorative and solution-focused approaches. There are 10 distinguishers of NWD which have been developed by NYCC, and these are the core components of the innovation. Unlike a range of evidence based programmes, young people are not required to enter a formal agreement for NWD, highlighting the emphasis on the flexibility of the innovation. The NWD innovation programme aims to: - Improve: - accommodation stability - engagement and achievements in education, employment and training (EET) - relationships with others - planning of transitions from care to independent living - resilience and wellbeing - access to support in a crisis - reduce high risk behaviours, including: - criminal activity - self-harm - child sexual exploitation (CSE) - missing from home incidents - drug and alcohol substance misuse - reduce costs to society, including to a range of agencies (National Health Service (NHS) and the police). Details: London: Department of Education, 2017. 75p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed September 14, 2017 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/625366/Evaluation_of_the_No_Wrong_Door_Innovation_Programme.pdf Year: 2017 Country: United Kingdom URL: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/625366/Evaluation_of_the_No_Wrong_Door_Innovation_Programme.pdf Shelf Number: 147250 Keywords: At-Risk Youth Child Sexual Exploitation Delinquency Prevention Missing Children |
Author: National Center for Missing and Exploited Children Title: 2017 AMBER Alert Report: Analysis of AMBER Alert Cases in 2017 Summary: From Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2017, 195 AMBER Alerts were issued in the U.S. involving 263 children. At the time the AMBER Alert cases were intaked at NCMEC, there were 128 FAs, 50 NFAs, 10 LIMs and seven ERUs. Fourteen cases were later determined to be hoaxes, and 14 cases were later determined to be unfounded. Of the 195 AMBER Alerts issued from Jan. 1, 2017, to Dec. 31, 2017, 193 cases resulted in a recovery, 39 of which were successfully recovered as a direct result of an AMBER Alert being issued. As of Feb. 26, 2018, when statistics for this report were finalized, for the AMBER Alerts issued in 2017, two children remained actively missing and six children were located deceased. Details: Washington, DC: The Center, 2018. 46p. Source: Internet Resource: Accessed November 27, 2018 at: https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/252164.pdf Year: 2018 Country: United States URL: https://www.ojjdp.gov/pubs/252164.pdf Shelf Number: 0 Keywords: Amber Alert Missing Children |