Dozens of foreign children go missing (From This Is Local London)

Dozens of foreign children go missing

8:00am Sunday 11th January 2009 in

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Thirty-five foreign children placed in the care of Hertfordshire County Council have gone missing in the last four years.

The figures, obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, show that out of 158 foreign children taken into the council’s care since 2005, 35 have disappeared. Last year, out of 36 children, ten slipped under the council’s radar.

Opposition groups have voiced fears the children may have been taken by child traffickers.

Chris White, Liberal Democrat group leader, said: “It is very disturbing when children go missing, especially those who have no support network and could be subjected to child trafficking.

“In Bedfordshire the council lost none of the 18 children in its care in 2008 but Hertfordshire has managed to lose just under a third. It really isn’t good enough. Children should be kept safe.”

Responding to the figures, a council spokeswoman said when children go missing they are immediately reported to the police and the UK Borders Authority.

She said: “When newly arrived, many of the young people are very guarded.

“This is very common among asylum seekers and reflects their mistrust of authority.

“Consequently, the reasons why children and young people may go missing are not always clear.

“It may be because the child is actually a young adult who has claimed to be a child in order to avoid immigration detention.

“It may be they are planning to join another contact in the UK or some who are older, aged 16 or 17, want to be elsewhere, for example in London.

“Any concerns about trafficking are always referred to the police.”