Missing episodes

Missing episodes are the biggest indicator that a child is being exploited.

There are over 10,000 incidents of missing children and young people are reported every year in Wales (National Youth Advocacy, 2020).

Young people go missing or run away for a range of reasons. This includes running away from a problem or event or running to a place they want to be, or they may be forced, tricked, deceived or coerced by an individual or group to leave their home (Home Office, 2014).

Some young people are more likely to go missing than others, this includes:

• young people in residential care homes.
• young people placed in out of area residential care.
• unaccompanied asylum seeking young people.

Young people may feel they have to disappear to survive and avoid harm to themselves and their families. Exploiters are adept at obscuring service responses due to their in-depth knowledge of service thresholds and processes.

Going missing should not be treated independently from other forms of risk for the child or young person. The Wales Safeguarding Procedures practice guide for young people who go missing from home or care (2019) states that young people should be offered a Return Home Interview, but this is not a statutory requirement.

Return interviews

Return interviews should be held within 72 hours of the young person being found. Professionals should consider:

• who should undertake the return interview based on the young person’s wishes
• young people may be wary of speaking to the police
• young people may be silent or refuse to share information through fear
• the potential risks to the young person from speaking to professionals.