APPG inquiry into children who go missing or run away from care

Two all party parliamentary groups (APPGs) have concluded their inquiry into the safeguarding of the thousands of children who run away or go missing from care every year. 

Their report from the joint inquiry into children who go missing from care outlines the findings and sets out practical recommendations for policy makers nationally and locally to improve the help and support provided to children who run away or go missing from care.

Parliamentary groups

This inquiry was led by the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults and the APPG for Looked after Children and Care Leavers.

The APPGs collected evidence from ministers, national agencies such as the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Agency (CEOP) and Ofsted, the voluntary sector, police forces and local authorities.

The inquiry looked a wide range of issues, including:

• children in care who are placed away from their home local authority
• data collection and information sharing
• police responses to children going missing
• Ofsted’s role in safeguarding children in care who run away
• the particular needs of trafficked children who go missing from care.

Who is on the inquiry

The inquiry is co-chaired by Ann Coffey MP, chair the APPG for Runaway and Missing Children and Adults, and Earl of Listowel, vice-chair of the APPG for Looked after Children and Care Leavers. Panellists include Alex Cunningham MP, Paul Goggins MP, Dan Rogerson MP and Craig Whittaker MP.

Learn more and take action

• Read the report.
• Read accounts and transcripts of the inquiry's four oral evidence sessions.
• Examine written evidence, including unique submissions and related reports.
• Join our Make Runaways Safe campaign, which is building a safety net to protect the 100,000 young people who run away from home or care each year.