UK Child Trafficking Transparency Resources Hub

Child trafficking, modern slavery, criminal exploitation, sexual exploitation and children going missing are serious safeguarding issues.

Information is spread across government departments, police forces, local authorities, safeguarding partnerships, inspectorates, courts, Parliament, charities and official statistical publications.

This hub brings those sources together so that members of the public, families, professionals, journalists, campaigners and elected representatives can more easily find evidence and understand who is responsible.

There is no single statistic representing every child who is missing, trafficked or exploited in the United Kingdom.

Statistics may cover different geographical areas, time periods and definitions. For example, figures for children missing from care are different from figures for children missing education, police missing-person reports and children referred to the National Referral Mechanism.

Always check the date, geographical coverage, definition and methodology of the original statistical source.

Latest Key Statistics

Statistics should be checked against the linked official source before publication updates.

Missing Child Information Route

1. Report immediate concerns to the police.
2. Contact the responsible local authority children's services department.
3. Record dates, incidents and safeguarding concerns.
4. Request copies of relevant personal data where legally appropriate.
5. Use complaints procedures where safeguarding concerns have not been addressed.
6. Escalate unresolved complaints to the relevant ombudsman or regulator where applicable.

• Police.uk
• Find Your Council
• Missing People

Child Trafficking Transparency Route

1. Understand the National Referral Mechanism.
2. Check Home Office modern slavery statistics.
3. Check Independent Child Trafficking Guardianship provision.
4. Search Parliament for debates and written questions.
5. Search inspection reports and safeguarding reviews.
6. Use FOI requests for policies, spending, contracts and performance information.

Child Criminal Exploitation Route

1. Check official County Lines data.
2. Check local safeguarding partnership reports.
3. Search police and crime commissioner plans.
4. Check Ofsted area SEND and children's services inspection information where relevant.
5. Search Parliament and Home Office publications.
6. Request local spending and performance data.

Child Sexual Exploitation Transparency Route

1. Find official child sexual exploitation statistics.
2. Search safeguarding practice reviews.
3. Check police force performance information.
4. Search inspection reports.
5. Follow relevant public inquiries.
6. Check Parliament committee investigations and evidence.

Children Missing From Care Transparency Route

1. Check official Department for Education statistics.
2. Check the local authority's missing children policy.
3. Check Ofsted children's services inspection reports.
4. Request missing incident statistics using FOI.
5. Request return-home interview statistics.
6. Ask what action was taken to reduce repeat missing incidents.

Government Accountability Route

1. Identify the responsible government department.
2. Search GOV.UK publications.
3. Search Hansard.
4. Search written parliamentary questions.
5. Check select committee investigations.
6. Search National Audit Office reports.
7. Search government contracts.
8. Use FOI requests for missing information.

Who Should the Public Scrutinise?

• Home Office
• Department for Education
• Department of Health and Social Care
• Ministry of Justice
• Local authorities
• Police forces
• Police and Crime Commissioners
• Safeguarding partnerships
• NHS bodies
• Schools and education providers
• Children's homes and care providers
• Government contractors
• Accommodation providers
• Public-sector technology suppliers
• Regulators and inspectorates

What Information Should the Public Look For?

• How many children went missing?
• How many children went missing repeatedly?
• How long were children missing?
• How many children were trafficked or exploited?
• How many referrals were made to the National Referral Mechanism?
• How many children received trafficking guardian support?
• How many return-home interviews were completed?
• How many safeguarding referrals were made?
• What action was taken after repeated missing incidents?
• How much public money was spent?
• Which private companies received contracts?
• What safeguarding failures were identified?
• What recommendations were made?
• Were recommendations implemented?
• Who was responsible for monitoring progress?

Follow the Money

Public accountability should include examination of spending and contracts.

Questions to investigate include:

• Who provides children's homes?
• Who provides supported accommodation?
• Who provides asylum accommodation?
• Who provides trafficking support services?
• Who receives government grants?
• Who provides safeguarding technology?
• Who receives police and council contracts?
• How much are contracts worth?
• Were contracts openly competed?
• Were contracts extended?
• What performance targets apply?
• Were suppliers penalised for poor performance?

Suggested FOI Requests

Members of the public may consider requesting recorded information concerning:

• Annual numbers of children reported missing.
• Repeat missing incidents.
• Children missing from care.
• Return-home interview completion rates.
• Child trafficking referrals.
• NRM referral statistics.
• County Lines referrals.
• Child sexual exploitation referrals.
• Safeguarding partnership spending.
• Private provider contracts.
• Risk assessments.
• Internal audits.
• Performance reports.
• Action plans following inspections.
• Contract monitoring information.

Responsible Public Transparency

Child trafficking and missing-child cases involve extremely sensitive information.

• Never publish information that could identify a child victim.
• Never publish a child's address, school or location.
• Never interfere with active police investigations.
• Never contact suspected offenders yourself.
• Never make unsupported allegations against identifiable people.
• Use official reporting and safeguarding routes for immediate concerns.
• Separate confirmed evidence from allegations and opinion.
• Protect victims' dignity and privacy.