FOI request (FOIR-616286870)

Missing People

Requested Tue 21 May 2024
Responded Wed 29 May 2024

I am writing to make an open government request for all the information to which I am entitled under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. The purpose of conducting this research is to protect children from trafficking and we appreciate your help to support our mission.

For the full request, including definitions of terms used, please find a PDF document attached.

Please release the following information relating to looked after children in the care of your authority for the periods:

• 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021

• 1st January 2022 to 31st December 2022

• 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2023

• 1st January 2024 to 30th April 2024

1. The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority that are:

a. Identified as having been trafficked or a victim of modern slavery - including, but not limited to those identified through the National Referral Mechanism.

b. Suspected of having been a victim of trafficking or modern slavery, if not included in a.

c. Identified as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child (UASC) or a separated child.

d. Identified as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child (UASC) or a separated child who have also been identified or suspected of having been a victim of trafficking or modern slavery.

2. The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority:

a. Identified or suspected as having been trafficked/victim of modern slavery and that have gone missing or absent.

b. Identified as an UASC or separated child and that have gone missing or absent.

c. Identified as an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child (UASC) or a separated child who have also been identified or suspected of having been a victim of trafficking or modern slavery, and that have gone missing or absent.

3. The total number of individual incidents (which could involve the same child on more than one occasion) of looked after children in the care of your authority:

a. Identified or suspected as having been trafficked/victim of modern slavery and that have gone missing or absent.

b. Identified as an UASC or separated child and that have gone missing or absent.

4. The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority that are still missing or absent (including those that subsequently turned 18 without being found) that were identified or suspected as having been trafficked.

5. The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority that are still missing or absent (including those that subsequently turned 18 without being found) that were identified as an UASC or separated child.

6. For questions 1a, 1b and 2a please provide a breakdown of these numbers by year and whether the child is British or non-British.

7. For question 2, please provide a breakdown of these numbers by type of accommodation missing from.

Please note that statutory duties include collecting and recording the following:

- Whether a child is a victim of trafficking/modern slavery, or whether there is reason to believe they may be a victim.

- Whether a child is an unaccompanied asylum-seeking child (UASC).

- Data on children reported missing from care.

I would be grateful if you could contact me if there are any issues regarding this request as I understand that under the Act, you are required to advise and assist requesters. If any of this information is already in the public domain, please can you direct me to it, with page references and URLs.

Response

Information not held.

This area is dealt with by East Sussex County Council Children's Services, please visit their website for further information:

https://www.eastsussex.gov.uk