Suffolk's crime commissioner has acknowledged that missing children figures are a 'significant issue' in the county, with the council saying they're 'working hard' to promote awareness of the problem with children's homes, parents and carers.
With almost 3,000 missing children reports made in Suffolk in the last year, police and crime commissioner Tim Passmore has spoken on this "significant issue".
"These children are potentially very vulnerable and their safety is of course our first concern," he said.
“Social care, health services, schools, parents, carers and the wider community all have a role to play in supporting our young people to prevent them from going missing."
The 2,775 missing children reports made from April 2022 to March 2023 were generated by only 719 individuals.
READ MORE: Why are Suffolk's young people in care going missing?
"It is particularly concerning to me that so many children, the majority of whom are in care, are going missing countless times," added Mr Passmore.
"Considerable police time is directed into finding missing children so we really need to work together to look at what can be done differently."
Councillor James Reeder is Suffolk County Council's cabinet member for children and young people's services.
"We have been working hard to promote awareness of missing children with children's homes, parents and carers," he said.
"This work has led to a greater understanding of risks and may have led to children and young people being reported more often and more quickly."
READ MORE: Suffolk mum speaks out on daughter's disappearance as the 'worst experience' of her life
Cllr Reeder said 89% of the missing episodes in 2021/22 were less than 24 hours in duration.
All children missing for over 24 hours are subject to escalation procedures and will warrant a multi-agency complex strategy meeting if missing for longer than 72 hours.
Cllr Reeder added: “We have a strong relationship with our partners in Suffolk police which helps us to ensure that the most vulnerable young people in Suffolk are at the forefront of conversations regarding missing children and that the appropriate actions are taken by the individual agencies.”
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