Children and young people who go missing from home or care can be vulnerable to sexual and criminal exploitation, including gangs, violence and trafficking.
More than half of missing children have experienced conflict, abuse or neglect at home.
In 2021-22, the Metropolitan Police recorded 25,447 incidents of children going missing.
The police inspectorate found that the Met must do more to ensure children are protected, including improving its response to young people going missing.
The London Assembly Police and Crime Committee will meet tomorrow to explore the issue of missing children in London. It will also assess the performance of the Met and the Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) in keeping young people safe. The guests are:
- Will Balakrishnan, Director of Commissioning and Partnerships, MOPAC
- Commander Kevin Southworth, Head of Profession, Safeguarding, Metropolitan Police
- Susannah Drury, Director of Policy and Development, Missing People
- Sherry Peck, Chief Executive, Safer London
- Sandra Baah, Regional Manager for County Lines Support and Rescue Service, Catch22
- Sarah Parker, Research and Development Officer, Catch 22, and Co-Chair, English Coalition for Runaway Children
- Beverley Hendricks, Assistant Director Safeguarding & Social Care, Haringey Council
The meeting will take place on Thursday, 29 September 2022 from 10am, in the Chamber at City Hall, Kamal Chunchie Way, E16 1ZE.
Media and members of the public are invited to attend.
The meeting can also be viewed LIVE or later via webcast or YouTube.
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Notes to editors
- Read the agenda papers.
- Susan Hall AM, Chairman of the Police and Crime Committee, is available for interview.
- Find out more about the work of the Police and Crime Committee.
- As well as investigating issues that matter to Londoners, the London Assembly acts as a check and a balance on the Mayor.
For more information, please contact Emma Bowden in the Assembly Media Office on 07849 303897. For out of hours media enquiries please call 020 7983 4000 and ask for the Assembly duty press officer.