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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Plans to support young runaways | Plans to support young runaways |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| A new cross-government working group to focus on ways of helping children who run away from home or care in England has been announced by ministers. | A new cross-government working group to focus on ways of helping children who run away from home or care in England has been announced by ministers. |
| The group will develop a runaways action plan, review emergency housing and assess how data is collected. | The group will develop a runaways action plan, review emergency housing and assess how data is collected. |
| Some 86,000 under-16s go missing in England every year, with girls aged 14 and 15 the most likely to disappear. | Some 86,000 under-16s go missing in England every year, with girls aged 14 and 15 the most likely to disappear. |
| The Children's Society, which has led a 20-year campaign for runaway safe houses, welcomed the plans. | The Children's Society, which has led a 20-year campaign for runaway safe houses, welcomed the plans. |
| Exploitation | Exploitation |
| The announcement is in response to a report on runaways that was produced by the Children's Society at the request of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCfS). | The announcement is in response to a report on runaways that was produced by the Children's Society at the request of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCfS). |
| The charity's research suggests most runaway children flee home or care because of family conflict, neglect or abuse. | The charity's research suggests most runaway children flee home or care because of family conflict, neglect or abuse. |
| New agenda for runaways Action plan on young runaways - by June 2008Emergency accommodation review - by summer 2008Review of "Missing from Home and Care" guidance - by end of 2009Consider data collection methods - by autumn 2008 class="" href="/1/hi/uk/7181325.stm">Runaway's tale | |
| They are often forced to sleep rough or with strangers, and risk sexual exploitation, violence and getting into drugs, it suggested. | They are often forced to sleep rough or with strangers, and risk sexual exploitation, violence and getting into drugs, it suggested. |
| However, the study also found that only 12% of local authorities had services targeted at helping runaways. | However, the study also found that only 12% of local authorities had services targeted at helping runaways. |
| A total of 10 out of 27 police forces surveyed said many young people had to sleep in police stations because there was nowhere else for them to go. | A total of 10 out of 27 police forces surveyed said many young people had to sleep in police stations because there was nowhere else for them to go. |
| The government wants all agencies to work together to prevent young people from wanting to run away in the first place. | The government wants all agencies to work together to prevent young people from wanting to run away in the first place. |
| From 2009, the government will also include a new measure of the number of young runaways in the National Indicator Set. | From 2009, the government will also include a new measure of the number of young runaways in the National Indicator Set. |
| We feel strongly that this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a time when all runaways under 16 will have somewhere safe to go Andy McCullough English Coalition for Young Runaways | We feel strongly that this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a time when all runaways under 16 will have somewhere safe to go Andy McCullough English Coalition for Young Runaways |
| Bob Reitemeier, the Children's Society's chief executive, described the plans as "fantastic news". | Bob Reitemeier, the Children's Society's chief executive, described the plans as "fantastic news". |
| "We can now finally say that these children are a priority in our society," he said. | "We can now finally say that these children are a priority in our society," he said. |
| "We look forward to helping design a national network of safe accommodation and preventative measures that will ensure the childhoods of young runaways are protected and not forgotten." | "We look forward to helping design a national network of safe accommodation and preventative measures that will ensure the childhoods of young runaways are protected and not forgotten." |
| Andy McCullough, chair of the English Coalition for Young Runaways, also welcomed the government's announcement. | Andy McCullough, chair of the English Coalition for Young Runaways, also welcomed the government's announcement. |
| "We feel strongly that this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a time when all runaways under 16 will have somewhere safe to go," he said. | "We feel strongly that this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a time when all runaways under 16 will have somewhere safe to go," he said. |