Missing or Absent Looked After Children 2018/19 - Find a freedom of information request

1. Please release the following information relating to looked after children in the care of your authority. Please provide the figures per year for the following calendar years: 2018 and 2019

a. Number of children
• The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority
• The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority that have been identified as having been trafficked or a victim of modern slavery.
• The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority that have been identified as an unaccompanied asylum seeking child (UASC)
i.e

In 2018, there were 300 children under the care of the authority. 12 were identified or suspected as being trafficked or a victim of modern slavery. A further 6 were identified or suspected as being an unaccompanied asylum seeking child.

b. Missing or absent children
• The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority that have gone missing or absent.
• The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority who have been identified or suspected as having been trafficked/a victim of modern slavery and have gone missing or absent.
• The total number of looked after children in the care of your authority identified as an UASC that have gone missing or absent.

i.e
In 2018, 15 children under the care of the authority went missing. 1 child was suspected as being trafficked or a victim of modern slavery. Another 2 children were identified or suspected as being an unaccompanied asylum seeking child.

c. Duration of absence
• Only if it is possible under the restraints of FOI, please provide the length of time the child was missing during each incident and outline instances where individuals are still missing

i.e
In 2018, 15 children under the care of the authority went missing. 14 of those were found within 48 hours. 1 child is still missing.

a.  In 2018 there were 941 Looked after Children in Lincolnshire. 7 were identified or suspected as having been trafficked or a victim of modern slavery. 61 children and young people were identified or suspected as an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC).

In 2019 there were 907 Looked after Children in Lincolnshire. 8 were identified or suspected as having been trafficked or a victim of modern slavery. 56 children and young people were identified or suspected as an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC).

b. In 2018, 83 Looked after Children in Lincolnshire went missing. 1 was suspected as being trafficked or a victim of modern slavery. 0 were identified or suspected as being an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC).

In 2019, 101 Looked after Children in Lincolnshire went missing. 1 was suspected as being trafficked or a victim of modern slavery. 2 were identified or suspected as being an Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Child (UASC).

c. In 2018, 83 Looked after Children in Lincolnshire went missing. Of these, 247 were missing for less than 12 hours, 53 were missing for 12-24 hours, 60 were missing for 24-72 hours and 25 were missing for 72+ hours. 0 children were still missing as of 31st December 2018

In 2019, 101 Looked After Children in Lincolnshire went missing. Of these, 281 were missing for less than 12 hours, 87 were missing for 12-24 hours, 89 were missing for 24-72 hours and 46 were missing for 72+ hours. 1 child was still missing as of 31st December 2019.