Britain’s Lost Children

with 140,000 kids reported missing every year, Christmas is a painful time for some families

So many of us have experienced it... You’re in the park or the supermarket. You turn your back for a moment and when you look back your child is gone.

In the time before you find them, those seconds feel like hours.

But what if your child was missing for hours, for days, for weeks?

What if it was even longer..?

For some families, this nightmare is a reality – and, as they gather together this Christmas, there’ll be an empty seat at the dinner table. Missing People is a UK charity that not only searches for those who have disappeared, but supports those left behind, and provides 24/7 advice and support directly to kids children and adults. According to the charity, an estimated 242,190 individuals were reported missing in England and Wales in 2015 and 2016. Sadly, this figure continues

The age group most likely to go missing is youngsters between 15 and 17.

to rise. And while it’s often assumed most of those who go missing are adults, apparently, it’s more usually children.

The charity claims that 60 per cent of missing incidents in 2015-2016 related to under18s. A shocking total of 148,050.

It’s believed people are most likely to go missing between the ages of 15-17. But, there are also significantly high numbers in the 12-14 age group.

And although adults are believed to go missing for longer periods than children, there are thousands of kids who’ve been missing for more than seven days.

The charity says 53 per cent of kids go missing for less than eight hours, but two per cent of people go missing for longer than a week.

But why do people go missing? Especially children so young? It’s often impossible to identify one reason.

People can go missing on purpose or unintentionally. However, the majority of people who go missing are vulnerable in some way.

Research suggests that up to 80 per cent of missing adults have mental-health issues.

And the most common reason for children going missing is a relationship with a parent or carer breaking down.

However, shockingly, 12 per cent of missing child cases are due to abduction, eight per cent are drug and alcohol related, and six per cent are due to anxiety and depression.

The charity also believes that it’s more common for boys to go missing than girls.

Missing People aims to find and bring home the nation’s lost kids. And every year it launches an appeal to help find some of the thousands missing.

The charity urges everyone to get involved to spread awareness and raise vital funds for their services. Chief Executive Jo Youle says, ‘Every year, we’re blown away by the support of the general public and the number of highprofile celebrities re-tweeting our appeals, sharing messages that can help us find missing children.

‘When a young person returns from being missing, this is not the end of the

story. It’s an opportunity for learning and understanding what happened while they were missing. It is a time for care and support.

‘Each and every missing incident gives us an opportunity to reach out to a young person, to find out what’s going on, and to offer them the help and support

they desperately need.’

When a young person returns from being missing, it’s not the end of the story...