Monday 24th November 2025

A new report from ECPAT UK (Every Child Protected Against Trafficking UK) and Missing People exposes the persistent and widespread safeguarding failures affecting trafficked and unaccompanied children in the UK. Despite years of warnings, thousands of highly vulnerable children continue to go missing from care, placing them at extreme risk of exploitation and harm.

Key Findings

• More than 2,000 trafficked and/or unaccompanied children went missing from care in the UK in 2024 (n.=2,365).
• 37% of trafficked children and 13% of unaccompanied children living in care went missing in 2024.
• These groups of children are at particularly high risk of exploitation and other types of harm when they are missing.
• These numbers are likely to be underestimates, as they do not include data from all local authorities.

The report follows up on ECPAT UK’s and Missing People’s first study, Heading Back to Harm (which discovered that an alarmingly high number of children go missing from care with many never being found), and the second and third study, Still in Harm’s Way and When Harm Remains which confirmed the findings that trafficked and unaccompanied children are amongst those at greatest risk of going missing in the UK. Fresh data in this new study Until Harm Ends shows that despite previous recommendations, significant gaps remain in the protection and support offered to these children. Trafficking is child abuse and trafficked children are victims of modern slavery, yet many continue to face heightened risks of re-trafficking when disappearing from care settings.

Jane Hunter, Policy and Research Manager at Missing People, said:
"Every child deserves to feel safe and protected, yet trafficked and unaccompanied children are repeatedly failed by the systems meant to care for them. This report is a stark reminder that urgent action is needed to prevent these children from disappearing and falling into dangerous situations."

Laura Duran, Head of Policy of ECPAT UK, added:
"These children are not just statistics—they are individuals who have already endured unimaginable trauma. When they go missing from care, they are at extreme risk of further exploitation. The UK Government must ensure that the policies they are proposing do not exacerbate these risks and should instead focus on bringing effective safeguarding measures to protect children for harm."

The organisations call on policymakers, local authorities, and the public to recognise the gravity of this issue and take immediate steps to strengthen safeguarding practices, improve data collection, and provide specialist support for trafficked and unaccompanied children.

Children who go missing from care are among the most vulnerable in society. Raising awareness of this issue is critical to driving change and ensuring that no child is left unprotected. This report serves as a call to action for all stakeholders to work collaboratively to close the gaps and protect these children from further harm.

-ENDS-

 

NOTES FOR EDITORS 

1. For more information email [email protected] or call 020 8392 4511. 
2. Previous reports: Heading Back to Harm, Still in Harm’s Way and When Harm Remains.