Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to recent reports of the abduction of unaccompanied children from a Home Office residence in Hove, what estimate her Department has made of the number of unaccompanied children who are (a) missing and (b) unaccounted for.

The rise in the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) crossing the channel in small boats means there are significant challenges on providing Local Authority care places for UASC. Out of necessity and with the best interests of the child in mind, we have had no alternative but to temporarily use hotels to give some unaccompanied children a roof over their heads whilst local authority accommodation is found.

Robust safeguarding, welfare and security procedures are in place to ensure all children and minors are safe and supported in interim hotels as we seek urgent placements with a Local Authority.

Young people are supported by team leaders and support workers who are on site 24 hours a day.

Records are kept and monitored of children leaving and returning to the hotel. Support workers will accompany children off site on activities and social excursions, or where specific vulnerabilities are identified.  The Home Office has no power to hold children in hotels or any temporary accommodation if they wish to leave.

As of 26 January 2023, there were 199 missing UASC from Home Office operated hotels, of which 76 were missing from Home Office operated hotels in Brighton and Hove.

When any young person goes missing the ‘missing persons protocol’ is followed and led by our directly engaged social workers. A multi-agency, missing persons protocol is mobilised alongside the police and local authorities, to establish their whereabouts and to ensure that they are safe