Dozens of child migrants go missing from UK care

Almost 20% of unaccompanied child migrants from Albania taken in by Kent County Council this year have disappeared, the BBC has found.

The local authority took in 197 Albanian children up to 31 October but 39 of them have gone missing.

Ecpat UK, which campaigns to protect children from exploitation, said the figures were very concerning.

The council said it had worked closely with the Home Office and police to safeguard vulnerable children.

The figures were obtained by the BBC via a Freedom of Information request.

The council said 197 Albanian children processed at the Home Office's Kent Intake Unit came into its care between 1 January and 31 October.

It added that, as of 7 November, 39 had a "current missing episode or, for those over the age of 18, an ended missing episode, where the young person's location is recorded as remaining unknown".

More than 12,000 migrants from Albania have reached the UK by boat so far this year - an increase of almost 4,000% compared with 2021.

The issue has been highlighted by Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick who said that on some small boats, 80% of those on board were from Albania.

Ecpat UK said children who disappeared could be exploited, forced to do construction work, or forced into crime, such as being made to work in cannabis factories.

In a statement, Kent County Council said it had seen a "significant increase" in the number of unaccompanied Albanian children referred to its services.

It said: "Whilst all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children are vulnerable to exploitation... research and experience evidences that some nationalities are particularly vulnerable and can go missing from local authority care very quickly.

"Kent County Council has used both established safeguarding protocols, including the National Referral Mechanism, and initiated multi-agency strategies to minimise the risks for these children as much as possible.

"The council continues to take a proactive role in safeguarding all unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in its care."