§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of the number of children and young people under 18 years who have been reported missing this year and the estimated statistics of missing children for every year over the last 15 years; and if he will make a statement. [5333]
§ Mr. MacleanStatistics are not collated centrally of the number of missing children reported to the police, the majority of whom are found within a few days. A National Missing Persons Bureau was established in New Scotland Yard in April 1994 in order to provide a central register and matching facility for vulnerable missing persons, including juveniles, missing for more than 28 days or otherwise of special concern. The following numbers have been referred to the bureau since its opening.
1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 1 April 1995 to 30 November 1995 Males under 14 50 24 Males 14 to 17 118 60 Females under 14 48 23 Females 14 to 17 227 137
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what co-operation and co-ordinated action his950W Department has undertaken with local authorities and the National Missing Persons Bureau to locate missing children; and if he will make a statement. [5334]
§ Mr. MacleanThe Government established and fund the National Missing Persons Bureau as a clearing house of information on vulnerable missing persons. Tracing missing persons, including children, remains an operational matter for the police service.
§ Ms LynneTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the current method of categorising missing children; and if he will make a statement. [5335]
§ Mr. MacleanRecording missing persons is an operational matter for police forces. A range of information may be kept concerning missing children, including their age, appearance, the circumstances in which they are missing and any particular cause for concern.