Child sexual exploitation by organised networks: investigation report

This inquiry explores the relationship between children going missing and their vulnerability to child sexual exploitation, highlighting how missing episodes can both result from and increase the risk of exploitation. Across England and Wales, more than 143,000 incidents of children going missing were recorded in 2018/19, involving over 51,000 children. Around 9 percent of these incidents were flagged as linked to CSE, with girls representing the majority of those affected. Children in care are disproportionately represented: although they make up a small proportion of the child population, they account for a large share of missing incidents. Evidence from case studies shows that repeated episodes of going missing are common among exploited children and often coincide with grooming, trafficking, or contact with adults who exploit them. However, investigations frequently revealed missed safeguarding opportunities, limited follow-up on disclosures, and inconsistent police responses. In several areas, inspections found inadequate or poor handling of missing children cases, including failures to investigate perpetrators or recognise exploitation risks. Return Home Interviews, intended to understand why children went missing and identify safeguarding needs, are a key protective tool. Yet their implementation and quality vary widely, and the information gathered is not always effectively used. Overall, the inquiry highlights the need for stronger multi-agency coordination, improved data sharing, and more consistent safeguarding practices to better protect children at risk of exploitation.