Still Hidden? Going missing as an indicator of child sexual exploitation

This article explores how increasing awareness of the link between going missing and child sexual exploitation can strengthen national safeguarding efforts for young people at risk. It highlights that missing incidents can take many forms, including running away, being forced to leave home or care, abduction, trafficking, or kidnapping. Going missing can both contribute to and result from sexual exploitation, making it a key risk indicator for children in home and care environments. Repeated missing episodes, regardless of duration, signal heightened vulnerability and present crucial opportunities for professionals to assess risk and provide protection when the young person returns. The study emphasizes that young people over 16 are also at risk, but are often less likely to be identified as needing protection due to assumptions about consent and autonomy. Missing incidents and exploitation can intersect with other vulnerabilities, such as forced marriage, and victims may go missing to escape their exploiters, yet face limited access to safe, specialist support. Recognizing these dynamics is essential to improve prevention, timely intervention, and tailored support for children and adolescents exposed to sexual exploitation.