Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what recent representations she has received in support of the creation of a national database to collate information on missing children to help identify those (a) at risk of child sexual exploitation and (b) being trafficked across police force boundaries; and if she will make a statement.

The former Minister for Crime Prevention, Norman Baker, met the National Policing Lead for Missing Persons in February to discuss this matter. A further meeting will take place with Lynne Featherstone at the end of the month.

There have been no other recent representations with regard to the creation of a national database to collate information on missing children. However, discussions are underway on how police data can be shared more easily between
forces. The Home Office is working with the National Policing Lead for Missing Persons and the National Crime Agency to consider practicable options for a national register for missing persons data. Currently information on missing
persons cases is held by police forces; we are looking at ways to improve how this information is accessed and shared.

The UK Missing Persons Bureau, part of the National Crime Agency, and its partners are working with police forces and IT providers to improve consistency of recording and compliance with data collection requirements.