Question to the Home Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government which police forces they have had discussions with in the last six months with regard to unaccompanied children seeking asylum that go missing from Home Office-commissioned hotels; and what evidence the police forces have indicated with regard to any of those unaccompanied children being forced into county lines drug activity and organised criminal gangs.

The Home Office takes the wellbeing, welfare and security of children and minors in our care extremely seriously. Robust safeguarding procedures are in place to ensure all children and minors are safe and supported as we seek urgent placements with local authorities.

We are in contact with police forces in the regions where the unaccompanied children are being housed including as part of multi-agency forums in the event that a child does go missing.

Information about children after they have been found is held by the encountering police forces. When a young person who has previously gone missing from a hotel housing unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC) is encountered or located we engage with statutory partners, including the police who will identify whether there are any concerns regarding possible trafficking; exploitation or other potential criminal activities that may require investigation.