Children go missing for a variety of reasons. This page gives you information and advice about ‘lost children’, when children are missing from school, when children truant from school and when children run away from home.

Lost children

Children often get lost and separated from parents when out and about in public places like shopping centres, on the beach, in parks etc.

Always make sure that your child know what they should do if they ever become lost or separated from you. For example, can they report to a dedicated lost children’s post; an Information Desk, a Security Guard or store official, or a Lifeguard Station etc. They may be able to call you on their mobile phone.

Some places have child safety schemes, like Brighton beach, where they give out wrist bands, tickets etc. These are free and a very good way of identifying children who are lost and keeping children safe if they get separated from their parents.

See the download below for more information about what to do if your child gets lost.

Children missing from School

The law says that parents must make sure that their children receive a proper, full time education and they can be prosecuted if their child does not attend school regularly and on time.

Truancy

Truancy is when children miss school without their parents knowing. Children who truant often do this because they are worried about something.

• They might be being bullied at school or traveling to and from school, or there maybe something at home which is troubling them and causing them to behave rebelliously.
• They might be finding some lessons or subjects too hard (or too easy) or they might be having problems in completing their homework.
• Sometimes, they might even miss school because they are worried that their parent might come to some harm whilst they are at school

Children who run away

Children from all sorts of backgrounds run away from home and for a variety of reasons. Many of us might remember planning to run away from home when we were younger because we felt that we couldn’t cope with our problems, that nobody cared about us or because we had been treated unfairly.

Usually, if a child goes missing from home, it will be for a short period of time. Until they think the parent has noticed or until they calm down, and often they will turn up at a friend’s or relative’s house.

When children run away, they are not being bad, but they are merely trying to tell us something, that they are unhappy or they want to find out just how much we care about them.

Main reasons why children run away from home

• They may feel that no one is listening to them and that nobody seams to care what happens to them.
• They might be being abused and mistreated by someone, but feel completely alone and unable to talk to someone.
• That there is domestic violence and/or abuse going on at home and they can’t handle it any more.
• They may be Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual or Transgender and don’t have anyone to turn to for help and advice.

Risks for children who are missing from home or missing from school

• Children who miss school are much more likely to have problems with their learning and getting the job or college place that they would like. This means they will find it harder to make and keep friends and they are at much greater risk of getting into trouble in and out of school.
• If they are skipping school or lessons, they are more likely to come across adults or other young people who might want to cause them harm.
• Children who are regularly missing from school and truant are more likely to get involved with drugs or alcohol misuse, be the victims of crime and abuse and at prey to people who will exploit and harm them.

Advice for parents and carers

• Make time to talk to your children about any worries they might have.
• When you have to tell your child off, tell them that it’s their behaviour that’s the problem, not them.
• Be honest with your children about anything that might be happening in the family. This might be hard to do, but talking about things will make things easier.
• Make sure that your child knows how important they are to you.
• If something has gone wrong in the family, don’t let your child think it’s their fault.
• A good education is important, make sure you child knows this.
• Help is always available, please don’t be too embarrassed or afraid to ask someone for help or talk to someone about any problems.

Services which can help

Missing Persons helpline

Tel: 0500 700 700 (24 hours) (also see web link below)

Sussex Police

This includes the child rescue alert system

Tel: 0845 60 70 999

Message Home

This is a phoneline for young people to get a message to parents when they have run away.

Tel: 0800 700 740

Education Welfare Service

The Education Welfare Service can give you advice and support about children missing from school and help you find solutions to any problems there might be.

Tel: (01273) 293552

Relate

Relate offers a specialist relationship counseling and support service for families, partners etc.

Tel: 01273 697997

Website: www.brightonrelate.org.uk

Brighton & Hove Mediation Service

Mediation is a way to resolve problems you may be experiencing with others in your family. The service is free, confidential and independent of all other agencies.

Tel: (01273) 700 812

email: mediation@bhims.org.uk

Website: www.bhims.org.uk

Downloads

How to find your kids if you become separated: This simple download gives parents and carers some basic hints and tips about what to do if a child becomes separated or lost.

Links

http://missingkids.co.uk/

Police website dedicated to finding missing and abducted children, with links to the Police National Missing Persons Bureau.

www.missingpersons.org/

The UK’s only charity dedicated to finding missing persons and supporting those who are left behind.

www.sussex.police.uk/

The Sussex Police website has further information about lost or missing children and can provide parents and carers with help and advice about what they can do.