An estimated 100,000 children run away each year and, in doing so, face dangers including sexual exploitation and being drawn into crime or drugs.
Although the majority return unharmed, about one in five experience neglect or abuse. And unless the issues that led to them running away in the first place are addressed, the risk that they will flee again persists.
In an attempt to improve safeguarding for this vulnerable group, fresh guidance, issued last month, will mean councils must offer children a return interview with an independent person when they come home. The move strengthens previous guidance, issued by the then Department for Children, Schools and Families in 2009, which only stated that councils "should" offer an interview and did not stipulate that it should be with an independent person.
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