Implement a vision zero strategy for London’s missing children

22,801 children went missing in London in 2021/22.

The London Assembly is concerned that information is not being properly recorded about these children.

Today the Assembly has urged the Mayor and the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC) to implement a vision zero strategy for missing children.

Shaun Bailey AM, who proposed the motion, said:

“Last year, nearly 23,000 children went missing in London. We have more lost children reported in London than in the whole of Spain or South Korea. This is far from acceptable and the Mayor must act.

“The Mayor must implement a vision zero strategy to guarantee the safety of all children, drastically improve missing children data collection and explore funding opportunities to ensure we see an immediate reduction in the number of children lost.

“The Mayor must start leading the way for a safer London and ensure our children’s safety to not left to chance.”

The full text of the motion is:

This assembly is concerned that 22,801 children went missing in London in 2021/22 and is further concerned that information is not being properly recorded about these children.

Therefore, we call upon the Mayor and MOPAC to work with the Government to resolve this and to:

• Implement a vision zero strategy for missing children;
• Ensure that data relating to missing children is better recorded, including age, ethnicity, household situation and education status; and
• Explore government funding opportunities to undertake missing children reduction work, such as the recently announced £23 million for early intervention programmes.