A new dedicated team of experts from the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre will strengthen and lead the UK's ability to respond to missing children, the Home Office has announced.
Speaking on International Missing Children's Day, the minister outlined that CEOP will, from 1st July, take the national lead for missing children's services.
Through the creation of the UK's first ever team of experts dedicated to tackling missing children issues, CEOP will bring their considerable expertise to bear and ensure the right arrangements are in place to protect vulnerable children.
Minister for Crime and Security James Brokenshire said:
“Around 230,000 missing children reports are made in the UK every year. The risks children are exposed to are severe and the harm they suffer can be very serious so it is crucial we can act quickly.
“The new team will lead the national response working in partnership with police forces, non-governmental organisations and the wider child protection community.”