Children missing from care homes are vulnerable to trafficking, child protection groups have warned.

More than 145 youngsters, some only nine years old, had disappeared from care in the last year alone, a Care Leavers' Association (CLA) survey revealed.

But as some local authorities did not have sufficient data, the actual number is likely to be higher.

The CLA said some authorities did not have any idea where the missing children had gone and added that asylum-seeking children were particularly vulnerable to being trafficked.

At least 40 bodies have had children and young people go missing without a trace.

Six local authorities had no central record of all children who have disappeared from their care even though the Government stressed on recording the number.

Around 90% of those missing are unaccompanied asylum-seeking children.

National development worker of the CLA, Victoria Hull, said: "It is imperative that every local authority keeps a central record of all missing looked after children and their current status and this is still not happening."

"Unaccompanied asylum-seeking young people are obviously particularly vulnerable and should be appointed a guardian on arrival who can advocate on their behalf," she said.

"They should be safely housed away from known trafficking routes."

Copyright © Press Association 2009

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