89 m. ago Female teacher, 43, who bombarded underage schoolgirl with texts saying 'can't wait for a cuddle' and 'you're mine' is struck off

Food technology teacher Miss Lianne Barclay, 43, asked the child if she was 'gay yet?' and told her that she 'like[s] younger ones' because they have 'more stamina'.

Events

26 h. ago Two women arrested after faking child’s disappearance to get out of custody agreement, police say

Cailin Doyle reported her daughter missing, telling authorities the child had run away from home

Events

28 h. ago A unique app is changing the dating game for disabled and chronically ill people

A unique app is changing the dating game for disabled and chronically ill people

Politics

5 d. ago Four major pledges in Keir Starmer's plan to tackle child poverty

Keir Starmer has said Labour's 'moral mission' is to fight child poverty as he launched a blueprint to lift over half a million kids out of poverty by the end of the decade

Politics

5 d. ago Labour announces plans to lift 550,000 children out of poverty – UK politics live

Starmer hails child poverty strategy as a ‘moral mission’ which will include measures to help with childcare and getting families out of temporary housingThere’s a lot of reaction coming in on the plan – some believe the new elements aren’t ambitious enough and it’s just a consolidation of previously announced measures. But here is the full strategy from Keir Starmer’s government, 16 months in, to tackle and reduce the rate of child poverty in the UK.There are around 4.5 million children living in poverty in the UK currently – a historic high. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago How a stranger stopped me from taking my own life as a missing child

A musician and public speaker who disappeared from home multiple times has opened up about the moment a stranger stopped him from taking his own life as a missing child.

Events

2 w. ago Prosecutors will retry man in death of Etan Patz, whose 1979 disappearance spotlighted missing kids

A notorious 1979 missing-child case will go to trial for a third time in New York City

Events

2 w. ago ‘We have to stay calm in high emotion’: What it’s really like to answer a call from a missing child

Every day, helpline workers from Missing People speak to children who have gone missing, their heartbroken loved ones, or those who feel like they want to disappear. The Independent heard from those picking up the phone and helping bring young people back to safety

Events

2 w. ago More then 2,000 trafficked children and lone child asylum seekers missing from UK councils’ care

Charities say vulnerable young people are being failed by local authorities, the police and central governmentMore than 2,000 children who have been trafficked or who arrived in the UK alone to claim asylum disappeared from social services’ care last year, according to freedom of information data shared with the Guardian.The authors of a report, Until Harm Ends, submitted FoI requests to children’s services departments in councils across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland asking for information about trafficked children and those who arrived alone in the UK and claimed asylum, who then went missing after being taken into care. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago More than 2,000 trafficked children and lone child asylum seekers missing from UK councils’ care

Charities say vulnerable young people are being failed by local authorities, the police and central governmentMore than 2,000 children who have been trafficked or who arrived in the UK alone to claim asylum disappeared from social services’ care last year, according to freedom of information data shared with the Guardian.The authors of a report, Until Harm Ends, submitted FoI requests to children’s services departments in councils across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland asking for information about trafficked children and those who arrived alone in the UK and claimed asylum, who then went missing after being taken into care. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago ‘Every disappearance is a warning sign’: The important next steps after a missing child is found

With a child reported missing every 2.5 minutes in the UK, it is vital to address the cause behind their disappearance. As part of our SafeCall campaign, The Independent looks at what help is needed to ensure missing children are happy and safe

Events

3 w. ago ‘I reported my child as missing then heard nothing’: The young people who fall through the gaps when they disappear

Charity Missing People warns these children are at particular risk of exploitation and calls for more resources to tackle the crisis of the young people who have disappeared

Events

3 w. ago Voices: Our daughter went missing for 36 hours. The grief has lasted a lifetime

For 36 unbearable hours, we believed our daughter was gone for ever, says Anne Atkins. What we lived through has shaped every moment since

Events

3 w. ago Sara Sharif killed despite 15 warnings over violent dad, review finds

Sara Sharif was murdered by her father Urfan Sharif and stepmother Beinash Batool in August 2023 after a series of missed opportunities to save the tragic child.

Events

4 w. ago Inside the crucial 24 hours after a child goes missing – from CCTV checks to scouring social media

The first moments after a disappearance are critical. The Independent speaks to the charity Missing People about how officers act when a report comes in – and why speed can mean the difference between safety and harm

Events

last month How you can help reunite missing children with their families: The Independent Editor

Every year, more than 70,000 children in the UK are reported missing. The misery that follows – for the child, for the family, for the community – is often hidden. Too many of these young people have nowhere to turn when they need help most.

Society

last month How to get help when a child goes missing – and when to call 999

More than 70,000 children were reported missing last year, and the majority went missing more than once. The Independent has partnered with the Missing People charity to provide a free service which will help bring young people to a place of safety

Events

last month ‘I went missing 50 times as a child – now I need to stop it happening to others’

After going missing dozens of times as a teenager, Jade Knight says the charity Missing People helped her turn her life around. She tells Tara Cobham why she’s supporting The Independent’s SafeCall campaign to protect children in crisis

Events

last month The Independent launches SafeCall campaign to help reach every missing child

A lifeline for missing children: support The Independent and Missing People’s campaign to launch a new helpline and help secure safer futures for vulnerable young people

Events