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Burstow backs better protection for young runaways
July 4, 2005 1:56 PM
Every year as many as 100,000 children will run away from home. Local MP Paul Burstow has this week highlighted the problem in Parliament and called for measures to protect young runaways.
The MP for Sutton and Cheam is urging other MPs to sign up to a Parliamentary motion he has written to urge Government to ensure those children who do run away each year have somewhere safe to go.
Paul Burstow is supporting the Children's Society 'Safe and Sound' campaign which is calling on all local authorities to have plans in place for dealing with young runaways. Research conducted by the Children's Society has found one in seven children who run away are physically or sexually abused whilst they are away. That proportion rises to 50% for children who stay away from home for more than a week.
Paul Burstow has joined the Children's Society in calling on Government to provide a national network of safe emergency accommodation available for young runaways. Already 85,000 people have signed the Big Safe and Sound petition and 26 local authorities have agreed to implement Safe and Sound Guidelines in the near future.
Paul Burstow commented:
'Preventing children running away is important but it is of the utmost urgency that children who do end up on the streets have somewhere safe to turn and someone to talk to. The measures outlined in the Children's Society campaign would ensure this. I will be encouraging as many MPs as possible to sign my motion and to support this excellent initiative'.
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