Trafficking of children and their subsequent care

The request was refused by Middlesbrough Council.

Dear Middlesbrough Council,

Please find below an FOI request relating to the trafficking of children and their subsequent care.

Unseen piloted safe accommodation for potentially trafficked foreign migrant children. The service was developed with local authority, police and governmental partners and was Ofsted registered. Through running this service we became aware of some systemic barriers that fundamentally prevent children from accessing the care and protection they need.

We would like to know, for each local authority in the UK:

1. How many potentially trafficked children you have identified in the last 12 months?
2. How many of these children have been non-UK Nationals?
3. Of the children identified what type of care placements have been sought? (foster care, secure, supported accommodation, children’s home, living independently)
4. How many children in this cohort have subsequently a) remained in their original placement b) moved to a different placement c) gone missing short-term (72 hours or less) or d) gone missing long-term (over 72 hours)?

This information is being requested from each Local Authority area in the UK.
Yours faithfully,
Unseen (UK)

foi, Middlesbrough Council

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Dear Ms Garbers

 

REF NO:013944

 

Thank you for your recent enquiry, received on 21^st January 2019, in
relation to trafficking of children and their subsequent care.  I can
confirm that your enquiry is receiving attention and a response will be
provided within 20 working days following receipt of your enquiry as
allowed under the Freedom of Information Act legislation.

 

In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case, I will
let you know the likely charges before proceeding.

 

Please do not hesitate to contact me direct on (01642) 729696/729698 or
email [Middlesbrough Council request email] should you require any further advice or
assistance with this or any other matter.

 

 

Yours sincerely

Janette Anderson

Information Request Officer

Strategy, Information and Governance

P.O. Box 500
Civic Centre
Middlesbrough
TS1 9FT

Email:   [2][Middlesbrough Council request email]
 

 

All intellectual property rights are reserved.  Trademarks, brand names,
company names, and logos are the property of Middlesbrough Council, or of
their respective owners.  Reproduction, alterations, modification,
distribution, or re-publication in any format, without prior written
permission from the property owner is forbidden.

 

The Council's copyright and other intellectual property rights are
protected by UK laws and by international treaties.

 

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foi, Middlesbrough Council

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Dear Ms Garbers

 

REF NO:013944

 

I am writing to confirm that Middlesbrough Council has now completed its
search for the information you requested on 21^st January 2019, in
relation to trafficking of children.  Your request has been considered in
accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. 

 

In your request you asked for the following information:

 

1. How many potentially trafficked children you have identified in the
last 12 months?

 

2. How many of these children have been non-UK Nationals?

 

3. Of the children identified what type of care placements have been
sought? (foster care, secure, supported accommodation, children's home,
living independently)

 

4. How many children in this cohort have subsequently a) remained in their
original placement b) moved to a different placement c) gone missing
short-term (72 hours or less) or d) gone missing long-term (over 72
hours)?

 

Response:  I can advise you that Middlesbrough Council does hold the
information you requested.  However, we consider that as there are 5 or
fewer individuals, the information you requested is exempt under Section
40 (Personal Data) of the Freedom of Information Act. We feel it would not
be fair to process information which could lead to the identification of
an individual, either from that information alone or from that information
and any other information that may be available to any person. To release
the information as requested, could, due to the very low numbers involved
(i.e. less than 5) may lead to individuals being identified. Therefore the
first principle of the Data Protection Act would be breached. Section 40
is an absolute exemption and there is therefore no requirement to consider
the public interest in making a decision to withhold the information.

If you have any queries about this response, please do not hesitate to
contact me via email [Middlesbrough Council request email].  Please remember to quote
the reference number shown above in any future communications.

If you are unhappy with the way your request has been handled you may ask
for an internal review within 40 days of receipt of the response. You
should write to:-

Ann-Marie Johnstone,

Governance and Information Manager,
P.O. Box 500
2^nd Floor

Civic Centre

Middlesbrough

TS1 9FT

 

If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, you have
the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for an
independent review.  The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: -

Information Commissioner’s Office,
Wycliffe House,
Water Lane,
Wilmslow,
Cheshire,
SK9 5AF

Yours sincerely

Janette Anderson

Information Requests Officer

Strategy, Information and Governance
P.O. Box 500
Civic Centre

Middlesbrough

TS1 9FT

Email:   [Middlesbrough Council request email]
 

 

All intellectual property rights are reserved.  Trademarks, brand names,
company names, and logos are the property of Middlesbrough Council, or of
their respective owners.  Reproduction, alterations, modification,
distribution, or re-publication in any format, without prior written
permission from the property owner is forbidden.

 

The Council's copyright and other intellectual property rights are
protected by UK laws and by international treaties.

 

 

show quoted sections

References

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