The experiences of Black missing children and their parents
“We’re told not to make everything about race, but it is about race.”
National statistics show that Black children are disproportionately likely to go missing, with 16% of all missing children being Black compared to only 6% of the general population. Research has also revealed concerning disparities in the response to, and outcomes for Black children when they go missing, including that they are more likely to be missing for longer than other missing children; are less likely to be found by the police; and are less likely to have risk factor vulnerabilities identified in relation to their missing episode. However, there has been little research evidencing the lived experience of Black children and their families, and to what extent that reflects the picture shown in the data.
This new research, carried out by ListenUp and Missing People, aims to explore Black children and their families’ lived experiences of going missing, to try to better understand:
- Why are Black children more likely to go missing than other children?
- Why are Black children more likely to be missing for longer than other children?
- What response are Black children and families receiving from professionals, and does this differ from the response other children and families receive?