Ministers have launched a crackdown following revelations youngsters were being housed in places not subjected to inspections. But a probe found teenagers were temporarily being placed in such properties, despite experts saying they were at risk of child sexual exploitation or from “county lines” criminal exploitation. More than 6,000 looked-after children and young people in England live in unregulated accommodation, with up to 100 under-16s living in unregulated provision at any one time. “That is unacceptable and I am taking urgent action to end this practice and drive up the quality of care provided to all vulnerable children. “We’ve also called for better assurance about the quality of unregulated provision for older children.

Source: Daily Mirror February 12, 2020 00:00 UTC