Home Office Minister James Brokenshire has announced that from 1st July 2011 the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) centre will use its expertise in protecting vulnerable children to take the lead in missing children's services across the UK.

 

This will be done by creating a new team of experts dedicated to tackling the issues of missing children, which will work in partnership with other child protection bodies, including the police. 

 

Minister for Crime and Security James Brokenshire said:

 

"Around 230,000 missing children reports are made in the UK every year. The risks children are exposed to are severe and the harm they suffer can be very serious so it is crucial we can act quickly.

 

"CEOP's new responsibility for national missing children's services means they can bring their significant child protection expertise to tackle this important issue."

 

CEOP's new capability will provide operational support to the police through resources such as the Child Rescue Alert system and the MissingKids website. It will also ensure arrangements are in place to co-ordinate the collective response to complex cases of missing and abducted children.