1,300 abuse reports made in just two years at unregulated care homes

1,300 reports of abuse against children were made in just two years at unregulated care homes, shocking figures reveal

  • Mail on Sunday can reveal shocking new figures from councils across England 
  • Local authorities with highest number of complaints included Lancashire, Doncaster and Hillingdon. Reports typically concerned those aged 14 to 17
  • Illegal from September for children under 16 to live in unregulated care homes 

Almost  1,300 reports of abuse against children living in unregulated care homes were made in just two years, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.

The shocking figures from councils across England show at least 1,286 complaints of abuse were made up to last December.

Almost one in five related to sexual abuse and exploitation, and there were also allegations of physical abuse and trafficking.

However, the true number is likely to be far higher because 93 of the 155 councils offering children’s care services failed to respond to requests made under Freedom of Information rules.

The local authority areas with the highest number of complaints included Lancashire, Doncaster and Hillingdon, West London.

Almost 1,300 reports of abuse against children living in unregulated care homes were made in just two years. (Stock image)

Reports typically concerned those aged 14 to 17, but children as young as 11 are housed in unregulated homes.

According to the Government website, ‘unregulated provision’ is permitted ‘when children (usually over the age of 16) need support to live independently rather than needing full-time care’.

It is not subject to regulation by education watchdog Ofsted but instead falls under the responsibility of individual councils.

It will become illegal from September for children under 16 to live in unregulated care homes.

Many of the services are run by private companies and a report by the Office of the Children’s Commissioner last year found some providers were ‘affiliated with major organised crime operations, which are exploiting the lack of regulation for their own gain’. 

Joe Caluori, head of policy at the Crest Advisory crime and justice consultancy, said the figures reflected ‘concerns logged by social workers who only visit every few weeks’ and would likely be much higher.

Reports typically concerned those aged 14 to 17, but children as young as 11 are housed in unregulated homes. (Stock image)

He added: ‘In our research, we found evidence not only that unregistered settings are inappropriate – in red-light districts, a barge on a canal, a static caravan site – but also that a spider’s web of owners and managers are laundering money and enabling an environment in which workers groom children to deal drugs.’

The Department for Education said: ‘We are taking action to ensure that placement practice is appropriate and this provision is more consistently good.’

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