Missing People has published research into the value of the return home interview (RHI), an in-depth conversation with a young person who has run away led by an independent, trained professional whom the young person trusts.

 

Findings from analysis of 585 missing episodes for 214 returned missing children and young people aged 10 and over across three local authority ares in England include: 14% of the 214 children were either currently victims of child sexual exploitation at the time of their RHI or had been a victim in the past; 8% were either currently a victim of criminal or other form of child exploitation or had been in the past; and 21% shared information which suggested they had depression or another mental health issue. The research found that returned missing children and young people gave more detailed information in RHIs than in interviews with the police.

 

Further details are available here.