Better care needed for 'vulnerable children at stations'

From ITV News:

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Better care needed for 'vulnerable children at stations'

Hundreds of runaway children are found in and round Britain's railways and more needs to be done to look after them, a report by MPs^▸ has said.

The House of Commons Transport Committee warned more than 750 children who had fled their homes were picked up by British Transport Police (BTP^▸ ) at just London stations during a 17 month period.

But the committee said it was "surprised to learn" that BTP currently had no targets in relation to child protection.

Gangs are 'waiting to exploit' vulnerable runaways

Gangs are hanging out at train stations "waiting to exploit" vulnerable young children who may have fled a chaotic home life, an MP told Good Morning Britain.

Chair of the Transport Select Committee, Louise Ellman said: "They might have come off the trains, they might just gather at the station - but there are gangs waiting to exploit them."

Union calls for 'higher police profile' at train stations

A rise in violent and sexually related crime at train stations has lead to a call for a "higher police profile" from the rail workers union.

Commenting on a report on vulnerable children at railway stations, Manuel Cortes, leader of the TSSA^» rail union, said: "While we welcome the overall fall in railway crime, we are concerned about the worrying rise in serious crime, assault, up 6%, racially aggravated, up 13% and sexual offences, up 21%. We would like to see a higher police profile at stations and on trains which would act both as a deterrent whilst also providing security and reassurance for the travelling public."

Number of vulnerable children found at train stations

According to a report from the Transport Select Committee, between April 2012 and 2013:
- British Transport Police (BTP) had picked up 90 runaway children at Euston main line station.
- A further 185 runaway children at King's Cross stations.
- Some 115 at Paddington, 239 at Liverpool Street and 140 at Euston Underground station.
- However, the report added: "The BTP told us that the problem is not confined to London and that its officers encounter vulnerable children and young people in major railway stations across Britain."

Better care needed for 'vulnerable children at railways'

More needs to be done to care for the hundreds of vulnerable children found at Britain's train stations every year, a group of MPs has said.

The House of Commons Transport Committee said over 750 runaways had been picked up by British Transport Police (BTP) at London stations alone, in less than 18 months. But the committee said it was "surprised to learn" that BTP currently had no targets in relation to child protection.

Entitled Security On The Railway, the report called for authorities and the charity sector to work closer together to protect vulnerable children.

The report said: "The Department for Transport (DfT^» ), the British Transport Police Authority, the BTP and the charity sector should work together to tackle this emerging issue."