‘Severe lack of data on missing children’ in Wales

Published

1 year ago

September 22, 2024

A SEVERE lack of data on missing children in Wales is holding back policy responses and hindering efforts to help young people, a committee warned.

Buffy Williams, who chairs the Senedd’s education committee, raised concerns about the lack of an accurate source of Welsh data that records all episodes of missing children.

“In turn, this means we don’t have the right policy responses,” said Ms Williams, explaining that data is collected for those who go missing from care but not other children.

The Labour MS said: “The majority of evidence we’ve heard is there’s a severe lack of data … hampering efforts to ensure the correct procedures are in place to support children.”

Dawn Bowden, Wales’ social care and children minister, said the Welsh Government is delivering a huge transformation programme for children’s services.

She acknowledged far too many children are taken into care in Wales as she pledged to focus on prevention and keep families together wherever possible.

Ms Bowden said: “One of the things we do know is that many children who are reported as missing are often children who are trying to get home.”

She told the committee data is collected by the Welsh Government, councils, Care Inspectorate Wales, police and the Home Office.

She accepted that children go missing for “all sorts of reasons, in all sorts of circumstances” but pointed out that care-experienced children are far more likely to go missing.

Taryn Stephens, deputy director for social services improvement, added that wider data – beyond looked-after children – will be available in the next children’s census.

Ms Williams also raised alarm about the accuracy of data on children missing from care.

She said data shows 16 children in Cardiff went missing in 2022/23 despite more than 1,000 being in care, while Conwy had 273 going missing despite only having 215 in care.

Ms Bowden suggested the disparity may be down to different information being recorded – for example, on the number of children or incidents.

She said data collection and guidance is reviewed and quality assured every year.

Ms Williams put concerns to the minister that children missing from care are not high enough on the Welsh Government’s policy agenda

She raised the example of calls to make return interviews a legal requirement, as in England, which have gone unanswered for years.

Ms Bowden reiterated that the policy response is focused on prevention.

The minister insisted that the Welsh Government acknowledged the calls for mandatory return-to-home interviews, commissioning two pieces of research.

She said: “It was interesting that the research itself didn’t come to a consensus around whether return-to-home interviews should be mandatory and who should conduct them.”

Ms Bowden added: “The statutory provision in England is actually only an offer of an interview, it’s not that the interview itself is mandatory.”

Warning Wales’ 22 councils take different approaches, Labour’s Lesley Griffiths pointed out that national standards have not been published despite being due in 2023.

Ms Bowden said the delay was because of consultation responses, which suggested more work was needed, and a draft framework should now be published by the end of 2024.

Cefin Campbell, Plaid Cymru’s shadow education secretary, asked about the changing nature of criminal exploitation of children in Wales.

Giving evidence to the committee’s inquiry on children and young people on the margins, Jane Hutt was alarmed by the frequency of child criminal exploitation in Wales.

Referring to data for April to June, the social justice secretary told the committee Wales’ four police forces all received modern slavery referrals. “That is of great concern,” she said.

Ms Hutt explained the highest number of referrals for all forms of exploitation was in South Wales (75), followed by Gwent (39), North Wales (27) and Dyfed-Powys (11).

“During that quarter, 59%, that’s 90, of modern slavery referrals were for children,” she said. “And almost half, 49%, that’s 74, of Welsh modern slavery referrals for criminal exploitation.”

Raising variation on criminal exploitation across Wales, Mr Campbell said Wrexham reported seven children per 1,000 compared with one per 1,000 in Blaenau Gwent in 2022.

Ms Hutt agreed about the importance of all-Wales guidance but added that she would expect some variation due to different demographics and levels of need.

Tom Giffard, the Conservatives’ shadow education secretary, focused on prevention, urging ministers to address the root causes of exploitation.

He said the committee heard from many young boys that their motivation for joining gangs was to gain a sense of belonging rather than financial reasons.

Mr Giffard also raised concerns about a significant increase in child sexual exploitation victims in Wales from about 900 in 2020 and nearly 1,500 by 2022.

Ms Hutt raised the role of the Welsh Government’s youth justice blueprint as she pledged to take a child-first, rights-based approach.

She said Welsh ministers recognise shortcomings with the national referral mechanism for identifying victims, including significant waiting times.

Ms Hutt told the meeting on September 19 that the Welsh Government remains committed to seeking the devolution of youth justice.

Murals legacy honoured at Town Hall

Published

3 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Artist Jeanne Lewis recognised as Pembroke celebrates 20 years of historic artwork

MRS JEANNE LEWIS and her daughter were guests of honour at a special presentation at Pembroke Town Hall on Tuesday to mark the 20th anniversary of the historic murals installed inside the building.

Two handcrafted benches, gifted by Pembroke Town Council, were presented in appreciation of the artwork created by Jeanne and her late husband, George Lewis, whose striking panels have become a defining feature of the Hall over the past two decades.

The murals, which vividly depict scenes from Pembroke’s past, have long drawn praise from residents and visitors alike for their scale, colour and intricate storytelling.

The Mayor of Pembroke, Gareth Jones, joined councillors and volunteers from Pembroke Museum to present Mrs Lewis with a Certificate of Appreciation and a bouquet of flowers in recognition of the couple’s lasting artistic legacy.

Councillor Jones said the town was “extremely fortunate and deeply privileged” to house the collection.

He added: “People often walk into the Town Hall and simply stop to look. The detail and the history captured in these murals are remarkable. They give visitors a real sense of Pembroke’s story and reflect the dedication and talent Jeanne and George brought to the project.”

Twenty years on, the artwork continues to enrich the civic building, ensuring the Lewis family’s contribution remains at the heart of the town’s heritage.

Photo caption: Jeanne Lewis receives a certificate from Mayor Gareth Jones at Pembroke Town Hall, marking 20 years since the installation of the town’s historic murals (Pic: Martin Cavaney/Herald).

Community

Celebrating nature recovery through Cysylltu Natur 25×25

Published

9 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Richard Lewis

A CELEBRATION event was held on Saturday, January 24 in Cwm Gwaun to mark the achievements of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority’s Cysylltu Natur 25×25 project, bringing together volunteers, farmers and staff involved in delivering nature restoration across North Pembrokeshire.

The landscape-scale project was funded by the Welsh Government through the Nature Networks Programme, delivered by the Heritage Fund. The Programme aims to strengthen ecological connectivity and resilience by restoring habitats at scale.

Those attending the event heard about the wide range of conservation activity delivered through the project across the north of the National Park. This has included practical works to restore grazing to Rhos pasture to benefit marsh fritillary butterflies and southern damselflies, specialist work to conserve rare lichens, volunteer chough, dormouse and harvest mouse monitoring, safeguarding greater horseshoe bat hibernation sites, and targeted action to tackle invasive species threatening important sites.

Volunteers, farmers, land managers and contractors played a vital role in the success of the project, contributing local knowledge, practical skills and ongoing commitment to caring for Pembrokeshire’s unique landscapes and wildlife in the long term.

Mary Chadwick, Conservation Officer for Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, said: “Cysylltu Natur 25×25 has shown what can be achieved when farmers, volunteers and conservation specialists work together with a shared aim.

“From monitoring some of our most elusive species to restoring and protecting habitats, the dedication of everyone involved has made a real difference for nature across the National Park.”

Although the Cysylltu Natur 25×25 project is now coming to an end, the important work it has supported will continue. Building on its successes, Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority will carry this momentum forward through the next phase of nature recovery work under NNF4 Cysylltiadau Naturiol / Naturally Connected, ensuring ongoing protection and enhancement of habitats for future generations.

Community

Princess of Wales praised for ‘skill’ during local wool mill and factory visit

Published

21 hours ago

February 3, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Royal tour shines spotlight on west Wales textile heritage and local jobs

CATHERINE, Princess of Wales was told “she’s got the skill” after trying her hand at traditional textile work during a visit to west Wales on Tuesday (Feb 3).

The royal spent the day meeting staff and apprentices at two well-known manufacturers – Melin Tregwynt in Pembrokeshire and Hiut Denim in Cardigan – highlighting the region’s long-standing reputation for craftsmanship and small-scale, high-quality production.

Stitching and mending at historic mill

At Melin Tregwynt, a family-run woollen mill that now operates as an employee-owned trust, the princess was guided through each stage of production, from weaving to finishing.

In the quality control room she was invited to mend a blanket using a needle and thread, carefully repairing the fabric under the watchful eye of experienced staff.

Paula Harding, who has worked at the mill for more than a decade, praised her technique, saying: “She did it right – and she didn’t go through the other side. That’s skill. She’s got the skill.”

Laughing, the princess told workers: “You make it look so easy,” adding that the craft was clearly “a labour of love”.

She asked questions about the history of the business, which has produced Welsh-designed blankets and throws for more than a century, and spoke with several generations of the same families who have worked at the mill.

‘Made in Wales’ denim

Later, the princess travelled to Hiut Denim, the Cardigan-based firm credited with bringing jeans manufacturing back to the town after large factories closed in the early 2000s.

The company now focuses on small-batch, premium denim and employs skilled cutters and machinists locally.

During a tour of the factory floor, the princess tried cutting out a pair of jeans and helped stitch a “Made in Wales” label onto a finished pair that staff said would be presented to the Prince of Wales.

“He will love those,” she replied.

She joked that there was “no pressure” when handed the cutting tools and said she enjoys making clothes herself, admitting the most adventurous project she had attempted was sewing a pair of pyjamas.

The royal also stopped to greet Barney, the factory’s English cocker spaniel, drawing smiles from staff.

Meeting well-wishers

Crowds gathered outside both sites to catch a glimpse of the visitor, with the princess spending time chatting with families and children before moving on.

The visit forms part of ongoing efforts by the royal household to showcase traditional industries and skilled manufacturing across the UK, with west Wales’ textile sector recognised as a key part of the region’s heritage and economy.

For workers at both businesses, the message was simple: the spotlight on locally made products and homegrown skills was just as important as the royal presence itself.