FOI Request - Children in Care Exploitation

Request 101003819413

I am writing to request the following information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, relating to looked after children in your care:

For each calendar year from 2020 to 2024 (inclusive), please provide:

1. The total number of looked after children (children in the care of the local authority).
2. The number of looked after children who were identified as being at risk of exploitation. This includes, but is not limited to, risks associated with child sexual exploitation (CSE), child criminal exploitation (CCE), and trafficking.
3. Of those identified as being at risk of exploitation, the number of children who were reported missing from care during that year.

Response 04-08-2025

1. 

2. & 3.  To obtain the information requested we would have to look through each file individually. At approximately 250 files per year at an estimated 10 minutes per file this would take in excess of 40 hours for just one year; this task would cost the Council in excess of £600 of staff time. In accordance with section 12 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 (excessive cost), we are therefore unable to comply with this part of the request.