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A national register of unaccompanied asylum seeking children is being launched by the government this week, writes Shirley Kumar.

Information kept by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate and local authorities looking after unaccompanied children would be shared on one database, according to the plans.

“For the first time local authorities responsible for the care of these vulnerable children will share information directly with central government”, Association of Directors of Social Services spokesperson Peter Gilroy said. 

A limited version of the national register will be launched in January 2005. After testing the full version will be rolled out nationwide in March.

Last year, 180 unaccompanied children aged 17 years or less applied for asylum in the UK.

The database is expected to allow savings of £4.5 million by 2006/7 in the cost of supporting unaccompanied children by reducing reapplications at multiple local authorities.

Meanwhile, 12 children identified as possible victims of child trafficking in Operation Paladin Child, a Metropolitan police-led investigation, are still unaccounted for. A police spokesperson said the investigation would continue.