UK unaware of children on streets

More than two-thirds of Britons have no idea about how many young people are living rough on UK streets.

A survey commissioned by the Consortium for Street Children (CSC) to mark today’s International Day for Street Children revealed a huge lack of awareness about the issue.

An estimated 100,000 children run away in the UK every year, but the poll found that 80 per cent of the British public significantly underestimate the problem.

The survey showed that more than one in five (21 per cent) would feel suspicious of potential criminal activity at the sight of young people sleeping rough, while less than 10 per cent would feel compelled to help them.

Only 13 per cent of people realised the issue of street children is prevalent in western Europe, with most associating it with countries in Africa and Asia (61 per cent).

The International Day for Street Children was launched last year by CSC and seeks to challenge the perception that the issue is confined to the developing world.

Sally Shire, chief executive of CSC, said: “Being a street child is not a crime; we want governments and society to recognise this.”