Councils across England are spending over £125 million each year placing vulnerable children in unregistered or illegal care facilities, according to a joint investigation by The Guardian and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ). The findings highlight a growing industry where businesses capitalize on a critical shortage of available beds in properly inspected homes for the country’s most at-risk youth.
The inquiry, which includes the case of a child referred to as “Princess,” underscores the scale of the problem involving illegal care provision. Despite regulatory frameworks, financial pressures and insufficient capacity in legal settings are driving local authorities toward these unauthorized placements.
This booming sector profits from the deficit of beds within Ofsted-inspected institutions, raising serious concerns about the welfare and safety of children placed in such environments. The data suggests that the current system is failing to provide adequate protected housing for young people who require specialized care.
Profiting from child poverty? It feels like a predatory industry feeding on systemic neglect rather than providing genuine care.
I always knew local councils were underfunded, but £125m on illegal placements is a staggering figure. Where is the accountability?
How has this been allowed to persist for so long? The system seems fundamentally broken and in need of urgent reform.
This is absolutely shocking. Our most vulnerable children deserve better than illegal facilities funded by taxpayers.