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CASE STUDIES Be the first reader to comment on this story 07:30 - 01 January 2008 Fifteen-year-old plymouth GIRL, KNOWN AS 'CHILD A'. Sgt Collier said: "At the date of the initial contact with the Runaways project, her mother was reporting Child A as a missing person as often as twice weekly. "Child A was a non-school attendee and a very heavy drinker. "Concerns were mainly focused on the risks posed to child A by her continual heavy drinking and the risks she posed to herself by binge drinking to such an extent that she would collapse in doorways, sometimes lying in a semi-comatose state for more than 18 hours." Sgt Collier said a "programme of change" was agreed with Child A and an intensive support programme was offered by a project worker. This addressed issues such as building self esteem, how to manage relationships, anger management and the physiological and psychological effects of alcohol. Sgt Collier said: "While school attendance has not improved, Child A has enrolled with a virtual school provider and has developed a range of new skills. "Child A is about to undertake a work placement arranged by the provider. Her demeanour has changed from a sulky, petulant and unhappy child to a young person with an optimistic outlook. "Child A no longer drinks alcohol, and her relationships with her mother and siblings have changed dramatically. "Her mother agrees that she could never have hoped for such a change and has thanked the Runaways team for their intervention." FOURTEEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL, KNOWN AS 'CHILD B'. Sgt Collier said: "At the date of the initial contact with the project team, Child B had been the subject of several missing person reports. "She was not living at her family home, having been asked to leave by her mother due to her unacceptable and high risk behaviour - which included non-school attendance, and a propensity to leave the home late at night. "The outcome of the assessment conducted by the team indicated that there was a degree of tension within the household in relation to mothers' new relationship." Sgt Collier said that further visits were made to the household by the project team members, in addition to visiting Child B at her temporary address. The team outlined the adults' responsibilities in relation to school attendance and the possibility of prosecution if Child B were to be encouraged not to return home or attend school. Sgt Collier said: "A reduced timetable was agreed by all and Child B returned home to her mother's care. There have been no further missing person reports in respect of this child." ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY, KNOWN AS 'CHILD C'. Sgt Collier said: "The police received a missing person log after Child C had requested to stay overnight with a friend's relations - but this was refused. "Child C left his property to return his friend's bike, stating he would be ten minutes - but he did not return. His friend's relatives had no knowledge of his whereabouts." It transpired that Child C and his friends were creeping into an older couple's house and staying in a spare room without their knowledge. Sgt Collier said: "Child C was seen in the vicinity next day and did not return of his own accord. His parents were spoken to, and Child C was advised of the risks and offences of illegal entry into an older couple's home. "Referrals were made to adult Social Services by the Runaways team for the older couple who were being regularly exploited by young people. There have been no more problems with Child C." ELEVEN-YEAR-OLD BOY, KNOWN AS 'CHILD D'. Sgt Collier said: "Police received a missing person alert phoned through to the Young Runaways team by a social worker. "Child D had gone with friends, with a known paedophile. "As Child D had been a persistent missing person, his case file was reopened and suggestions as to his possible whereabouts were given to police colleagues who were attempting to locate him. "As a result of this, Child D was found quickly, the paedophile was arrested and the matter was resolved before any harm had transpired. "This outcome would not have happened so quickly without the combined teamwork of the Runaways multi-agency team, working together to safeguard children."
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