Most runaways are fleeing conflict, neglect or abuse, research says

The group will develop a runaways action plan, review emergency housing and assess how data is collected.

Some 86,000 under-16s go missing in England every year, with girls aged 14 and 15 the most likely to disappear.

The Children's Society, which has led a 20-year campaign for runaway safe houses, welcomed the plans.

Exploitation

The announcement is in response to a report on runaways that was produced by the Children's Society at the request of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCfS).

The charity's research suggests most runaway children flee home or care because of family conflict, neglect or abuse.

New agenda for runaways Action plan on young runaways - by June 2008 Emergency accommodation review - by summer 2008 Review of "Missing from Home and Care" guidance - by end of 2009 Consider data collection methods - by autumn 2008 Runaway's tale

They are often forced to sleep rough or with strangers, and risk sexual exploitation, violence and getting into drugs, it suggested.

However, the study also found that only 12% of local authorities had services targeted at helping runaways.

A total of 10 out of 27 police forces surveyed said many young people had to sleep in police stations because there was nowhere else for them to go.

The government wants all agencies to work together to prevent young people from wanting to run away in the first place.

From 2009, the government will also include a new measure of the number of young runaways in the National Indicator Set.

We feel strongly that this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a time when all runaways under 16 will have somewhere safe to go Andy McCullough English Coalition for Young Runaways

Bob Reitemeier, the Children's Society's chief executive, described the plans as "fantastic news".

"We can now finally say that these children are a priority in our society," he said.

"We look forward to helping design a national network of safe accommodation and preventative measures that will ensure the childhoods of young runaways are protected and not forgotten."

Andy McCullough, chair of the English Coalition for Young Runaways, also welcomed the government's announcement.

"We feel strongly that this is a giant step in the right direction and look forward to a time when all runaways under 16 will have somewhere safe to go," he said.