26 children in care, aftercare, or known to protection services died last year

The number of deaths last year of children in care, aftercare, or known to child protection services reached 26, the highest in five years. Three died while in care.

The National Review Panel (NRP), which compiled the figures for its 2014 annual report, said it was “notable that the three young people who died whilst in care all died from suicide”.

In all, eight of the 26 youngsters died by suicide, with males outnumbering females by 3:1.