A fresh drive to curb the number of vulnerable children being placed in Kent by other councils is being made after signs the county is under renewed pressure.

The issue of looked after children from other councils being sent to Kent has been a problem for over a decade.

Councils are supposed not to place children any further than 20 miles away from their family home but many still do and are attracted to Kent because of the cheaper accommodation.

Despite repeated pleas to the government to intervene, there are signs the trend is on the rise.

Social services chiefs say they recently had an incident in which two asylum seeker children were taken into care by a council and immediately relocated to Kent.

Now a letter jointly signed by the Kent police chief constable, the crime commissioner, the leader of Kent County Council and the cabinet member for social care is being sent to the Children’s Commissioner asking for action.

Cllr Peter Oakford, KCC cabinet member for children’s specialist services, said: “We all know it is an on-going problem. It is not getting any better.

"We were made aware of a council which had received two UASC children and had promptly placed them back into Kent.”

Figures provided by KCC show that it currently has 1,358 vulnerable children from other councils. While the placing authority still retains responsibility for each child, often the county council has to step in.

Medway council accounts for the largest number - 160 - followed by Greenwich, with 119.

Lewisham has 82 children placed in Kent, with Bromley accounting for 52 and Bexley 48.

Beyond the capital, councils as far afield as Oxford, Buckinghamshire, Coventry and Southampton have children being looked after in the county.

Anne Longfied, Children's Commissioner for England, said: "I worry about placing children many miles away from the support of friends and family, although there are specific circumstances when this could in their best interests.”

"Local authorities should carry out a full risk assessment and work closely with other authorities when moves out of area are being considered. We are in touch with Kent to discuss their concerns."

Cllr Jenny Whittle (Con) who chairs a cross-party committee on children’s services and is a former cabinet member, said the pressures on Kent were placing a huge strain on social care.

“I am really concerned that councils are continuing to place children in their care miles away from where they live.

"Social workers have heavy caseloads and don’t have the time and resources to support
children miles away.

"The issue is getting worse because successive governments have not taken action to ensure councils place children closer to home.”

She added: “Ofsted is not penalising councils and until it and government act, the problem will continue. It places a massive strain on the resources of the police, schools and health services.”

Places like Thanet are often used by London boroughs because of cheaper and more readily available accommodation.