According to MP, 100,000 ghost children are now at high risk for abuse because they have failed to return to school in the wake of Covid lockdown.

  • Robert Halfon chairs the House of Commons Education Committee
  • According to the report, 100,000 students were “lost in system” and were vulnerable to domestic cruelty
  • Arthur Labinjo Hughes is set for death due to investigative failures 










A senior MP said yesterday that thousands of ghost children are now at risk from abuse because they have not returned to school after the lockdowns.

Robert Halfon (chairman of the Commons education Committee) stated that 100,000 children were ‘lost’ in the system and so vulnerable to domestic cruelty.

Nadhim Zhawi Education Secretary confirmed the launch of an investigation into failures that led to Arthur LabinjoHughes’ death, aged six. 

Emma Tustin (the boy’s stepmother) was sentenced to at least 29-years for the murder. Thomas Hughes received 21-years for manslaughter.

Tens of thousands of 'ghost children' are at risk of abuse after failing to return to school following the lockdowns, senior MP Robert Halfon warned yesterday. Above: Murdered six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes

Robert Halfon, an MP senior warned yesterday that thousands upon thousands of ghost children are now at risk from abuse because they have failed to return to school after the lockdowns. Above: Six-year-old Arthur Labinjo Hughes was murdered

Court heard that Arthur had been seen by social workers in the initial national lockdown, just two months prior to his death at Solihull (West Midlands), in June 2013. The social workers concluded that Arthur had no safeguarding issues and closed his file.

Yesterday, Mr Halfon spoke to MPs: “There are 100,000, what I call ghost children. They are people who are lost in this system, have not returned to school for most of the time and are vulnerable to safeguarding hazards and county lines gangs. Online harm, and horrific domestic abuse are all possible. 

Halfon asked Zahawi to make an effort to cooperate with local authorities and schools, and to collaborate with regional commissioners and school boards to ensure that the 100,000 students who have not been in school for a long time are enrolled back into school.

M. Zahawi responded, “It’s a concern and it’s a focal point for my department.”

Mr Halfon told MPs yesterday: 'There are 100,000 what I call the ghost children, who are lost in the system and who haven't returned to school for the most time, who are subject to potential safeguarding hazards, county lines gangs, online harm and, of course, awful domestic abuse

Yesterday, Mr Halfon spoke to MPs: “There are 100,000, what I call ghost children. They are lost in system, haven’t returned to school most of the time and are vulnerable to safeguarding hazards and county lines gangs. Online harm, and horrific domestic abuse are all possible.

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