The number of children in care going missing is rising, new figures reveal.

Over the last five years, 53 “looked after children” in Havering have gone missing for a number of days before returning, including some as young as 11.

Last year, 17 youngsters disappeared, five boys and 12 girls – a huge increase on the four in 2013/14 and the highest during the five-year period.

The information, revealed following a freedom of information request, shows some go missing more than once and for a varied amount of time.

Of the 49 missing children whose gender was included in the request (the four missing in 2013/14 could not be revealed for privacy reasons) 17 were boys and 32 were girls.

Last year had an average length of time missing of 29.7 days for the 17 children, though that was skewed by one boy who went missing for 122 days. Without him, the average is still 18.9 days, and is still the highest overall.

In 2013/14 the average time missing for four children was 18.2 days.

In 2012/13 11 went missing, four boys and seven girls, with an average 9.8 days. The year before that there were 13 missing children, three boys and 11 girls, with an average of 14.6 days.

In 2010/11 eight were reported missing, five boys and three girls, for an average of 12.8 days.

Kathy Bundred, head of children’s and young people’s services at Havering Council, said she would like the number to be lower, and pointed to an improved data recording system and child sexual exploitation (CSE) as factors.

“Firstly, we have more looked after children,” she said. “There is a range of reasons children go missing and when they do we report it to police and follow up all leads.

“They are often staying with a friend but CSE is an issue, there is a link. Young girls may have a boyfriend they are staying with who isn’t some Jimmy Savile type exploiting them, but sometimes they have a relationship that is not suitable.

“It is more girls, boys are usually slightly different reasons. Sometimes they are in trouble with the police.”

An NSPCC spokeswoman said the rise was “hugely concerning”.

She said: “These vulnerable children need someone to parent them and keep them safe and this responsibility falls to the state and the professionals.

“When a child in care repeatedly goes missing, they are potentially placing themselves at serious risk of harm, including grooming or CSE. Professionals should find out why they go missing and how their needs can be met.”