Twenty children trafficked into the West Midlands for sexual and labour exploitation have disappeared while in social services’ care, a charity report has claimed.

All children could face compulsory checks to discover if they are at risk of turning into criminals, the Prime Minister announced today. The controversial proposal came as part of a wide-ranging review of crime and security policy published by 10 Downing Street.

{mosimage}It said the checks could take place at existing important stages in a child’s life, such as the move from primary to secondary school.

The Government’s plan to prevent crime said: “Establish universal checks throughout a child’s development to help service providers to identify those most at risk of offending.

“These checks should piggyback on existing contact points such as the transition to secondary schools.”

The number of children in the UK living in relative poverty increased by 100,000 last year – a “moral disgrace” that leaves the Government’s policy objectives “in tatters”, campaigners said.

Computer-based therapy should be available to all patients in England from April, says the government. Patients with mild depression or anxiety should receive therapy instead of drugs, but there are long waiting lists around the country.

More than 12 of the most financially troubled NHS hospital trusts in England will today share in a £178m rescue package being put together by Patricia Hewitt, the health secretary, to avoid bankruptcies across the health service.

Former migrant labourer Alona Tirzite recalls the pain and degradation of her time in England’s strawberry fields and sighs. The 26-year-old from Latvia has been inspired to help migrant workers facing similar problems as part of a project run by a Lincolnshire council.