ENGLAND — The UK government launched an urgent review in April 2026 into the deaths of young care leavers in England after official figures recorded 106 reported fatalities in the year to April 2026. The review, initiated by Labour, aims to identify where support systems may have failed.

The figure compared with 91 reported deaths in the previous 12 months. Most of those who died were aged between 16 and 21, and many of the deaths were due to non-natural causes. The latest fatalities included transgender people, young unaccompanied asylum seekers, and young women who had given birth and had their babies removed by social services.

Until December 2023, local authorities in England were not required to report the deaths of young care leavers. Since that month, they have been required to do so through the serious incident notification system. In 2025, 81,770 children in England were under the care of local authorities.

Children and Families Minister Josh MacAlister said: "We want vulnerable young people who have been in care to have enduring, loving relationships and more access to opportunities, but the number of care leavers dying far too early in life is a stain on our society." MacAlister added: "The true number of deaths is likely to be higher even than the recorded figures, and, in response, we have taken decisive action to address this and turn around the failing children's social care system which we inherited."

Benny Hunter, a research lead, described how the reporting system came into being. "Following our intervention in 2021, the government agreed to start asking local authorities to tell them when a care leaver dies, so that they could start counting these deaths for the first time," Hunter said. He called for further measures. "Care leavers are some of the most vulnerable young people in society. It is important that the government now takes action to ensure every care leaver death results in a statutory review and a properly informed inquest, so that lessons are always learned and future deaths may be prevented," he said.

Among recent cases, Samare Gerezgihir, 23, from Eritrea, and Issa Ali Musa Abdulrahman Barakat, 18, from Chad, were stabbed to death in 2024. Ahmad Mamdouh Al Ibrahim, 16, an unaccompanied asylum seeker, was murdered in 2025.

Evie, a care leaver, died in June 2024 aged 19 after taking an overdose at her grandparents' home. As a teenager, she had a traumatic and abusive relationship with her mother and managed caring responsibilities for her until her mother died. A review into Evie's death in August 2025 found there could be a "cliff edge" in the transition between services for young people after they turn 18. Although she had disclosed suicidal thoughts, adult safeguarding support for her declined after she turned 18, and the information she shared with some professionals was not adequately communicated to others involved in her care. Her housing provider was not aware of safeguarding concerns or the care and support she needed.