by political editor Paul Francis

Fewer vulnerable children could be sent to Kent's most deprived areas by
London councils after a pledge by social services chiefs in the capital.

The commitment to review all cases came after Kent County Council social services chiefs met their counterparts from London yesterday.

At the meeting, data showing the proximity of known sex offenders in
parts of Kent to care homes for looked-after children was shown - which is
said to have shocked those present.

At the same time, the government has also announced steps to curb the
risk of children in care far from their home being sexually exploited.

Ministers say too many children are being let down by the current system
and concede the risks are greater when children are sent into care miles
from where they live.

It recently emerged that 1,267 looked-after children were in Kent having
been placed here by other councils, notably London boroughs.

The highest concentration is in Thanet, where there are a large number of private care homes.

Cllr Jenny Whittle (Con), KCC cabinet member for specialist children's services, said she welcomed the developments.

"What we are calling for is for no council to place a vulnerable child
further than 20 miles from where they live unless there are special
circumstances. There is a protocol but it should be backed up by a law.

Councils should be compelled to procure care closer to home and if
necessary should open their own homes - otherwise the problem will
continue."

The conviction this year of nine men in a child sex ring in Rochdale
sparked concerns about the safety of children's homes.

KCC said it feared a similar case if no action was taken while school
headteachers in east Kent warned Thanet was a "melting pot for disaster
for vulnerable youngsters."

Children's minister Tim Loughton said: "These are big changes to a
system, which has been letting down too many."

The new measures announced include new regulations to make it more
difficult to place children in care homes outside their home boroughs.

Laura Sandys, MP for Thanet said: " We're so pleased, it's something
Roger Gale and I have been pushing for, to make sure young vulnerable
children get the right protection and are located in the right places
when they're put into care.

"Thanet has had a track record of being a place where London local
authorities have placed young children and it's important that from
now on those London boroughs fulfil the obligations in the guidelines
which says that children should not be moved more than 20 miles away."

At the moment, Thanet council has 243 outside placements.