Fears are mounting for 14-year-old Jessica Clarke who remains missing a week after vanishing from Gillingham town centre, with Kent Police expanding their search efforts to include areas of London where the teenager has known connections.
The schoolgirl was last seen at 9.45pm on Tuesday, July 1, wearing a blue denim jacket, white T-shirt, black leggings and black trainers, according to Kent Police. Officers have released an image of Jessica, who is described as approximately 5ft 6in tall with a slim build and straight brown hair often worn in a ponytail.
We are increasingly concerned for Jessica’s welfare as each day passes,” a Kent Police spokesperson said. “Our officers are working around the clock to locate her and ensure she is safe.”
Search Expands to London
Police have confirmed that Jessica has connections to the Hillingdon area of west London, prompting officers to liaise with Metropolitan Police colleagues. The cross-county coordination reflects the serious nature of the disappearance and the expanding scope of the investigation.
Kent Police Detective Superintendent Nicola Ross, who leads missing persons cases, emphasized the comprehensive nature of the search effort. “Our force control room immediately assessed the risk factors when Jessica was reported missing, taking into account her age and any potential vulnerabilities,” she said.
Rising Concerns Over Missing Children
Jessica’s disappearance comes amid troubling statistics about missing children in Kent. Between January 2024 and January this year, Kent Police received a total of 3,717 missing children reports, according to data obtained through a freedom of information request.
The figures reveal that seven in 10 missing persons are under 18, highlighting the scale of the challenge facing authorities. In July 2024 alone, missing children reports reached 366 cases, representing a 65% increase from six months prior.
Community Response
Local residents in Gillingham have expressed growing concern about Jessica’s welfare. The case has prompted renewed calls for improved safety measures and support systems for vulnerable young people in the area.
This is every parent’s worst nightmare,” said a local mother who asked not to be named. The whole community is hoping she’s found safe and well.
Expert Analysis on Missing Children
Emergency first responder Jade Knight, who works with missing children cases, stressed the importance of immediate action when young people disappear. “If we’re able to identify what led them to go missing, why they went missing and what happened when they were missing, we can kind of take a picture of this young person”, she explained.
Knight, who herself ran away more than 50 times as a teenager, emphasized that “return home interviews should happen but statistically, it’s not” due to lack of resources, training and funding.
Police Protocol and Resources
According to Kent Police’s missing persons policy, “Adults at risk and children aged under 18 will always be considered potentially at risk of harm and should therefore be considered missing if their whereabouts cannot be established.
The force has deployed significant resources in the search for Jessica, including uniformed officers conducting door-to-door enquiries and specialist teams reviewing CCTV footage from the area where she was last seen.
Previous Cases Provide Context
The search for Jessica follows other recent missing children cases in Kent. In January 2025, 14-year-old Jessica Vidgen went missing from the Brompton area of Gillingham but was later found safe. A teenage girl from Dartford reported missing on June 30, 2025, was also located safe and well within days.
However, not all cases resolve quickly. The ongoing nature of Jessica Clarke’s disappearance has heightened concerns among police and the community alike.
National Context
Missing children cases continue to challenge law enforcement across the UK. The charity Missing People provides support for the estimated 170,000 people who run away and go missing each year, offering a lifeline to families desperately awaiting news.
The organization operates a 24-hour helpline and works closely with police forces to publicize appeals and coordinate search efforts.
What Happens Next
Kent Police are urging anyone with information about Jessica’s whereabouts to come forward immediately. Even the smallest piece of information could be crucial in helping us locate Jessica and reunite her with her family,” the police spokesperson added.
The force has established a dedicated team to handle incoming information and coordinate search efforts. Officers are particularly interested in speaking to anyone who may have seen Jessica in the Gillingham area on the evening of July 1 or in subsequent days.
Members of the public with critical information regarding Jessica’s whereabouts are asked to call 999 immediately, quoting reference 02-0257. For all other information, Kent Police can be contacted via their website’s live chat function or by calling 101.
As the search enters its second week, the focus remains on bringing Jessica home safely. Police have not ruled out any possibilities and continue to treat her disappearance as a high-priority missing persons case.
The investigation serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities facing young people and the importance of community vigilance in keeping children safe.
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