This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/oct/19/child-refugees-asylum-seekers-detained-adult
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| The real refugee scandal is that the UK has been locking up children The real refugee scandal is that the UK has been locking up children | |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| When Theresa May was home secretary she boasted proudly about creating a hostile environment for migrants. As some of the unaccompanied children who have been living in the Calais refugee camp arrive in the UK this week that hostile environment has been very much in evidence. Most notably, there have been claims that some of these children are “faking it”. It’s been strongly suggested that they are really adults posing as children to sneakily take advantage of the UK’s gullibility, kindness and generosity towards outsiders, and should have to undergo dental checks to determine their age. The hostility has also spread to those who dare support these children publicly. Lily Allen was heavily trolled when she visited the Calais camp to show her support for those living there in appalling conditions. And now Gary Lineker has been deluged with abuse on Twitter for expressing similar support for the children arriving from Calais this week. | When Theresa May was home secretary she boasted proudly about creating a hostile environment for migrants. As some of the unaccompanied children who have been living in the Calais refugee camp arrive in the UK this week that hostile environment has been very much in evidence. Most notably, there have been claims that some of these children are “faking it”. It’s been strongly suggested that they are really adults posing as children to sneakily take advantage of the UK’s gullibility, kindness and generosity towards outsiders, and should have to undergo dental checks to determine their age. The hostility has also spread to those who dare support these children publicly. Lily Allen was heavily trolled when she visited the Calais camp to show her support for those living there in appalling conditions. And now Gary Lineker has been deluged with abuse on Twitter for expressing similar support for the children arriving from Calais this week. |
| The Home Office is not known for being a soft touch when it comes to asylum seekers and it has stated clearly that any child brought to the UK must have provided clear and credible documentary evidence proving their claimed age. | The Home Office is not known for being a soft touch when it comes to asylum seekers and it has stated clearly that any child brought to the UK must have provided clear and credible documentary evidence proving their claimed age. |
| It’s also worth noting that those who criticise the youngsters who have arrived so far this week – poring over their facial features for evidence of deceit regarding their age – have omitted to mention the scores of children who have been wrongly detained in adult immigration removal centres over the years. | It’s also worth noting that those who criticise the youngsters who have arrived so far this week – poring over their facial features for evidence of deceit regarding their age – have omitted to mention the scores of children who have been wrongly detained in adult immigration removal centres over the years. |
| For children who have witnessed and sometimes experienced atrocities in their home countries and who leave family behind to embark on hazardous journeys to safety, being locked up with adults in conditions equivalent to a category B prison when they reach the UK really is the last straw. The experience compounds their trauma. | For children who have witnessed and sometimes experienced atrocities in their home countries and who leave family behind to embark on hazardous journeys to safety, being locked up with adults in conditions equivalent to a category B prison when they reach the UK really is the last straw. The experience compounds their trauma. |
| The Refugee Council works closely with unaccompanied child asylum seekers and closely monitors these unlawful detentions. Their records show that from the start of October 2014 to the end of December 2015 they received 37 referrals of age-disputed young people who were being treated as adults and detained on the basis of the Home Office policy that their physical appearance and demeanour strongly suggested they were significantly over 18. Of these 37 referrals, the Refugee Council supported 25 of the young people. Of these 25 young people, 13 have been assessed and accepted as a child by a local authority. Seven have been released into the care of the local authority pending assessment, but absconded. Two were assessed to be adult. One was removed from the country before action was concluded. Two are being looked after as children pending the outcome of court proceedings. | The Refugee Council works closely with unaccompanied child asylum seekers and closely monitors these unlawful detentions. Their records show that from the start of October 2014 to the end of December 2015 they received 37 referrals of age-disputed young people who were being treated as adults and detained on the basis of the Home Office policy that their physical appearance and demeanour strongly suggested they were significantly over 18. Of these 37 referrals, the Refugee Council supported 25 of the young people. Of these 25 young people, 13 have been assessed and accepted as a child by a local authority. Seven have been released into the care of the local authority pending assessment, but absconded. Two were assessed to be adult. One was removed from the country before action was concluded. Two are being looked after as children pending the outcome of court proceedings. |
| From the start of January to the end of March this year, the Refugee Council received seven referrals of age disputed young people in detention, and supported six of them. Five of these have already been accepted as children and are in the care of the local authority, while one young person is in the care of the local authority pending the outcome of further assessment. | From the start of January to the end of March this year, the Refugee Council received seven referrals of age disputed young people in detention, and supported six of them. Five of these have already been accepted as children and are in the care of the local authority, while one young person is in the care of the local authority pending the outcome of further assessment. |
| They received 11 such referrals between April and July this year, and of the 10 they supported, two have already been accepted as children, seven are in the care of the local authority being treated as a child pending assessment, and one is still in detention but is due to be released imminently. | They received 11 such referrals between April and July this year, and of the 10 they supported, two have already been accepted as children, seven are in the care of the local authority being treated as a child pending assessment, and one is still in detention but is due to be released imminently. |
| In 2012 it was reported that the Home Office had to pay out £2m in the case of 40 child asylum seekers who were wrongly detained as adults - compensation of more than £1m, plus £1m costs. Girls and boys – including 25 who were aged 14 to 16 – from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Eritrea, Uganda, Somalia and China, were involved in the case. | In 2012 it was reported that the Home Office had to pay out £2m in the case of 40 child asylum seekers who were wrongly detained as adults - compensation of more than £1m, plus £1m costs. Girls and boys – including 25 who were aged 14 to 16 – from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Eritrea, Uganda, Somalia and China, were involved in the case. |
| The youngest was a 14-year-old girl from Sri Lanka. Some were survivors of torture in their home countries and some of the girls were survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence. | The youngest was a 14-year-old girl from Sri Lanka. Some were survivors of torture in their home countries and some of the girls were survivors of rape and other forms of sexual violence. |
| Among the 40 were some who had already been assessed by social services and declared to be children. They showed officials letters from social services stating that they were looked-after children, but the Home Office still detained them. | Among the 40 were some who had already been assessed by social services and declared to be children. They showed officials letters from social services stating that they were looked-after children, but the Home Office still detained them. |
| As a result of this case, government officials accepted that the policy was unlawful and changed it. But the new Refugee Council data shows this abuse is continuing. | As a result of this case, government officials accepted that the policy was unlawful and changed it. But the new Refugee Council data shows this abuse is continuing. |
| The current climate of profound hostility towards children who have suffered unspeakable things and committed no crimes is alarming. Let’s hope the Home Office does not respond to this populist backlash against these children by unlawfully locking up more of them. | The current climate of profound hostility towards children who have suffered unspeakable things and committed no crimes is alarming. Let’s hope the Home Office does not respond to this populist backlash against these children by unlawfully locking up more of them. |
| • To discuss the issues raised by this piece please use this form | • To discuss the issues raised by this piece please use this form |