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/world/2016/oct/19/home-office-expected-to-speed-up-rescue-of-migrant-children-from-calais

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Home Office expected to speed up rescue of migrant children from Calais Home Office expected to speed up rescue of migrant children from Calais
(about 3 hours later)
The Home Office is understood to be about to urgently speed up its operation to rescue unaccompanied migrant children stranded in Calais, with more than 100 expected to be bussed to Britain in the next four days.The Home Office is understood to be about to urgently speed up its operation to rescue unaccompanied migrant children stranded in Calais, with more than 100 expected to be bussed to Britain in the next four days.
With bulldozers expected to arrive on the French site on Monday, the Home Office has come under fire from charities for not moving faster – while the Sun and the Daily Mail made controversial claims that not all of those who are arriving are children.With bulldozers expected to arrive on the French site on Monday, the Home Office has come under fire from charities for not moving faster – while the Sun and the Daily Mail made controversial claims that not all of those who are arriving are children.
A Home Office minister, Baroness Williams, confirmed that there were an estimated “1,300 children in the camp” and said that 39 of the several hundred estimated to be eligible to come to the UK had been brought into the country this week in the only government update on numbers accepted so far.A Home Office minister, Baroness Williams, confirmed that there were an estimated “1,300 children in the camp” and said that 39 of the several hundred estimated to be eligible to come to the UK had been brought into the country this week in the only government update on numbers accepted so far.
In a House of Lords debate Williams insisted no date had been given by the French authorities for the destruction of the site even though the Foreign Office had an issued an advisory notice to travellers in Calais that they could expect congestion in coming days because of the French demolition.In a House of Lords debate Williams insisted no date had been given by the French authorities for the destruction of the site even though the Foreign Office had an issued an advisory notice to travellers in Calais that they could expect congestion in coming days because of the French demolition.
Williams told the House of Lords that 14 children arrived on Monday, 13 on Tuesday and 12 on Wednesday. She said those with approval under the so-called Dublin regulations will be given sanctuary first; these allow migrants under 18 to be reunited with relatives already in another country.Williams told the House of Lords that 14 children arrived on Monday, 13 on Tuesday and 12 on Wednesday. She said those with approval under the so-called Dublin regulations will be given sanctuary first; these allow migrants under 18 to be reunited with relatives already in another country.
“We will transfer as many as children who qualify under the Dublin regulation before the start of the clearance,” said Williams. However, one peer, Lord Roberts, said at the present rate of intervention there would be more than 1,000 children marooned when the demolition started. “We will transfer as many as children who qualify under the Dublin regulation before the start of the clearance,” said Williams, adding that about one third of the children qualified to come to the UK.
However, one peer, Lord Roberts, said at the present rate of intervention there would be more than 1,000 children marooned when the demolition started.
He said: “I am sure we all welcome the 14 who were received here two or three days ago. At the moment in Calais there are 1,020, 14 have come here, that leaves 1,006 to accommodate. With the coming winter we can’t surely leave any children open to exploitation, hunger and homelessness when we have the opportunity to fulfil their need.”
The claimed change in pace comes at the end of a day of tabloid pressure on the government after the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express, among other newspapers, questioned the ages of the 13 children who arrived on Tuesday. The Sun reported on Wednesday morning that the children looked “suspiciously like adults” while several papers said one of the males who got off the bus in Croydon looked as old as 39 or 40, although this suspicion could not be backed up.The claimed change in pace comes at the end of a day of tabloid pressure on the government after the Sun, the Daily Mail and the Daily Express, among other newspapers, questioned the ages of the 13 children who arrived on Tuesday. The Sun reported on Wednesday morning that the children looked “suspiciously like adults” while several papers said one of the males who got off the bus in Croydon looked as old as 39 or 40, although this suspicion could not be backed up.
The Home Office said it works closely with the French authorities that do the initial screening to ensure those who are given sanctuary qualify for it. One source with knowledge of the situation said photographs were misleading and they have “never doubted” any of the migrants’ ages.The Home Office said it works closely with the French authorities that do the initial screening to ensure those who are given sanctuary qualify for it. One source with knowledge of the situation said photographs were misleading and they have “never doubted” any of the migrants’ ages.
“All individuals are referred to the UK authorities by the France Terre d’Asile [charity] and are then interviewed by French and UK officials. Where credible and clear documentary evidence of age is not available, criteria including physical appearance and demeanour are used as part of the interview process to assess age.”“All individuals are referred to the UK authorities by the France Terre d’Asile [charity] and are then interviewed by French and UK officials. Where credible and clear documentary evidence of age is not available, criteria including physical appearance and demeanour are used as part of the interview process to assess age.”
Home Office officials say that once refugee children have arrived in Britain they are fingerprinted as part of further identity checks. There is also the option of requesting a further local authority age assessment, which must be case law-compliant and approved by two social workers.Home Office officials say that once refugee children have arrived in Britain they are fingerprinted as part of further identity checks. There is also the option of requesting a further local authority age assessment, which must be case law-compliant and approved by two social workers.
A Conservative backbench MP, David Davies, had called for migrants to be subject to dental checks to determine their ages and argued that Britain’s hospitality was being misused. However, the Home Office immediately ruled out their use, criticising the technique as “inaccurate, inappropriate and unethical”.A Conservative backbench MP, David Davies, had called for migrants to be subject to dental checks to determine their ages and argued that Britain’s hospitality was being misused. However, the Home Office immediately ruled out their use, criticising the technique as “inaccurate, inappropriate and unethical”.
The Doctors without Borders charity which has volunteers in Calais branded the the suggestion as despicable and called for the Tory party chairman to consider discipline against Davies.The Doctors without Borders charity which has volunteers in Calais branded the the suggestion as despicable and called for the Tory party chairman to consider discipline against Davies.
Vanessa Cowan, the British Red Cross’s refugee family reunion operations manager, said it was a shame that the comments had been made because the children have been “recognised as having the right to be brought here”.Vanessa Cowan, the British Red Cross’s refugee family reunion operations manager, said it was a shame that the comments had been made because the children have been “recognised as having the right to be brought here”.
She added: “These children have gone through a process and they’ve applied as children and the evidence they have provided has been accepted by the Home Office that they are children and they qualify, and as such they have a legal right to be here and there’s nothing else to say about this.”She added: “These children have gone through a process and they’ve applied as children and the evidence they have provided has been accepted by the Home Office that they are children and they qualify, and as such they have a legal right to be here and there’s nothing else to say about this.”
She said the children could go missing if they were not transferred before the camp’s demolition. “They could disappear and be put in a very vulnerable situation trying to survive outside the community. Anything can happen when you try to survive in an unfriendly environment.”She said the children could go missing if they were not transferred before the camp’s demolition. “They could disappear and be put in a very vulnerable situation trying to survive outside the community. Anything can happen when you try to survive in an unfriendly environment.”
Campaigners including Citizens UK, which said it has reunited 60 children from Calais with relatives in Britain since March, claim to have identified hundreds of children in the camp who have a right to come to the UK but are unhappy about the pace of action. It is threatening legal action on behalf of 30 children and has criticised the Home Office for being slow and inefficient in its interventions.Campaigners including Citizens UK, which said it has reunited 60 children from Calais with relatives in Britain since March, claim to have identified hundreds of children in the camp who have a right to come to the UK but are unhappy about the pace of action. It is threatening legal action on behalf of 30 children and has criticised the Home Office for being slow and inefficient in its interventions.
Among those waiting to be reunited with their relatives on Wednesday were 13-year-old Shamsher Sherin, whose story led singer Lily Allen to break down and cry last week on a televised visit to the site. Allen tweeted: “So happy to see that Sham Sher made it to the UK safely and won’t be risking his life jumping on to moving vehicles.”Among those waiting to be reunited with their relatives on Wednesday were 13-year-old Shamsher Sherin, whose story led singer Lily Allen to break down and cry last week on a televised visit to the site. Allen tweeted: “So happy to see that Sham Sher made it to the UK safely and won’t be risking his life jumping on to moving vehicles.”
Another was a 17-year-old who had escaped war-torn Syria. Childhood friends and neighbours Ahmed and Muhammed 17 years old who had already been rescued from Calais waited for him outside Lunar House. They grew up together in the southern city of Daraa, which experienced intense bombing.Another was a 17-year-old who had escaped war-torn Syria. Childhood friends and neighbours Ahmed and Muhammed 17 years old who had already been rescued from Calais waited for him outside Lunar House. They grew up together in the southern city of Daraa, which experienced intense bombing.