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First Calais child migrants arrive at 'respite centre' in Devon | First Calais child migrants arrive at 'respite centre' in Devon |
(35 minutes later) | |
The first child migrants from Calais have arrived at a "respite centre", a council has confirmed. | The first child migrants from Calais have arrived at a "respite centre", a council has confirmed. |
Devon County Council says 23 children from the "Jungle" camp have arrived at the temporary centre near Great Torrington. | Devon County Council says 23 children from the "Jungle" camp have arrived at the temporary centre near Great Torrington. |
The youngsters - who are all believed to be male and under the age of 18 - arrived by bus at about 03:00 BST. | The youngsters - who are all believed to be male and under the age of 18 - arrived by bus at about 03:00 BST. |
The migrants, originally from Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria, could stay in Devon for up to six weeks. | The migrants, originally from Afghanistan, Sudan and Syria, could stay in Devon for up to six weeks. |
It's believed they will receive medical checks before they are reunited with family members or moved to other parts of the country. | It's believed they will receive medical checks before they are reunited with family members or moved to other parts of the country. |
Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox said he hoped the community would "rally round" as up to 70 children are expected to be sent to the centre in total. | Conservative MP Geoffrey Cox said he hoped the community would "rally round" as up to 70 children are expected to be sent to the centre in total. |
More on the child migrants, plus other Devon and Cornwall news | More on the child migrants, plus other Devon and Cornwall news |
'Compassionate grounds' | |
The exact location of the centre is not being released. A source told the BBC most of those expected in Devon are over 16 years old. | |
The children were transported from Croydon, south London, where they were taken from the Jungle camp by a private security company. The Home Office said they were unaccompanied, vulnerable children. | |
Mr Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, said: "I hope that the community will feel that we need to rally round to assist these very vulnerable young people on compassionate grounds, if nothing else, because I firmly believe we need to do our part to assist what is a terrible situation that has been allowed to develop in Calais." | Mr Cox, MP for Torridge and West Devon, said: "I hope that the community will feel that we need to rally round to assist these very vulnerable young people on compassionate grounds, if nothing else, because I firmly believe we need to do our part to assist what is a terrible situation that has been allowed to develop in Calais." |
Robin Julian, leader of the Devon UKIP Group and Devon County Councillor for Bideford South and Hartland said: "I have been assured that should anybody have any criminality or found to have lied about their age they will be sent back. | |
"It is good that we are doing our bit as long as it doesn't affect local people. We are so desperate here - we are a poor area. I have been led to believe that all monies are going to be funded by central government and I hope that is the case because we are really struggling." |