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| Child, 9, youngest in migrant hotel, High Court told | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Figures for migrants crossing the Channel in small boats have risen steadily | Figures for migrants crossing the Channel in small boats have risen steadily |
| A nine-year-old child is the youngest unaccompanied migrant to be housed in a hotel in England with asylum-seekers, the High Court has heard. | |
| Mr Justice Johnson heard "a high proportion" of asylum-seekers placed in hotels were children under 16. | Mr Justice Johnson heard "a high proportion" of asylum-seekers placed in hotels were children under 16. |
| He is overseeing a preliminary hearing centred on the use of a hotel to house unaccompanied children. | He is overseeing a preliminary hearing centred on the use of a hotel to house unaccompanied children. |
| The Home Office is preparing to reopen a hotel in Hove, East Sussex, despite 50 young people remaining missing. | |
| Council bosses have taken legal action against Home Secretary Suella Braverman and want a judge to rule that the hotel should not be used. | Council bosses have taken legal action against Home Secretary Suella Braverman and want a judge to rule that the hotel should not be used. |
| They say children could be targeted by criminals and abusers. | They say children could be targeted by criminals and abusers. |
| 'A criminal offence' | 'A criminal offence' |
| Mr Justice Johnson asked a barrister leading the Home Office legal team the age of the youngest child to be initially accommodated in a hotel. | Mr Justice Johnson asked a barrister leading the Home Office legal team the age of the youngest child to be initially accommodated in a hotel. |
| Lisa Giovannetti KC told him the youngest had been nine. | Lisa Giovannetti KC told him the youngest had been nine. |
| The judge then asked how many "under 16-year-olds" have been accommodated in a hotel for more than 48 hours. | The judge then asked how many "under 16-year-olds" have been accommodated in a hotel for more than 48 hours. |
| "Quite a high proportion are under 16," said Ms Giovannetti. "Maybe 40%." | "Quite a high proportion are under 16," said Ms Giovannetti. "Maybe 40%." |
| Stephanie Harrison KC, representing the council, told the judge: "Children who are under 16 who are not in accommodation that is regulated - it is not only unlawful, it is a criminal offence. | Stephanie Harrison KC, representing the council, told the judge: "Children who are under 16 who are not in accommodation that is regulated - it is not only unlawful, it is a criminal offence. |
| "That encompasses the gravity of the situation." | "That encompasses the gravity of the situation." |
| Mr Justice Johnson also heard Kent County Council and a children's rights organisation are planning similar legal action relating to the accommodation of unaccompanied migrant children in hotels. | Mr Justice Johnson also heard Kent County Council and a children's rights organisation are planning similar legal action relating to the accommodation of unaccompanied migrant children in hotels. |
| He heard that both councils are concerned the placement of unaccompanied migrant children in hotels puts them in a position where they are breaching, or would breach, their legal obligations relating to the care of youngsters. | He heard that both councils are concerned the placement of unaccompanied migrant children in hotels puts them in a position where they are breaching, or would breach, their legal obligations relating to the care of youngsters. |
| The judge indicated all three cases might be considered together. | The judge indicated all three cases might be considered together. |
| A trial is expected to take place later this summer. | A trial is expected to take place later this summer. |
| Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC South East on Facebook, on Twitter, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Kent County Council | Kent County Council |
| Home Office | Home Office |
| Hove | Hove |
| Brighton | Brighton |
| Brighton and Hove City Council | Brighton and Hove City Council |
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