Four hotels along England’s south coast are hosting record numbers of unaccompanied asylum seekers from children arriving in Britain in small boats, a situation the Children’s Society describes as “shocking”.
About 250 unaccompanied children who arrived in small boats are said to be accommodated in hotels, which Ofsted says is an unacceptable practice.
In September, Interior Ministry officials told the Special Committee on Home Affairs that it accommodated 70 unaccompanied children in hotels.
On November 23, the government announced that it was planning a plan to distribute this group of children to various local authorities temporarily mandatory. But individual councils have two weeks to take action against this new rule. London councils currently look after 1,500 of these children – a third of the total.
Kent County officials said they were at full capacity, serving 363 unaccompanied minor asylum seekers and 1,071 care recipients as of Nov. 23.
Child and refugee aid organizations say their concern for the well-being of young refugees is growing as both adults and children have record numbers continue to arrive in the UK in small boats.
Marieke Widmann, policy and practice advisor for the Children’s Society, said: “These are vulnerable children and young people who have often fled war and persecution and are frightened and desperate after an unimaginably traumatic journey.
“It is critical that they get the help, support and security they need when they arrive here by themselves, including access to suitable accommodation. Placing unaccompanied children in hotels with limited care and supervision is shocking and puts these already vulnerable children at incredible risk. We know that several children have already been missing.
“The Home office has a duty to protect all children and promote their well-being. It must ensure that these children receive adequate care and support so that they can feel safe and secure and can recover from the terrible trauma they have been through. “
The question of who is legally responsible for these children has been raised by lawyers. Rebecca Ives, Wilsons attorney, said: “The Home Secretary is effectively acting as the corporate parent to these children. The central government has no legal powers to act or adapt in this way [unaccompanied asylum-seeking children] at hotels.
“We are concerned that the Home Office’s practice of placing unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in hotels is depriving them of the protection and security afforded them under the 1989 Children’s Act. Some of them become victims of human trafficking and / or torture and are therefore particularly at risk and at risk.
“It has been stated that these children will only be in hotels for very short periods of time while alternative arrangements are made, but for some children this period lasts longer than a month.”
Bridget Chapman of the Kent Refugee Action Network said: “We were concerned to see these unaccompanied asylum seekers who recently arrived on small boats are being accommodated in hotels on the south coast.
“We have a lot of know-how in promoting these young people and that is our job. But the Ministry of the Interior has not contacted us about this. The children are guarded by security forces. We don’t know if they have enough privacy, if they are supported by qualified social workers or under whose responsibility they are.
“Hotels are not a good place to house these children. Who controls them and how long will they stay in the hotels? “
A government spokesman said: “We are working around the clock with local authorities to find permanent places for unaccompanied asylum seekers across the UK. Our efforts continue to focus on ensuring that each and every unaccompanied child receives adequate support and care while we seek permanent placement for them.
“We are determined to end the use of hotels as soon as possible, and our nationalities and borders bill will fix the broken asylum system.”
