The definition of an ‘unaccompanied child’ is a child who has been separated from their parents/ guardians, or migrates alone fleeing wars or conflicts. In 2022, the UK received 5,152 applications from unaccompanied children seeking asylum in the UK. Many children arrive in the UK after crossing the English channel on small boats. It’s a scary situation for any child to be in, fleeing their home country and travelling to a new and unfamiliar country on their own without a parent or guardian by their side; the journey alone can be difficult and traumatising.

But who has the authority to look after and provide for unaccompanied children once they come to the UK? 

There have been debates about whether this power should continue to lie in the hands of Local Authorities, or whether the state (namely, the Home Office) should be playing a greater role. This debate has been fuelled by the Home Office’s decision to house lone children in designated hotels in Kent and Brighton. with 400 of them going missing from the latter. Of those 400 children, 154 are yet to be found. Some of the missing children were either believed to have been trafficked, exploited or have disappeared. 

The Home Office has also admitted to housing a 9 year old unaccompanied child in this setting. Brighton and Hove City Council highlighted that the child was placed in harm’s way due to the hotel’s location. The hotel’s location raised questions because “of known ‘county lines’ drug activity in the area, any children placed in the hotel by the Home Office in the future could be vulnerable to exploitation”. 

The Home Office is currently facing further backlash after removing various murals at Manston detention centre located in Kent which houses families including children. The removal of a number of murals depicting various children’s cartoon characters, has sparked controversy as some have branded the Home Office as “evil” for this decision. 

It’s interesting therefore to see if measures taken by the Home Office are in the interest of protecting these young children. Or are these children simply being placed in hotels to cut costs in light of the migrant crisis? With children going missing, safeguarding measures are clearly inadequate, and children who have endured so much should be treated with a far greater level of compassion and care.

The UK recently passed the Illegal Immigration Act, which has already generated mass controversy for not taking into consideration basic human rights of refugees. To deter this bill from being turned into law, the United Nations had suggested that the UK put a pause on the process. Mainly because this law ignores the rights of refugees and invites hostility towards asylum seekers and migrants. This then encourages racism, negative stereotyping and increases xenophobic attitudes towards refugees.

This law could leave unaccompanied children even more at risk not only because “provisions of this policy would severely restrict access to UK territory for those in need of international protection”, but because the Act grants the Home Office fresh powers to take charge of Unaccompanied Children if they wish to do so. It has not been made clear why this would be necessary or under what circumstances this might happen, but it is of great concern because we have seen what happens when the Home Office attempts to fulfil this role. 

With these recent controversies emerging, it’s tough to not question if unaccompanied children’s rights are being taken seriously and if existing measures are sufficient in keeping them safe. Unaccompanied children should be provided with safe spaces to protect them from exploitation, instead of places that allow and compromise their safety. A child should be allowed to grow up in a safe and protected environment, with their rights protected and needs prioritised. 

 

Written by Yusra Chaudhary

 

References: 

Fleeing Unaccompanied: Healing the Suffering of Children Who’ve Lost Everything

Facts About Separated Children

Home Office Faces Legal Action over Children Missing from UK Asylum Hotels (2023)

Home Office Admits Placing Lone Nine Year Old in Brighton Asylum Seeker Hotel (June 2023)

UN Experts Urge UK to Halt implementation of Illegal Immigration Bill (July 2023)

Minister Refuses to Back Removal of Murals for Child Arrivals – As 1,000 Migrants Arrive in Two Days (July 2023)