Home Office sources said there were various facilities at KIU including larger and softer interview rooms than in the previous reception centre for children. The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.” Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people smugglers. “All children receive a welfare interview on their arrival at accommodation, which includes questions designed to identify potential indicators of trafficking or safeguarding issues.

We need a Labour government and our five-point plan to end the dangerous crossings, defeat the criminal smuggler gangs, and end hotel use by clearing the asylum backlog.”Ĭharlotte Khan of the refugee charity Care4Calais said: “If Mickey Mouse is too ‘welcoming’ for ministers, the question is what will they replace him with in order to inflict more fear on traumatised asylum seeking children – Maleficent? Ursula? Maybe even Cruella herself? The real villains in this sorry tale are Robert Jenrick and the rest of this heartless bunch that call themselves ministers.”Ī Home Office spokesperson said: “We do all we can to ensure children are safe, secure and supported as we urgently seek placements with a local authority. “This is a sign of a chaotic government in crisis, whose failing approach means all they have left is tough talk and cruel and callous policies. The shadow immigration minister, Stephen Kinnock, told the i: “The idea that painting over murals and removing entertainment for unaccompanied children in immigration centres will somehow stop the boats is utterly absurd. Jenrick issued the instruction to paint over the mural in April. Some of the lone children arriving in the UK are as young as nine, the Home Office recently disclosed. The Kent intake unit (KIU) is a reception centre for unaccompanied child asylum seekers. The story was first reported in the i newspaper.

Home Office sources declined to comment to the Guardian on the claims that staff had opposed Jenrick’s instruction. Staff at the reception centre for small boats arrivals in Kent were horrified by the order, and opposed to painting over the murals.

No grid lines in paint 3d