UK deprives child asylum seekers of rights

The UK Border Agency has "routinely flouted" government guidelines on treating child asylum seekers fairly, claims a new report. More than 7,000 asylum-seeking children come to the UK each year fleeing war, poverty and oppression and now it appears, they are getting more abuse here.

The charity, Refugee and Migrant Justice has found that these children often have no access to lawyers, are regularly locked up and face a 'culture of disbelief' among officials.One eight-year old boy who fled his country after his home was destroyed in fighting was given no legal help with his asylum interview and application, said the report, out yesterday . His claim was refused because of his lack of 'credibility'.In another case highlighted in the report, a 16-year-old was wrongly assessed to be 26 and detained in an adult centre for six months where he became severely depressed.The UK Border Agency, part of the Home Office, said it "rejected the vast majority" of the Does Every Child Matter? report's findings.

Two months ago, the government brought in a new code of practice to safeguard the welfare of young asylum seekers."We welcome the government's genuine aspiration to keep children seeking asylum safe from harm but this report shows it has a long way to go" Refugee and Migrant Justice chief executive Caroline Slocock told the BBC."Not only are there real gaps in the government's code but, even where its provisions are good, they are routinely being flouted." Lisa Nandy, policy adviser at the Children's Society, said the report highlighted the "discriminatory treatment of children who seek asylum in the UK". But treating children with care and compassion was "number one priority", a border agency spokesman told the broadcaster."Whenever we take decisions involving children, their welfare comes first. That's why we have transformed our children's policy, enshrining in law a commitment to protect youngsters and keep them safe from harm," said the spokesman. "When the independent courts find a family has no need for protection, we expect them to return home. "We would much prefer it if they did this voluntarily,enforced removals are very much a last resort."

The report comes a day after it was revealed that planning permission has been granted for a new immigration centre near an existing unit in Bedfordshire. The Border Agency wants to build a detention unit to house 500 single men at Yarl's Wood and says it will be built to prison standards. The existing centre houses about 450 single women and families.

Written by Hayley Jarvis for SOS Children