Child who crossed Channel alone denied call to mother

Inspection finds ongoing failures at migrant processing sites

- HOLLY BANCROFT

A 10-year-old boy who crossed the Channel in a small boat was denied a phone call to his mother at an immigration centre in Kent, according to a new inspection that found a number of ongoing failures at processing sites.

A review of three short-term holding immigration centres found that, while the sites were operating better than in 2022, officials were failing to refer traumatised children for help and migrants were still being held for far too long – with one child held for 51 hours at Manston asylum centre.

The unannounced inspection of Western Jet Foil, Manston and the Kent Intake Unit took place at the beginning of July. During the previous six months, 1,147 unaccompanied children had been held at the sites, almost all at the Kent unit which is set up for young people.

At Western Jet Foil, there were two cases of lone children being held in breach of the 24-hour limit; one for 42 hours and one for 37 hours. At Manston, 11 children who were accompanied by family members had been held for over 24 hours. Accompanied children can legally be held for up to 72 hours.

Inspectors found that a 10-year-old lone Afghan boy had a welfare interview at the Kent site at 10.38pm without an appropriate adult. At the start of the interview, he said: “I want to speak to my mum, please. I want a mobile.” His request was denied by an officer.