Nearly 100 children were wrongly identified and detained as adults under the UK-France 'one in, one out' migration deal, according to figures disclosed by the Guardian.
Key facts
- Of 304 age-disputed cases over nine months, 94 (31%) were ultimately found to be minors, according to the Guardian.
- Children are supposed to be excluded from the 'one in, one out' scheme led by Shabana Mahmood.
- Government policy limits immigration detention of unaccompanied children to 24 hours.
- Some detainees were held for more than six months despite a 28-day limit reserved for exceptional cases.
- Some were readied for removal to France despite having TB or requiring hospital treatment.
Nearly 100 children have been wrongly identified and detained as adults under the UK government’s “one in, one out” migration deal with France, according to figures disclosed by the Guardian. The data emerged in a critical letter to the Home Office from an organisation appointed to scrutinise detention facilities.
Home Office staff said that of 304 age-disputed cases arising from the scheme over a nine-month period, 94 – or 31% – were ultimately found to be minors. Children are supposed to be excluded from the scheme, which is associated with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Under government policy, immigration detention of unaccompanied children is limited to 24 hours. The figures suggest that policy was not consistently applied to those later identified as minors within the age-disputed caseload.
The letter also raised concerns that some individuals had been awaiting deportation for more than six months, despite rules stating detention should last up to 28 days and only “in exceptional cases.” Others were being readied for removal to France despite having tuberculosis or requiring hospital treatment.
Additional concerns were raised about people facing removal after being separated from family members with whom they had travelled, which the scrutinising organisation said had a “particularly damaging impact,” according to the Guardian.
The disclosures place scrutiny on how age assessments are being carried out within the scheme and whether safeguards intended to protect children are functioning as designed.
Why it matters
The findings raise serious questions about safeguards for vulnerable migrants and children within a flagship government migration policy. Wrongly detaining minors as adults can expose them to unsafe conditions and breach protections that are supposed to limit how long children can be held.
Frequently asked questions
How many children were detained as adults under the deal?
According to the Guardian, of 304 age-disputed cases over nine months, 94 – or 31% – were ultimately found to be minors.
Are children supposed to be part of the scheme?
No. Children are supposed to be excluded from the 'one in, one out' scheme, and government policy limits detention of unaccompanied children to 24 hours.
What other concerns were raised?
The scrutiny letter noted people held more than six months, individuals with TB or needing hospital treatment being readied for removal, and families being separated with a 'particularly damaging impact.'