CYP Now - Kent County Council ‘running out of resources’ to support asylum seekers

Kent County Council is “rapidly running out of resources” to support unaccompanied asylum-seeking children (UASC) after 42 arrived in the county on Friday alone, the council leader has said.

Kent County Council recorded 42 new UASC cases in one day. Picture: Nathan Clarke

Around 275 UASC have been taken into care under the council since May when 60 new arrivals were recorded, KCC told CYP Now.

The figures come as Home Secretary Priti Patel was criticised over speculation plans were in place to draft in the Navy to reduce record numbers of migrants crossing the channel in recent weeks.

The council recorded a further 85 new UASCs under its children’s social care department in June, 70 in July and 60 in the first week of August, Conservative council leader Roger Gough said.

He told BBC Newsnight that a “particularly rapid” increase in numbers of UASC arriving in Kent is having a “very big” impact on the council.

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