Mike Aaronson, director general of Save the Children, said he was "extremely concerned" that vulnerable children were being used as "scapegoats for the Government to appear tough on asylum".
"Returning a child to their country of origin requires a sensitive and thorough investigation," he said. "There are clear child protection issues when children are returned alone to countries where their safety and welfare needs cannot be met."
The Government has agreed to pilot the return of children to Albania. Save the Children said that as a minimum this should be completed before the scheme is extended further. A spokesman for the Home Office said the start date for the pilot would be "sooner rather than later" and, depending on its success, the scheme could be rolled out further.
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