Thousands of child asylum seekers told to leave UK
Jess Brown
Monday, June 6, 2016
Almost 3,000 asylum seeking children aged between 18 and 25 were served with removal directions between 2010 and 2014, it has been revealed.
A total of 2,840 children were given removal directions – three months’ notice to leave the UK – over this period.
In 2014 alone, 324 children were given a removal direction, according to data released following a parliamentary question by Labour MP Sarah Champion.
The data, presented by Home Office minister James Brokenshire, also showed the number of children who were voluntarily or forcibly removed from the UK.
In total, 214 children have been forcibly removed since 2010.
In 2014, 15 children were forcibly removed, compared to 44 in 2013. In comparison, the number of children who left voluntarily in 2014 was 0, and 11 in 2013.
Additionally, 24 children who had their asylum claim certified by the Home Office were removed from the UK in 2015. This figure stands at 85 between 2010 and 2015.
Over the last five years, there has only been one case where a child with a certified asylum claim has then appealed against this. The out-of-country appeal was dismissed.
In February this year, statistics revealed that in 2015, 3,043 unaccompanied children applied for asylum in the UK, compared with 1,945 in 2014 – a rise of 56.5 per cent.
