The Government's plans to crack down on refused asylum seekers have sparked outrage from a senior watchdog, who warns that thousands of vulnerable children will suffer 'significant harm' as a result. England's Children's Commissioner, Rachel de Souza, has written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood expressing her deep concerns about the proposed changes, which would see families with refused asylum applications face reduced support and potentially be forcibly removed from the UK.
The consultation, launched in March, suggests introducing physical interventions on children during enforced removals, including the use of handcuffs. This has been met with alarm by de Souza, who argues that such measures are at odds with the fundamental principles of child protection enshrined in the Children Act 1989. The legislation prioritises the best interests of children in decisions about their lives, a principle that the Home Office's proposals seem to contravene.
De Souza has also highlighted concerns about the proposed exclusion of ongoing medical treatment as a 'genuine obstacle' to deportation, which would leave sick children vulnerable to removal. This move has been widely condemned by experts and campaigners, who argue that it could have devastating consequences for some of the most vulnerable individuals in society.
The England Children's Commissioner estimates that up to 27,000 children could be affected by the proposals, with many more families likely to be impacted. De Souza has requested urgent clarification from the Home Office on the scope of the impact and has called for the plans to be reversed in their entirety. The consultation is set to close on [date], but pressure is mounting on the Government to rethink its approach and put children's welfare at the heart of its decision-making.