The High Court in England heard that a nine-year-old child is the youngest unaccompanied migrant to be housed in a hotel alongside asylum-seekers. The disclosure came during a preliminary hearing overseen by Mr Justice Johnson, which focused on the use of hotels to accommodate unaccompanied children. According to Lisa Giovannetti KC, the lead barrister for the Home Office, a significant number of asylum-seekers placed in hotels were children under the age of 16.
The Home Office is preparing to reopen a hotel in Hove, East Sussex, despite the fact that 50 young people who were previously housed there are still missing. In response, council officials have initiated legal action against Home Secretary Suella Braverman, seeking a court ruling that would prevent the use of the hotel. Their concerns centre around the potential targeting of children by criminals and abusers.
During the hearing, Mr Justice Johnson inquired about the age of the youngest child initially accommodated in a hotel. Lisa Giovannetti KC informed him that the youngest child was nine years old. The judge then asked how many under-16s had been housed in a hotel for more than 48 hours. Ms Giovannetti stated that “quite a high proportion” of such children, possibly around 40%, had been placed in hotels.
Stephanie Harrison KC, representing the council, emphasized that housing children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation is not only unlawful but also constitutes a criminal offence. This underscores the gravity of the situation at hand. The judge also learned that Kent County Council and a children’s rights organization are planning similar legal actions regarding the placement of unaccompanied migrant children in hotels. Both councils are concerned that such placements could breach their legal obligations regarding the care of these youngsters.
Mr Justice Johnson indicated that all three cases might be consolidated and considered together. A trial is expected to take place later this summer to address the issues surrounding the housing of unaccompanied migrant children in hotels.
