NEW statistics show the number of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in Bradford has more than doubled since last year.

Unaccompanied asylum-seeking children often present themselves at points of entry into the country in their own right and are separated from both parents or any other responsible adult.

Figures from the Department of Education show 44 lone asylum-seeking children were in care in Bradford on March 31, up from 20 the year before.

Kent looked after the largest number of asylum-seeking children in England at this time, with 370 in care in the area. It was followed by Hillingdon with 139 children and Manchester with 138.

Across the country, 5,570 unaccompanied asylum-seeking minors were being looked after by local authorities at the end of March – the largest number since records began in 2004 and up 34 per cent on the year before.

The figures show the ethnicity of asylum-seeking children in care has changed over time, with nearly half, 45 per cent from "other ethnic groups" – up from 35 per cent  in 2018.

About 24 per cent were Asian or Asian British, while 23 per cent were black, African, Caribbean or Black british and 4 per cent were white.

The Government said the large increase in asylum-seeking children reflects the increase in the number of asylum seekers arriving on small boats on the south coast.

Overall, 17,189 children were being looked after in Bradford at the end of March in the area with 955 placed in foster care.

A Bradford Council spokesperson said: “We are committed to providing the best possible care for every child in our district who needs it, whatever their background. We have a moral and legal duty to do so.

"Like councils all over the country we are notified through the National Transfer Hub when migrant young people are identified, and we fulfil our responsibilities fully in that national system by providing the support where it is needed.”

Marieke Widmann, Children’s Society policy and practice advisor said: “Children arrive here alone, after a traumatic and dangerous journey, separated from their families and loved ones – some may even have been trafficked to the UK – it’s absolutely essential that they get the right support and protection in place and quickly."

Ms Widmann said these children need clothes, accommodation and help from social workers, but added local authorities are "already stretched to capacity" and struggle to find placements for all children in care.

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