We have today revealed that refugee children in France, previously registered in Calais and now living in CAOs reception centres , are not being given sufficient information about their asylum applications.
Some have begun to abscond, and disturbingly, some report being forced to work on fruit farms or share accommodation with adults.
Interviews were conducted by telephone with the boys in their own language, each taking around 45 minutes. Two have already absconded these were not included in the 33 full surveys and two were considering it.
Three have reported being forced to work in fields picking fruit sent to supermarkets. However, only two said that staff at the CAOs did not make them feel welcome. All said they had access to showers, hot water and at least two meals per day.
The Safe Passage team have had reports of forced labour, and unaccompanied children being made to live with adults. Although the CAOs are, on the whole, safe places for the children to live, they cannot be used as an excuse to delay the transfer of children to the UK.
