To lose one child is a misfortune, but to lose 222 unaccompanied asylum-seeking children is gross negligence (Home Office accused of ‘catastrophic child protection failure’, 22 October). The Home Office needs to undergo a total reorganisation by people with compassion and an understanding of what would be the best outcomes for all concerned. By this I mean that asylum seekers should be treated as valuable human beings and given the safeguards required – particularly in the case of children.
I would like to see Rishi Sunak make radical humanitarian reforms instead of using wild rhetoric to inflame public opinion with unworkable schemes. This would include speeding up times for issuing identity cards once asylum has been granted, so people can find jobs and get on with their lives. It’s not rocket science to behave well, just plain common sense.
Finding those lost children who may be with family or enslaved by traffickers should be the first priority. Surely tackling trafficking should begin at home.
Lucy Lucy
Former chair, Destitute Asylum Seekers Huddersfield
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