Murals of cartoon characters including Mickey Mouse and Baloo from The Jungle Book painted on the walls of an asylum seeker reception centre to welcome children have been removed on the orders of the immigration minister, Robert Jenrick.
The murals were painted over because he thought they were too welcoming and sent the wrong message.
Staff at the reception centre for small boats arrivals in Kent were horrified by the order, and opposed to painting over the murals.
Home Office sources declined to comment to the Guardian on the claims that staff had opposed Jenrick’s instruction. The story was first reported in the i newspaper.
The Kent intake unit (KIU) is a reception centre for unaccompanied child asylum seekers. Some of the lone children arriving in the UK are as young as nine, the Home Office recently disclosed. Jenrick issued the instruction to paint over the mural in April.
The shadow immigration minister, Stephen Kinnock, told the i: “The idea that painting over murals and removing entertainment for unaccompanied children in immigration centres will somehow stop the boats is utterly absurd.
“This is a sign of a chaotic government in crisis, whose failing approach means all they have left is tough talk and cruel and callous policies. We need a Labour government and our five-point plan to end the dangerous crossings, defeat the criminal smuggler gangs, and end hotel use by clearing the asylum backlog.”
Charlotte Khan of the refugee charity Care4Calais said: “If Mickey Mouse is too ‘welcoming’ for ministers, the question is what will they replace him with in order to inflict more fear on traumatised asylum seeking children – Maleficent? Ursula? Maybe even Cruella herself? The real villains in this sorry tale are Robert Jenrick and the rest of this heartless bunch that call themselves ministers.”
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We do all we can to ensure children are safe, secure and supported as we urgently seek placements with a local authority.
“All children receive a welfare interview on their arrival at accommodation, which includes questions designed to identify potential indicators of trafficking or safeguarding issues. Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people smugglers. The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.”
Home Office sources said there were various facilities at KIU including larger and softer interview rooms than in the previous reception centre for children. There was also an outside space, prayer rooms, a larger reception area and improved security measures to ensure children’s safety.
A report (pdf) published last month by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons after a visit to KIU along with nearby Manston detention camp and Western Jet Foil reception centre found there had been improvements at the facilities since the previous inspections. However, continuing shortcomings were identified. The report concluded: “Inspectors found no examples of notable positive practice during this inspection.”
Inspectors found that access to legal representation for children and adults was poor, with many children held beyond the 24-hour time limit. Inspectors also criticised processes for managing medical isolation at KIU. The Home Office welcomed the report and officials said they had taken action to address some of the recommendations.
