GET your facts right…
By Dr Razia Shariff, KRAN CEO
Our response to Reform’s Declaration of an Illegal Migration Emergency in Kent.
Kent County Council (KCC) is the “legal guardian” of looked-after children who arrive in the UK separated from their family who are deemed to be under the age of 18 and who are taken into care. Out of all those looked after by KCC, or who are leaving care, approximately 50% are refugees and asylum seekers.
It is KCC's legal duty to care for them - and it is funded by central government to do so.
However, what can you do if your legal guardian regards you as part of an “illegal invasion...unvetted and often from unstable countries with misogynistic cultures and histories of violence.” (Points 3 and 11, Motion for Time Limited Debate Declaration of an Illegal Migration Emergency in Kent).
When the same legal guardian also uses extreme stereotypes to criticise and insult your cultural identity and heritage (unrepeatable here) and argues that “attempts to be kind and tolerant of others’ cultures and behaviours by certain political parties has led to a woke and divided society and weakened our British culture.” (Point 15).
KCC is meant to be supporting these vulnerable - yet resilient - young people in their transition to life in the UK, which in turn, means they contribute to community. But - as November’s Ofsted report found - they are doing it badly (The experiences and progress of care leavers: requires improvement to be good). Also, see my recent blog.
With regards to refugees and asylum seekers deemed over the age of 18 and placed in Kent by the Home Office, the most recent government statistics show that the South East has some of the lowest numbers.
This is 7.7 out of every 10,000 of population. The South West has the lowest at 7.6, compared with the North East 27, and North West 26.6 out of every 10,000 population. In the South East, the highest is Kent - 14 out of every 10,000. This compares with Mid Sussex at 27.8, so hardly the emergency referred to.
But this is not an emergency. Under KCC's own guidance (the Civil Contingencies Act), an emergency is:
An event or situation which threatens serious damage to human welfare in the UK or serious damage to the environment of the UK, war, or terrorism, which threatens serious damage to the security of the UK. Or, it is a “major incident” - an event or situation with a range of serious consequences, which requires special arrangements to be implemented by one or more emergency responder agencies.
This is a party-political play, using young refugees and asylum seekers yet again as the “ball” to kick around and use by picking out legal and statistical evidence to prove their political point with low-hanging fruit. This report by local investigative journalists goes further.
The challenge for KRAN is how we can support our young people. How we push back, given who their legal guardians are. How we try to ensure that they can still thrive in this ever-increasing hostile environment. We believe that with your help and support, we can do this - and create a more enabling environment.
KRAN is organising a regional event in late April for local groups and communities to come together and develop a coordinated plan and approach in solidarity, and share learnings. To join us and learn more, please email agm@kran.org.uk