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The Nappier barracks in Folkstone were "unsafe and miserable," ruled the High Court
Photo: Dan Kitwood / Getty Images
Anyone who has made it across the English Channel can expect miserable conditions in British reception centers for refugees.
In a report recently released, the State Prison Inspectorate and independent observers found that the government had made only "limited" improvements in conditions since the most recent review last year.
Independent Observer Chairwoman Anne Owers said there was "an urgent need for action."
The inspectors had visited several initial reception centers and deportation centers in the past three months.
At an earlier inspection in September 2020, the inspectors had already found that these facilities were "poorly equipped to serve their purpose," said the chief inspector for prisons, Charlie Taylor.
"Unacceptable and Degrading"
The Ministry of the Interior then promised "rapid measures" to improve conditions. However, Taylor noted, "Despite some limited progress, detainees, including large numbers of unaccompanied children, continue to be treated very badly and live in poor conditions." In many reception and deportation centers, the report said conditions are "unacceptable and degrading ", Which is" unavoidable "because of the excessive demands on the facilities.
The inspectors have found cases in which families with young children have to spend more than 24 hours in tents before the authorities take care of them. Sometimes the newcomers have to sleep in double-decker buses despite the cold. The inspectors reported "inadequate aftercare" for alleged victims of rape and human trafficking. Injuries sustained by refugees during the dangerous crossing of the English Channel were left untreated.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson's administration has pursued a policy of deterrence against the record number of boat refugees crossing from France to the UK.
When 27 refugees drowned on the crossing last month, Johnson caused outrage by immediately calling on French President Emmanuel Macron to take refugees back.
Johnson regularly calls on France and the EU to do more to combat illegal migration to England.
At the same time, it has become more difficult for the British government to deport refugees to the EU since Brexit.
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