British official urges France to fast track Calais jungle children to the UK

ENGLAND’S children’s commissioner has urged French officials to fast track the asylum claims of children left alone in the Calais jungle so they can move to the UK.

Anne Longfield is calling on French Government to speed up the applications of 150 children so that they can be reunited with family members in Britain.

Under European regulations known as Dublin III, child asylum seekers can have their claims transferred to another EU country if they have relatives there.

However, the system has come under fire amid claims the process can take several months.

Writing to French officials, Ms Longfield said: “I have asked the French authorities to urgently determine which of the children in the Calais refugee camp are eligible to come to the UK, to ensure their safety and to process their applications immediately.

“It is unacceptable that at the moment some are waiting up to nine months before they learn whether or not they can come.

“The camp is an incredibly dangerous place for an unaccompanied child.”

Meanwhile scores of children are thought to have disappeared since French authorities dismantled part of the Calais migrant camp.

It is thought that at least 129 lone children in the camp have gone missing, and that those remaining face the constant threat of trafficking, violence, abuse and illness.

Ms Longfield added: “The charities working with them have tried hard to trace them and the authorities must do likewise,”

"We expect authorities in the UK to make sure vulnerable children in England are looked after and we expect nothing less of the French government."

The French Government is yet to respond to the statement.