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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Children 'with no state' in UK | Children 'with no state' in UK |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Hundreds of children living rough in London and other cities may have no nationality, the BBC has found. | Hundreds of children living rough in London and other cities may have no nationality, the BBC has found. |
| Inside Out London has uncovered stories of children who according to official records do not exist - some forced into sex work to eat. | Inside Out London has uncovered stories of children who according to official records do not exist - some forced into sex work to eat. |
| Further research by the BBC suggests it is a UK-wide problem. | Further research by the BBC suggests it is a UK-wide problem. |
| Charities warn of stateless children in Birmingham, Leeds, Coventry, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Oxford and Cardiff. | Charities warn of stateless children in Birmingham, Leeds, Coventry, Nottingham, Newcastle, Liverpool, Oxford and Cardiff. |
| "The problems caused by statelessness are by no means limited to London," Chris Nash, of charity Asylum Aid, said. | "The problems caused by statelessness are by no means limited to London," Chris Nash, of charity Asylum Aid, said. |
| Though, he acknowledges it is in the capital that the problem is most acute. | Though, he acknowledges it is in the capital that the problem is most acute. |
| Many of London's stateless youths came to the UK legally, but were never officially registered. | Many of London's stateless youths came to the UK legally, but were never officially registered. |
| They cannot access education or apply for social housing. | They cannot access education or apply for social housing. |
| And according to two respected youth charities contacted by the BBC, there are "hundreds" of them in the city. | And according to two respected youth charities contacted by the BBC, there are "hundreds" of them in the city. |
| Both Coram Children's Legal Centre and Peckham Project Safe 'n' Sound are calling for increased awareness of the problem. | Both Coram Children's Legal Centre and Peckham Project Safe 'n' Sound are calling for increased awareness of the problem. |
| Safe 'n' Sound's Jennifer Blake said: "To date, we've been approached by over 600 young people. It is a big issue." | Safe 'n' Sound's Jennifer Blake said: "To date, we've been approached by over 600 young people. It is a big issue." |
| Health deteriorating | Health deteriorating |
| Ms Blake attempts to try to get the children off the streets and into safe shelter as quickly as possible. | Ms Blake attempts to try to get the children off the streets and into safe shelter as quickly as possible. |
| She has been trying to find a room for Ugandan-born Tony, 17, who has been sleeping on buses since his father kicked him out while living in the UK. | She has been trying to find a room for Ugandan-born Tony, 17, who has been sleeping on buses since his father kicked him out while living in the UK. |
| Tony said: "It is a struggle. If you are hungry you need money. | Tony said: "It is a struggle. If you are hungry you need money. |
| "But if I steal I end up going in prison and that's not me, I don't want that." | "But if I steal I end up going in prison and that's not me, I don't want that." |
| After two years of living on the streets and struggling to find food and shelter, Tony's health is deteriorating. | After two years of living on the streets and struggling to find food and shelter, Tony's health is deteriorating. |
| He said: "This year when the cold came it really had me - I was coughing, sneezing. I got it badly. | He said: "This year when the cold came it really had me - I was coughing, sneezing. I got it badly. |
| "I've got a lot skinnier because of the problems I've been having." | "I've got a lot skinnier because of the problems I've been having." |
| Some stateless children are as young as 14. With no support, shelter or care, they are increasingly turning to crime to survive. | Some stateless children are as young as 14. With no support, shelter or care, they are increasingly turning to crime to survive. |
| And for teenagers like Tony, attempting to become a legal citizen retrospectively can be virtually impossible. | And for teenagers like Tony, attempting to become a legal citizen retrospectively can be virtually impossible. |
| No longer in contact with their families, they struggle to prove their identity to immigration officials. | No longer in contact with their families, they struggle to prove their identity to immigration officials. |
| Tony said: "They've told me I need to get a letter from my dad. | Tony said: "They've told me I need to get a letter from my dad. |
| "How can I get a letter from my dad if he kicked me out?" | "How can I get a letter from my dad if he kicked me out?" |
| Some girls are being reduced to sexual exploitation. | Some girls are being reduced to sexual exploitation. |
| One 17-year-old, who was smuggled out of Libya in 2009, also has no country to call home. | One 17-year-old, who was smuggled out of Libya in 2009, also has no country to call home. |
| Worried about the military violence in the country, her mother paid a friend to look after her in the UK. | Worried about the military violence in the country, her mother paid a friend to look after her in the UK. |
| But within months she was abandoned by her guardian. | But within months she was abandoned by her guardian. |
| She told the BBC: "I just ended up living on the streets. | She told the BBC: "I just ended up living on the streets. |
| "Sometimes I feel like killing myself. | "Sometimes I feel like killing myself. |
| "I have to do things that make me sick and ashamed just for a few pounds, sometimes even pennies - just so I can eat or get somewhere to sleep for one night." | "I have to do things that make me sick and ashamed just for a few pounds, sometimes even pennies - just so I can eat or get somewhere to sleep for one night." |
| According to the Oxford University Centre on Migration Policy and Society, London and Birmingham are the major hotspots for statelessness. | According to the Oxford University Centre on Migration Policy and Society, London and Birmingham are the major hotspots for statelessness. |
| The organisation spoke to 53 "irregular migrant" children and parents in the two cities, from countries including Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Jamaica, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq and the Kurdish region of Turkey. | The organisation spoke to 53 "irregular migrant" children and parents in the two cities, from countries including Afghanistan, Brazil, China, Jamaica, Nigeria, Iran, Iraq and the Kurdish region of Turkey. |
| The researchers estimate there are 120,000 children living in the UK without legal immigration status, mostly in London. | The researchers estimate there are 120,000 children living in the UK without legal immigration status, mostly in London. |
| About a tenth of London's children are thought to have uncertain immigration status. | About a tenth of London's children are thought to have uncertain immigration status. |
| But there are no concrete figures for the number of stateless children - precisely because they are stateless. | But there are no concrete figures for the number of stateless children - precisely because they are stateless. |
| And some local authorities may not always be acting within the law or good practice guidance. | And some local authorities may not always be acting within the law or good practice guidance. |
| The BBC has heard suggestions councils are trying to assess children to be older than they are so they can avoid being responsible for them. | The BBC has heard suggestions councils are trying to assess children to be older than they are so they can avoid being responsible for them. |
| Support and accommodation | Support and accommodation |
| Amara Ahmad, of solicitors Fisher Meredith, says she is acting for several children taking legal action against councils for this reason. | Amara Ahmad, of solicitors Fisher Meredith, says she is acting for several children taking legal action against councils for this reason. |
| And Coram also said it was aware of the ploy. | And Coram also said it was aware of the ploy. |
| Neither organisation would disclose the specific councils alleged to be at fault. | Neither organisation would disclose the specific councils alleged to be at fault. |
| Kamena Dorling, of Coram Children's Legal Centre, said: "If you are a child in the UK, regardless of immigration status the local authority has a legal duty - they should be looking after you. | Kamena Dorling, of Coram Children's Legal Centre, said: "If you are a child in the UK, regardless of immigration status the local authority has a legal duty - they should be looking after you. |
| "They should be providing you with support and accommodation and often this doesn't happen." | "They should be providing you with support and accommodation and often this doesn't happen." |
| Since the BBC's investigation, Safe 'n' Sound has managed to secure Tony's immigration status and he now has the right to reside in the UK. | Since the BBC's investigation, Safe 'n' Sound has managed to secure Tony's immigration status and he now has the right to reside in the UK. |
| He is still homeless. | He is still homeless. |
| BBC Inside Out is on BBC One in the London region on Monday, 5 November at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days thereafter. | BBC Inside Out is on BBC One in the London region on Monday, 5 November at 19:30 GMT and nationwide on the iPlayer for seven days thereafter. |