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MNN UK · May 29, 2026 · 1 min read

Lone children held 284 times at UK-run French detention centres in 2025

What happened: Freedom of Information data reveals lone children were detained 284 times last year at UK-run centres near Calais and Dunkirk. Over four years, nearly 900 detentions of unaccompanied minors have occurred at these facilities.

Why it matters:

  • Highlights concerns over the treatment of vulnerable refugee children in UK-managed centres abroad.
  • Affects unaccompanied minors seeking asylum, raising questions about their welfare and legal protections.

MNN Take: The data shows ongoing use of detention for lone children in UK-operated centres in France, prompting calls for review of policies affecting young refugees.

Sources: Guardian UK