UK-Run Detention Centres in France: A Troubling Reality for Unaccompanied Minors

A recent revelation has shed light on a concerning issue regarding the treatment of unaccompanied minors at UK-run detention centres in France. Documents obtained through the Freedom of Information Act show that these facilities have held lone children on nearly 300 occasions in 2025, with a 10% increase from the previous year.

The detention centres, located near Calais and Dunkirk, are designed for short-term holding of clandestine travellers and those with suspected incorrect paperwork. However, refugee charities have expressed shock at the high number of unaccompanied minors detained, with approximately 900 instances recorded over the last four years.

The conditions at these sites have been described as 'poor' by inspectors, and NGOs have raised concerns about the legal and procedural grey zones surrounding the treatment of children. The lack of transparency is evident as data on detainees held by the UK in France is not included in official immigration statistics.

The figures highlight a worrying trend, with a significant rise in child detentions from 87 cases in 2023 to 258 in 2024. In 2025, there were 284 cases of minors held, despite a drop in overall detentions from 9,736 in 2024 to 7,454 in 2025.

The safeguarding of vulnerable children has been a major concern. In one instance, a 14-year-old girl and a 16-year-old boy with a history of trafficking and abuse were detained and then handed over to French border police. Both were later found in the UK, with the girl escaping from a warehouse where she feared being forced into prostitution.

Refugee advocates and NGOs are calling for urgent action. Kama Petruczenko, a senior policy analyst at the Refugee Council, emphasizes the need to protect refugee children and ensure they are not exposed to unsuitable detention settings. Jonathan Ellis, from the Detention Forum, highlights the lack of accountability and the urgent need to address established procedures.

As the UK plans to expand its detention estate in France, the focus must shift towards safeguarding these vulnerable children and ensuring their protection from abuse and trafficking.