Children’s Asylum Centre ‘too welcoming’ 😢

And...Can someone explain how the report quoted above (re Dunkirk) states the ^ “detainees are held in a safe, clean and decent environment.”^ when actually (according to the Chief Immigration Officer mentioned above) the walls are covered in graffiti?

NotSpaghetti

And...Can someone explain how the report quoted above (re Dunkirk) states the ^ “detainees are held in a safe, clean and decent environment.”^ when actually (according to the Chief Immigration Officer mentioned above) the walls are covered in graffiti?

Presumably because they were repainted again after they were spoiled. Obviously they couldn’t leave them like that!

I am sure if the walls were covered in graffiti this would have been mentioned in the inspection report.

The BF guy did say that they make great efforts to make these places look nice. It’s just a shame that some people feel they want to spoil it. They only spoil it for people like themselves.

Primrose53 I think that's unlikely!

Logically if it's spoiled in 24 hours the painting must have been done the morning of the inspection!

Yes as my post before, which Freya interpreted as a criticism of staff, was trying to highlight, the story seems a little shaky. However overwhelmed the staff might be, I am sure that they would have been able to notice(?) and deal with any attempts to deface the walls . I am defending their professionalism and asking again if this account is accurate in every detail.

Primrose53

Glorianny

Primrose53

So a little bit more info came out today and it seems painting over the mural could just have been part of the general redecoration.

Ex Border Force Chief Immigration Officer was on radio show at lunchtime. He said such places are decorated regularly to make them nicer places to stay and he outlined a short stay centre at Dunkirk. They had it painted throughout with the walls in soft colours, the floors were done, new toilets installed at great expense.

He said it looked lovely and then it didn’t after a couple of days. He was asked what that meant and he said the migrants defaced all the walls by drawing and writing on them and generally messing the place up.

So it could well have been general redecoration or it could have been because it had been spoiled anyway.

Always two sides to a story.

OMG blame the migrants again!
This is a children's centre.
The short term detention centres in Dunkirk have been criticised www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprisons/media/press-releases/2020/03/uk-border-short-term-immigration-detention-at-french-ports-improved-facilities-but-some-serious-concerns/
He isn't going to tell you that is he? He was running them.

If a BF Chief Immigration Officer said that then I believe him. He did not say it like you are making out “blame the migrants” but he had to be asked why it was still not lovely after 48 hours and then he gave the reason.

The link you provided doesn’t even mention Dunkirk.

The latest inspection report I can find is 2019 and Section 4 deals with Dunkirk and says that “detainees are treated with respect by all staff.” And “detainees are held in a safe, clean and decent environment.”

If you see the boats full of people arriving I am sure you will have seen BF staff treating them kindly and, on the very rare occasions we see a baby or small child they are usually cradling them gently.

I sold my late Mum’s house to a BF official and he was awarded an MBE for his work with the migrants. So I really don’t like your last sentence. I believe BF do a very good job in very difficult circumstances.

Quote from the report I used
The Dunkerque facility holds tourist and commercial travellers stopped at the border and about 160 detainees a month were held there
For anyone who doesn't understand this is the French for Dunkirk.
I'm sure there are caring and helpful workers in BF, that's slightly different to believing all that important officials in the organisation say.

From children's author Michael Rosen in response to painting over the children's cartoons. Replaced words to Stop all the Clocks.
Paint over Mickey Mouse
Burn Where the Wild Things Are
Pulverise the lego
Set fire to the Christmas tree star

Seize all the teddies
Bury every skipping rope
Paint the walls dark brown
Abolish all hope

That's exactly it Jaffa.

It really is Jaffa

He is a good guy.

Yes.

It’s been said that Mickey Mouse paintings aren’t age appropriate as the vast majority are teenagers, a point surely?

If the facility is light and bright with friendly staff that’s good enough really isn’t it?

The children are traumatised and anything that could help them feel happier is surely a humane gesture.
The other places which are painted with Disney murals are often children's wards. No-one would consider painting over the walls of a child's cancer unit. Or maybe if it saved a few pounds perhaps they would ?

BBC eight now. 86 boat people rescued. Most are from the Gambia! But thousands of people pay a small fortune to go on holiday there every year. Can’t be that bad. 😉

No Primrose I expect they just fancied a change of scene. 🤦

Primrose53 That is just about the most callous and stupid remark I have ever read on Gransnet.

Primrose53 - I too am at a loss to explain why these people are fleeing their sea view 5 star hotels that cost a "small fortune" in order to be crammed onto boats taking them to the west, and risking their lives in the process. There must be an explanation. I think you will need to engage brain before reaching for the keyboard!!

There is a chap on James OBrien now who was working at the building at the time.
The bloke who painted the murals was a very talented artist and he was commissioned to do it, and must have been paid through the government, as it went through the books.
He also said that it would take layers and layers of paint to cover it up.
Also that he ‘saw children’s faces light up’ when they saw them

Apparently they have also removed all of the foreign language welcome signs.
They were written in twelve different languages

That is very petty Fanny
I am ashamed.

So the murals were commissioned after all!

One thing after another, removing the welcoming signs.
Awful!

NotSpaghetti

So the murals were commissioned after all!

Yes, that’s what is being reported!
I’m ashamed too. It’s a horrible feeling.
The absolute state of this government

FannyCornforth

Apparently they have also removed all of the foreign language welcome signs.
They were written in twelve different languages

😲

Is that on Jenrick's orders too?

Are welcome signs appropriate in a detention centre?