Children’s Asylum Centre ‘too welcoming’ 😢

Germanshepherdsmum

A bit of sensationalist reporting, one side only.

Quite.

As many of the “children” have turned out to be young, adult men lying about their age maybe it’s not so surprising they were instructed to paint over the cartoons.

Remember the photos of bearded men cuddling up to big teddy bears as they were taken into foster care? 🤣🤣

Hope Banksy stencils one of his famous comments on the wall.

The "other side" of the story is in the second link to The art Newspaper- A Home office spokesperson
“We do all we can to ensure children are safe, secure and supported as we urgently seek placements with a local authority. All children receive a welfare interview on their arrival at accommodation, which includes questions designed to identify potential indicators of trafficking or safeguarding issues.
“Our priority is to stop the boats and disrupt the people smugglers. The government has gone further by introducing legislation which will ensure that those people arriving in the UK illegally are detained and promptly removed to their country of origin or a safe third country.”

Indeed. I don’t know why we are supposed to be welcoming unaccompanied people who may or, as experience has shown, may not be children. A detention centre is just that, not some homely welcoming place. It is not for staff to decide to decorate it as though it were a nursery. Whatever the age of the detainees, they have arrived without permission and deterrents are needed. A roof over their head, a bed, food and safety are provided pending the outcome of their asylum claims. At the expense of the taxpayer.

Baggs

Having murals painted over is hardly commensurate with curses wishing what is essentially torture on someone.

Bloody hell. Lighten up woman. This is a fine example of the wit of a much missed GN member. Witches curses aren't real, you know.

Germanshepherdsmum

As I understand it, the staff painted the murals without permission and he said it was a law enforcement centre.

sky news says the staff refused but were ordered to do it

news.sky.com/story/evil-home-office-paints-over-mickey-mouse-mural-at-child-asylum-seeker-centre-12916543

They refused to paint over the murals, yes, as I understand it. This is a detention centre, not a nursery.

Callistemon21

Grey walls, cells?
Without Mickey Mouse?
Bread and water?

This

Do you think immigration centres for unaccompanied children shouldn't have toys in either? How can having a sterile environment be in vulnerable children's best interests? and if we bring tax into the scenario, how does it cost any more tax to have a painted mural on the wall.

There is a psychology between art and trauma, it's why they paint children's hospitals with scenes and murals and why there is art in hospital. People going through trauma benefit from it

Lots of adults like Disney too, so I guess some 16 year olds might also like it.

Children’s hospitals can’t be compared with detention centres for people who have come here without permission, who could have stayed in another safe country.

Germanshepherdsmum

They refused to paint over the murals, yes, as I understand it. This is a detention centre, not a nursery.

Should we then remove all the comforting fun things in children's wards in hospitals then? After all, it's a hospital, not a nursery.

These are children, who may well be unaccompanied because their parents have been killed or imprisoned! Or they got separated on the incredibly arduous journey from their homelands! What is it in anyone that thinks it is right deliberately to remove something that might make them feel slightly more welcome and safe?

I make no comparison with hospitals. You might wish to make them feel welcome. As you will have realised, I don’t.

Long term it is better for children who arrive here to feel safe, it is my understanding that most stay. I'm also aware through my voluntary work, that volunteers are allowed to go into the centres and play with the children, help the families of those that cant stay. It is called humanity

JaneJudge

Long term it is better for children who arrive here to feel safe, it is my understanding that most stay. I'm also aware through my voluntary work, that volunteers are allowed to go into the centres and play with the children, help the families of those that cant stay. It is called humanity

That's good to hear JaneJudge.

My preference is for them not to come here and not to stay. Unless they have family here who can keep them without resorting to taxpayers’ money until such time as they pay their way.

Do you feel that about all vulnerable people who can't pay tax or is it limited to refugees?

I know precisely what you’re getting at and won’t rise to the bait.

It was a disgraceful act which desrves no support at all and shows the government in their true colours.Harsh in the extreme and not necessary. Who was he trying to impress ?
Interesting that the Lords are not willing to agree.

My preference would be for every country to be a safe place where people can live in peace regardless of their religion, ethnic group, sexuality..................There are so many very valid reasons why people become refugees. It's not an easy option. I think it's a measure of desperation that anyone, child or adult, would get into a rubber dinghy and risk their life or tuck themselves into the landing gear of a plane or any of the dangerous things people do to flee their country. When we "detain" unaccompanied children, we don't know who will qualify for refugee status or those who have been trafficked, or those who have had parents die on route. We don't their history or their traumas or their age or very much at all really. What we do know though, is they are people just like you and me, so I would prefer them to be treated with humanity.

I knew our agreement on another thread wouldn’t last long GSM
I really find your views on Refugees and others fleeing from violence, war, and poverty so hard to swallow when you are in a favourable position in life yourself

I totally agree Westendgirl it was despicable and I hope the people who are saying they will paint it straight back, manage to do so

Many or even most landing here would happily pay their way if they were allowed to work GSM Let’s hope you never fall on hard times and get treated with the hard hearted ways that you are in favour of

Beautiful post*foxie*that’s what any decent human being would wish for their fellow man.

Wish there was a like button here.

annodomini

Our late and much missed friend, Phoenix, had a good line in curses. Does anyone remember one?

I was only trying to be helpful!
😁

choughdancer

JaneJudge

Long term it is better for children who arrive here to feel safe, it is my understanding that most stay. I'm also aware through my voluntary work, that volunteers are allowed to go into the centres and play with the children, help the families of those that cant stay. It is called humanity

That's good to hear JaneJudge.

Seconded.

I feel great grief some wish to punish. It's not the world I want to live in. Do as you would be done by.