Ministers ‘will not give in over child refugees’

PROPOSALS to exclude child migrants from tough new measures to combat the Channel crisis were ruled out by the Government last night.

Tory backbencher Tim Loughton had tabled an amendment to the Illegal Migration Bill which would prevent under-18s being detained and swiftly removed from Britain.

But a Home Office source said the move could lead to large numbers of 17-yearolds getting into small boats.

Organised criminals involved in people trafficking would exploit the exclusion of under-18s, it was claimed.

The source added: ‘The amendment would create the possibility of traffickers creating “fake families” made up of strangers in a bid to take advantage of such a loophole.’

Mr Loughton also told the Commons the Government must introduce extended ‘safe and legal’ routes for asylum seekers before the rest of the Bill’s measures are introduced. The debate in the Commons on the Bill – and its amendments – will continue today.