Home Office broke its own rules on avoiding family separations

The Home Office broke its own rules when British children had to be taken into care after officials arrested their father.

The children, aged eight, six and five, were expecting to be collected from school near their home in Manchester by their father, Kenneth Oranyendu, 45, on Friday afternoon but instead social workers took them into care.

Oranyendu said his 17-year-old autistic son was in the family home and he was very concerned about his welfare.

“I don’t know where my youngest three children are at the moment. I haven’t been able to speak to them and I know they will be absolutely distraught,” he said.

Oranyendu has a conviction for drug trafficking. He claims he was duped into accepting parcels containing drugs. He has served a three-year jail sentence and faces deportation. A petition has been launched on change.org demanding that Oranyendu be allowed to remain in the UK with his family.

The four children and Oranyendu’s partner are all British citizens. His partner is in Nigeria to attend a family funeral and he was caring for the children.

Source: theguardian