A mother and her four-year-old daughter have become the first family to be evicted under the government’s policy that can lead to failed asylum seekers having their children taken into care, it emerged this week, writes Amy Taylor.

The 26-year-old, who has asked not to be named, and her daughter, are staying with a friend in Rochdale, Greater Manchester after being evicted from their home by the local council.

A Rochdale Council spokesperson said that the local authority had known that the woman had somewhere else to go when it decided to evict the pair. He added that the council was providing financial support for the child in line with its legal responsibilities.

The policy, contained in section 9 of the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc) Act 2004, removes benefits, including rent money, from asylum seeker families whose claims have failed and who refuse to leave the country voluntarily.

Up until now all families who have had their benefits removed under the policy have been allowed to stay in their homes by the councils involved.