Shocking misery of Rotherham's immigrant kids

There is concern about parenting responsibilities and health and sexual exploitation among the growing Slovakian Roma community residing mainly in Eastwood.

Evidence of human trafficking and fraud is also worrying Rotherham Borough Council, which faces mounting costs and stretched resources.

Community engagement and cohesion manager Zafar Saleem said in a Cabinet report: “The current issues being experienced are having a significant impact on council resources.

“Children’s services is having to fund a range of services such as free school meals, support for parents and accommodation costs due to safeguarding and overcrowding issues.”

Overcrowding presents welfare and fire safety issues but complicated laws have meant just three formal notices issued.

“The complexity of the law has made it difficult to pursue further cases,” said Mr Saleem. “However all legal options are being explored.

“Forty-eight people have left eight properties as a result of overcrowding and two non-compliant landlords are being taken to court.”

Almost 550 school age children have moved in to Rotherham in the past 12 months. Of these, 449 were from the EU, 379 of Roma origin and 26 were seeking asylum.

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Mr Saleem said: “In response to these significant changes in pupil demographics, the council has responded by fundamentally reorganising its services to this most vulnerable of groups.

“School performance and attendance are often key issues, although in Slovakia benefits are paid linked to school attendance.

“Safeguarding children and early intervention work is essential. When social services are involved there are reports of visits being made and additional children being found in properties, resulting in significantly higher numbers of assessments being required.”

The council’s neighbourhoods and waste management departments are also directly affected because of the additional visits, inspections, clean-ups and education programmes, as well as “essential” translation services.

Cllr Mahroof Hussain, Cabinet member for community development, said: “The council has a critical role to play in working with all our communities, ensuring they have appropriate and equal access to services, providing them with support and tackling inequalities.

“However, there is a balance to be struck between ensuring that the rights of those communities are respected and ensuring they accept and fulfil their own responsibilities.

“The recent report highlights actions taken by the council and our partners to make sure this happens, and demonstrates clearly where we will take action in future.”

The council and South Yorkshire Police co-ordinate a database of EU migrant families and explore funding opportunities. In the past year, there has been a series of interventions focused on the migrant community in Eastwood.

More than 150 litter fines were issued from January to September, more than a third of the Rotherham total.

A dozen went to court and the last one, in August, ended in a successful prosecution for littering Erskine Road. The defendant was ordered to pay £478, including a £100 fine.

Rotherham wardens and the enviro-crime enforcement officer patrol Eastwood for at least four hours a week.

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