IT is right that the squalid, sprawling shanty-town near Calais is being torn down.

No one - especially children – should be living in filthy and lawless conditions where criminal gangs prey on the vulnerable.

Dispersing refugees to centres around France does not, however, constitute a solution to the crisis.

For the next few days, buses will carry migrants away before heavy machinery clears the tents and shelters that have been left behind. French authorities hope that whole operation will take about three days to complete.

Finding a longer-term fix that prevents other camps appearing across northern France in the coming months – and secures safe haven for the youngsters who called the camp their home – will take a great deal longer.

After months of debate and delay French president Francois Hollande, no doubt with one eye on next year’s presidential election, has taken what he hopes will be decisive action over a site that’s become an embarrassment to his government.

His ministers, with help from Britain, should now ensure there is a robust system for processing asylum and immigration assessments so refugees get help and those who are not refugees sent home.

Last time part of the camp was cleared, more than 100 children went missing. Many are feared to have fallen victim to trafficking and sexual exploitation, so urgent action is needed to get all the unaccompanied children and teenagers to safety this time around.

And much more needs to be done to prevent people ending up in Calais in the first place, such as action against the trafficking gangs.

Hacking down the Jungle feels like the right thing to do, but without a sustainable solution to the humanitarian crisis this deeply-rooted problem will simply spring up elsewhere.