JIM MURPHY QUESTIONED ON DUNGAVEL'S LATEST CHILD DETENTION.

JIM MURPHY QUESTIONED ON DUNGAVEL'S LATEST CHILD DETENTION.

NEW DETENTION OF CHILD BREAKS PREVIOUS PROMISE

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie has written to the Secretary of State for Scotland, Jim Murphy, asking him what he is doing to reverse the recent detention of a young boy at Dungavel. Fatou Felicite Gaye and her four-year-old son Arouna were held after a dawn raid in Sighthill, Glasgow this week and are now in Dungavel.

This most recent detention flies in the face of assurances given by Mr Murphy committed in October 2008 to ensure the ending the detention of children at Dungavel.

Central Scotland MSP Ms McKelvie whose constituency includes Dungavel said;

"It has never been right to detain a child in Dungavel and there is no excuse for the UK Government's actions this week concerning Fatou Felicite Gaye and her son Arouna. Arouna has already suffered and been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder caused by previous interaction with the Border Agency

"This is a clear and disgraceful breach of Jim Murphy's assuances last October to end the detention of children and breaks the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

"Only days after the Scottish Government announced a joint pilot with the UK Borders Agency to provide alternatives to locking innocent children up in Dungavel the UK Immigration Agency has done just that.

"The UK Government are detaining a child born in Scotland in an immigration centre that is not fit for children. This is an absolute disgrace.

"Jim Murphy has repeatedly failed to answer questions on the number of children held in Dungavel or to guarantee that no child would be held there in future. Now we know at least one child is in Dungavel and that is one too many."

1. The detention of a woman and her four year old son at Dungavel is reported here;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/glasgow_and_west/8050550.stm

2. The Scotland Office commitment to end detention of children at Dungavel is here;

http://www.scotlandoffice.gov.uk/scotlandoffice/9722.html

3. Ms McKelvie’s letter to Jim Murphy follows:

Jim Murphy MP

Secretary of State for Scotland

Dover House
Whitehall
LONDON
SW1A 2AU

Dawn raid and Dungavel

Dear Mr Murphy,

I am sure that you are aware of the case of Fatou Felicite Gaye and her four-year-old son Arouna. They were held after a dawn raid in Sighthill, Glasgow yesterday and are now in Dungavel.

You are, I am sure aware that the young boy, who was born in Scotland, has suffered and been treated for post-traumatic stress disorder caused by previous interaction with the Border Agency and is still being treated – or was before he was taken from his bed in the early hours of yesterday morning.

You will also be aware of the concerns expressed over a considerable period of time about the detention of children in Dungavel that led to your discussions and subsequent agreements with the Scottish Government on the issue and which you press released on only three days ago. The pilot project may have a start date in June but the spirit of it was shattered yesterday morning and that should be a matter of great concern for all of us.

Can I ask you to do what you can to resolve the current situation first and ensure that this young child gets the medical treatment he will need to help him recover from the ordeal, then to visit this mother and child to hear their story yourself, and finally to ensure that the spirit of the project you lauded on Tuesday is adhered to from now on.

I look forward to your early reply.

Yours sincerely,

Christina McKelvie MSP