CHILD DETENTION FIGURES REVEALED - UK DETAINS OVER 100 CHILDREN IN DUNGAVEL

CHILD DETENTION FIGURES REVEALED - UK DETAINS OVER 100 CHILDREN IN DUNGAVEL

OVER 1200 DETAINED ACROSS THE UK

NEARLY 500 FAMILIES HELD FOR OVER A MONTH

The SNP has today revealed the numbers of children held in detention by
the UK Borders Agency.

After several attempts SNP MP Pete Wishart finally obtained figures,
normally used for internal Border Agency information only, revealing that:

• between October 2008 and September 2009 103 children were detained
at Dungavel in Scotland

• between July 2008 and July 2009 884 children were held at Yarls
Wood in England

• between Sept 2008 and August 2009 328 children were held at
Tinsley House

• 1315 children were detained in three detention centres across the
UK in a 15 month period

• In the last 5 years 889 children from 488 families have been held
for over 28 days – this requires ministers to personally approve continued
detention.

• A record 212 children from 122 families were referred for detention
beyond 28 days in 2008/09

This is the first time the Government has confirmed the numbers of
children in detention.

Mr Wishart had initially asked for the figures in July but was told the
Government did not keep such information. The figures were finally
released after newspaper reports suggested the figures were held by
Government.

The SNP Scottish Government is opposed to the detention of children in
Dungavel and Scottish Government efforts have led to the establishment of
a pilot project intended to keep children out of the centre. However
these figures show the UK Government has continued to detain children in
Scotland despite this opposition.

Pete Wishart MP, the SNP’s Home Affairs spokesman said:

“It is no wonder the UK Government did not want to release these figures.
They are detaining the equivalent of a high school every year across the
UK and over 100 children in Scotland.

“Detaining children in centres made for adults is simply wrong.

“Whatever the position of the parents, children should not be detained
behind barbed wire.

“That 103 children have been held in Scotland – where the Scottish
Government is firmly against child detention is deeply disturbing. It’s
time for the UK Government to end this practice.

“The Scottish Government’s success in bringing a pilot project to Glasgow
to keep families out of Dungavel is welcome, but it seems the UK
Government is determined to ignore it’s commitments to end child detention
in Scotland all together.

Commenting on detention of children for more than 28 days Mr Wishart added:
“There was outcry across the political spectrum when the Government
increased detention without trial for adults from 28 to 42 days – yet they
are able to detain children under immigration laws with out comment.

“These figures show nearly 200 children a year are being held for more
than four weeks. Regardless of what provision is made for children in
these centres they are that they are being held behind bars is
unacceptable.

“I will be pursuing this issue with the UK Government. Children’s welfare
is not well served by the UK’s actions and regardless of their parents
immigration status children should not have to pay this price.”