DUNGAVEL DECISION – QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER CHILD DETENTION

DUNGAVEL DECISION – QUESTIONS REMAIN OVER CHILD DETENTION

HOME OFFICE CHARACTERISED BY CHAOS IN FIRST WEEK

Following a statement from the Home Office that children of asylum seekers will no longer be detained in Scotland at the Dungavel detention centre, but instead moved immediately to the Yarls Wood detention centre in England the SNP called for an explanation from the Home Office of events over the last week and an end to all child detention as soon as possible.

SNP MSPs will be seeking guarantees from the Home Office over the treatment of children from Scotland who are moved to Yarls Wood and that detention of children from Scotland is taking place only as a genuine last resort.

SNP MSP Christina McKelvie, who highlighted the failure of the Lib Dems to bring an end to the detention of children earlier this week said:

“If this is a genuine end to the detention of children at Dungavel then it may be a positive step forward, but it does not explain the actions of the Home Office this week or bring an end to the detention of under-16s in the asylum system.

“The Lib Dems claims on asylum and detention have been badly exposed and the Conservative’s chaotic Home Office appears once again to be unfit for purpose.

“Having failed at their first test we will be keeping a close eye on the commitments of this new Government to ensure that they live up to their word and do not slip back into the system of child detention so favoured by Labour ministers.”

Glasgow MSP Anne McLaughlin who supported Glasgow based 10 year old Precious Mhango and her mother Florence, who were detained at both Dungavel and Yarls Wood said:

“From Precious we know the horrific impact detention at Dungavel has on young children, but we also know that her experience at Yarls Wood was no better.

“By removing children immediately to Yarls Wood they are being taken away from the support networks and services they have built up in Scotland.

“The House of Commons has been highly critical of child detention in Yarls Wood and we must see this practice brought to an end across the UK as soon as possible.

“For Precious and her mother Florence being removed immediately to Yarls Wood would have reduced their access to the legal system. There must be guarantees from the new Government that children are only being detained as an absolute last resort and that no one will lose access to the law, or the ability to challenge the Home Office’s decision as a result of this move.

”1. House of Commons Home Affairs Committee report into the detention of Children http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmselect/cmhaff/73/7304.htm