Two detention centres criticised by government reports
Inspectors at two detention centres have reported that children are being held in detention centres too long and many detainees experience “unacceptable conditions” - including having to sleep in corridors.
A report by HM Inspectorate of Prisons into Yarl’s Wood detention centre in Bedfordshire found that in a recent four-month period 83 children had been detained for over 28 days; that the average time children were being held had risen from eight to 15 days over the last two years and that there had been cases of disabled children being detained and families being transported in caged vans.
The report also criticised the centre for inaccurate monitoring of how long children were being held and inadequate education and after-school activities.
It stated: “An immigration removal centre can never be a suitable place for children and we were dismayed to find cases of disabled children being detained and some children spending large amounts of time incarcerated.”
“Despite the efforts of centre staff, prolonged detention was having a detrimental effect on the welfare and behaviour of children, whose fear and distress was strongly reflected in our children’s interviews.”
In another report by the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Tinsley House Immigration Removal Centre near Gatwick was criticised for a lack of legal advice for detainees and inadequate facilities for children and single women, whose accommodation was said to be “cramped and claustrophobic.” Detainees had been permitted to sleep in the corridors as poor ventilation meant the rooms were too stuffy.
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, asked: "How much more evidence does the government need of the harm detaining children causes before it puts a stop to it once and for all?"
"The length of time people are being detained is scandalous.
"We all agree that it is unacceptable to detain people without charge for long periods – think of the controversy over detaining terror suspects for 42-days – and yet the people detained in immigration removal centres have not been accused of any crime."
How the story was covered in the media:
BBC News: Migrant children ‘held too long’
BBC News: A Yarl’s Wood detainee speaks out
The Daily Telegraph: Children being held too long at immigration centre, report claims
The Argus: Asylum seekers forced to sleep in corridors of detention centre
The Guardian:Immigration removal centre rebuked for treatment of single women
Eight year old held in detention for over six weeks
The imprisonment of an eight year old who has been detained with his family in Yarl’s Wood detention centre since July 15 is to be challenged in the high court. Currently children can only be held in detention for more than 28 days with ministerial authorisation.
How the story was covered in the media:
The Guardian: High court to rule on incarceration of boy, eight, in detention centre
Rise in self-harming at detention centres
Incidents of self-harm in detention centres rose by 73 per cent in the last year, according to Home Office figures.
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, said: “It is unacceptable to detain people without charge for long periods. There is only one proper response to the unacceptably high level of self-harm in detention, and that is for the government to end its use of detention as part of its asylum policy.”
How the story was covered in the media:
The Independent: Alarming rise in self-harming at detention centres
Latest asylum statistics published by Home Office
The Home Office reported the lowest level of asylum applications since 1993, with Immigration Minister Liam Byrne claiming that “Britain’s borders are stronger than ever.” There were 23,430 new claims in 2007.
The number of asylum seekers housed in National Asylum Support Service accommodation in Birmingham and Leeds was also reported to have fallen by a third over the past year.
Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council, commented: “If the low numbers of asylum seekers to the UK were the result of the world becoming a safer, more peaceful place, then we would have something to celebrate.
“As it is, we have real concerns that people who need our help and protection are not able to get here to access it. We need to ensure that our borders remain open to refugees who are in fear for their lives.”
Refugee Council response to second quarterly asylum statistics
UK Borders Agency press release
How the story was covered in the media:
The Independent: East European immigration levels falling
Birmingham Post: Number of Birmingham asylum seekers down by a third, says Liam Byrne
Yorkshire Evening Post: Number of Leeds asylum seekers falls to 1,350
Proposals to block high court appeals by failed asylum seekers
A Home Office consulation paper proposes blocking failed asylum seekers from appealing to high court judicial review.
These cases would be heard by a tribunal instead.
“One in five appeals are successful – this clearly shows appeals provide a vital safety net,” said Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council.
“We must ensure that the process is of the highest quality and that it is subject to effective judicial scrutiny.”
How the story was covered by the media:
The Guardian: Ministers aim to block high court appeals by failed asylum seekers
Politics.co.uk: Failed asylum seekers denied appeals
Over 70 people feared drowned in attempt to reach Europe
71 people who were aboard a boat that was attempting to cross from Libya to Europe have been reported missing in the sea south of Malta after rough conditions overcame their vessel.
The survivors, who were rescued by a Maltese fishing boat, said their food and water had run out two days after leaving Libya and that the boat’s outboard engine had been torn off, leaving them adrift in heavy seas for seven days. Some died of exposure while others were swept away by waves breaking over the side.
Most of the people who boarded the boat in Libya were reported by the survivors as Eritreans and Sudanese. This incident follows a recent disaster in Spain where 25 people lost their lives attempting to cross to Europe from Africa.
“Even though they are aware of the tragedies, these people, who are desperate, continue trying to make the journey to Europe,” said Neil Falzon, head of the UNHCR office in Malta.
How the story was covered by the media:
The Guardian: Over 70 migrants feared killed on crossing to Europe
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund calls for applications for funding
The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund is calling for applications for funding by groups working with young refugees and asylum seekers.
“It’s very important that resources are directed right to the coalface, to community organisations providing direct services and advocacy with this group,” said David Farnsworth, head of the refugee and asylum seekers initiative at the fund.
“Key to the whole initiative is the need to get children and young people, who are also refugees or asylum seekers, treated like children and young people first. Ending the detention of children for immigration purposes is a major piece of work for us.”
The current grants round ends on 12 September.
Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund Refugee and Asylum Seekers initiative website
How the story was covered by the media:
Third Sector: Funding story: Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund
Out-of-hours social work team helps unaccompanied children at Heathrow
Community Care featured an article on how Hillingdon Council’s asylum service team helps young asylum seekers who arrive alone at Heathrow Airport.
Since October 2007, a new out-of-hours team has been established so that all unaccompanied minors can be met and assessed by a social worker, whatever time they arrive at the airport, allowing the council to respond to the needs of unaccompanied children much faster.
Communitycare.co.uk: Hillingdon social work team eases children into UK life
Immigration updates from ILPA
The Immigration Law Practitioners Association published updates on changes to immigration law. Topics covered included Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights (the right to private and family life), families of European Economic Area nationals, the right to marry and information on the new Points Based System.
ILPA immigration update
ILPA update on Article 8
ILPA update on families of EEA nationals
ILPA update on the right to marry
ILPA updates on the new Points Based System:
General information
Skilled workers
Students
Asylum seeker film wins award at US festival
Trouble Sleeping, which covers the battles faced by asylum seekers in Edinburgh, has won the prize for Best Narrative Feature at the Peace on Earth Film Festival in Chicago.The film was made with the help of Edinburgh asylum seekers and was recently shown on BBC Two and at the Edinburgh International Film Festival.
How the story was covered by the media:
Edinburgh Evening News: City asylum seeker film scoops global award
