Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre in Scotland is set to close by the end of 2017, the Government has announced.

It will be replaced by a new short-term holding facility close to Glasgow Airport if the plans are approved by Renfrewshire Council.

Refugee Council Head of Advocacy Dr. Lisa Doyle said: “For many years, asylum seekers have been regularly and arbitrarily detained in Dungavel, so its closure is an important step forward. Instead of building a new centre in its place, the UK Government should focus on phasing out the costly and cruel detention of asylum seekers completely.”