Four child asylum seekers who were held in detention centres for 13 months from 2002 have today won a six-figure compensation payout from the Home Office. In response Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:
“This case is one awful example of the traumatising and long-lasting effects detention can have on children, that no amount of compensation from the Home Office can repair. We celebrated when the coalition government pledged to end the detention of children, but remain disappointed that although conditions for children are slightly better, the new family removals process still includes detention. We will continue to campaign for child detention to end once and for all until no other children are locked up by what is supposed to be a civilised state.”
ENDS
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Guardian: Child asylum seekers win payout for 13 month detention