In response to the Chief Inspector of Prisons reports on Dungavel and Tinsley House detention centres Maeve Sherlock, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:

“Yet again, the Chief Inspector of Prisons reports that the welfare needs of children in detention are not being met. We already know that detaining children is enormously harmful, the fact that facilities for children are totally inadequate adds insult to injury.

“It is time the government stopped detaining children altogether. It is rare that families do not remain in contact with authorities especially since their children are usually at school. Uprooting families with children and locking them up is an appalling practice. We urge the government to find other, more humane solutions.”

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For further information, please contact Hannah Ward at hannah.ward@refugeecouncil.org.uk or 020 7346 1213/6702 .
For urgent or out of hours inquiries ring 0870 0555500 & ask for pager 865169.