In response to the Chief Inspector of Prisons report into short term holding centres Maeve Sherlock, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:

“These findings are very worrying, and they add to the increasingly long list of problems being experienced throughout detention services.

“There is a clear and urgent need for all detention and removal procedures to be reviewed. We would urge the government to re-think its policy of detaining people, particularly families with children, at all stages of the asylum process. Above all, the safety and dignity of all those being detained is of paramount importance.”

Ends

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

Links and information:

Previous press release: Refugee Council leads call for a government review of detention centres following BBC documentary [4 Mar 2005]