First Minister looks to close Dungavel centre

Alex Salmond last night revealed he is in talks with Westminster to have Scotland's only immigration detention centre closed down.

The First Minister's office said he has voiced his "strong disapproval" with Liam Byrne, the UK immigration minister, about the Dungavel facility and dawn raids on asylum seekers in Scotland.

"As a government, we have consistently and on many occasions outlined our fundamental opposition to dawn raids and the detention of children in Dungavel," Mr Salmond said.

"The Scottish Government should have responsibility for asylum seekers and immigration, then we could preclude the possibility of this appalling situation continuing."

Fiona Hyslop, the education secretary, is looking at the possibility of setting up hotel-like facilities for asylum seekers similar to the Nayland Rock Hotel project in Kent.

Christina McKelvie, SNP MSP for Central Scotland, whose constituency includes Dungavel, lodged a motion at the Scottish Parliament yesterday calling on the Scottish Government to ensure "families under detention or investigation by the Immigration Agency be kept out of Dungavel in alternative accommodation, including in their own homes, while their cases are resolved".

The Children's Commissioner, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, human rights and religious organisations have all condemned the detention of children in Dungavel.

Ms McKelvie said: “The determination of the UK Labour Government to continue locking up innocent children is abhorrent.  Regardless of the parent’s immigration status we should not be putting innocent children behind bars.

“The Scottish Government, the Children’s Commissioner and the Scottish Refugee Council have all called on the Home Office to use alternatives to Dungavel rather than detain innocent children behind barbed wire.

“Immigration may be reserved but morality and decency are not.  The introduction of a humane immigration and asylum system, ending the detention of children and the practice of dawn raids in this country is long overdue.

“Anyone taken into Dungavel should have access to a solicitor not be told they are 'over subscribed'.  That is a basic human right.

“There are some serious concerns about the detention policy being operated in Scotland as it is, but these revelations of the continued detention of children have taken those concerns to a new level.”