"Unacceptable" child detention over Christmas
2009-12-23
The SNP has rounded on the UK Government over the detention of an untold number of children in immigration removal centres over Christmas.
In a parliamentary answer to SNP Home Affairs spokesperson Pete Wishart MP, the Home Office said it could make no “estimate of the number of families expected to be detained in immigration removal centres during Christmas 2009”. However, official UK Border Agency figures obtained by the SNP show the UK Government detained 1315 children in three detention centres across the UK over a 15 month period - over 100 of those in Scotland.
In a separate parliamentary answer, the Home Office also failed to say whether any special festive arrangements would be made for children detained over the festive period – though a recent report revealed that an Anglican church minister, dressed as Father Christmas and hoping to bring some festive cheer for detained children, was refused access to Yarls Wood removal centre amid angry scenes with security officials. Commenting, Mr Wishart said: “It is simply wrong to detain children at any time of year, but an untold number face a bleak Christmas behind barbed wire because this Labour government are unwilling to find alternatives.
“Detaining children in centres made for adults is immoral. Whatever the position of the parents, there is no justification for keeping children under lock and key.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about the sort of Christmas day these children will experience. I was astonished that Border Agency security even barred a church minister from delivering presents to one facility – it is like some Dickensian tale. “The Scottish Government’s success in bringing a pilot project to Glasgow to keep families out of Dungavel is welcome – but it is within the UK Government’s gift to end this practice once and for all. “Last year, Jim Murphy pledged to put a stop to child detention. A year on and he’s still making excuses. It’s simply not on. These disgraceful detentions should be on the Labour government’s conscience this Christmas.”
In a parliamentary answer to SNP Home Affairs spokesperson Pete Wishart MP, the Home Office said it could make no “estimate of the number of families expected to be detained in immigration removal centres during Christmas 2009”. However, official UK Border Agency figures obtained by the SNP show the UK Government detained 1315 children in three detention centres across the UK over a 15 month period - over 100 of those in Scotland.
In a separate parliamentary answer, the Home Office also failed to say whether any special festive arrangements would be made for children detained over the festive period – though a recent report revealed that an Anglican church minister, dressed as Father Christmas and hoping to bring some festive cheer for detained children, was refused access to Yarls Wood removal centre amid angry scenes with security officials. Commenting, Mr Wishart said: “It is simply wrong to detain children at any time of year, but an untold number face a bleak Christmas behind barbed wire because this Labour government are unwilling to find alternatives.
“Detaining children in centres made for adults is immoral. Whatever the position of the parents, there is no justification for keeping children under lock and key.
“It doesn’t bear thinking about the sort of Christmas day these children will experience. I was astonished that Border Agency security even barred a church minister from delivering presents to one facility – it is like some Dickensian tale. “The Scottish Government’s success in bringing a pilot project to Glasgow to keep families out of Dungavel is welcome – but it is within the UK Government’s gift to end this practice once and for all. “Last year, Jim Murphy pledged to put a stop to child detention. A year on and he’s still making excuses. It’s simply not on. These disgraceful detentions should be on the Labour government’s conscience this Christmas.”
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