Childcare at asylum detention centres criticised
The chief inspector of prisons, Anne Owers, has described the care afforded to children at immigration detention centres as “seriously deficient”.
She found that the Tinsley House facility near Gatwick had no dedicated child protection officer and failed to carry out the correct security checks on staff.
In a separate report, she described the childcare at the Dungavel centre in Lanarkshire, which holds failed asylum seekers awaiting deportation, as “inadequate”.
Ms Owers said staff at Scotland’s only immigration detainment centre were doing their best but claimed many recommendations made two years ago had not been implemented.
The chief inspector blamed the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND) for much of the poor care, saying it has not provided adequate guidance to the private companies who operate the detention centres.
“I remain extremely concerned about the welfare of children in all the immigration removal centres we have inspected,” she said.
“The Home Office’s Immigration and Nationality Directorate needs to take action to make sure professional and appropriate care is in place wherever children may be detained, including independent social service assessments of their needs and risks.”
Despite concerns over the child protection, Dungavel received a positive response from the inspector for its work in meeting several other recommendations, while Tinsley House was also praised for its suicide and self harm prevention.
Following the report, representatives from the Home Office and the Scottish Executive have stated that action must be taken to improve the situation.
