News

No welfare assessments of children detained in an immigration removal centre have taken place more than a year after the government announced the policy, Community Care has learned, writes Amy Taylor.

In December 2003, the Home Office said that the welfare and educational needs of any child who was detained at Dungavel in Scotland for 21 days would be assessed to make sure that their needs were being met. But Home Office officials confirmed that, so far, none have taken place.

The government said the assessments would also be rolled out to other centres with children, Oakington and Tinsley House.

Sarah Cutler, policy and research officer at the charity Bail for Immigration Detainees, said that the lack of assessments showed a “blatant disregard” of detained children’s needs.

In November 2004, a report by the chief inspector of prisons Anne Owers found that procedures for safeguarding children at Oakington during an inspection in the summer were inadequate. “With a report that damning you would expect that the government would move quickly on carrying out assessments,” Cutler said.

However, a Home Office spokesperson insisted that, despite the lack of assessments, any welfare concerns about a child were drawn to the minister’s attention. They added that the government was working to “establish protocols” with South Lanarkshire social services department for the assessments at Dungavel.