News

No welfare assessments of children detained in an immigration removal centre have taken place 18 months after the government announced their introduction.

In December 2003 the Home Office said that the welfare and educational needs of any child detained in Dungavel, Scotland, for 21 days would be assessed.

But this week the Home Office confirmed that none had taken place. A spokesperson said that if children were detained for over three days they were now moved to Yarl's Wood.

But he confirmed that no assessments had begun at Yarl's Wood as an alternative or at any other immigration removal centre.

The spokesperson added that Bedfordshire Council was recruiting a social worker to be based at Yarl's Wood full-time and that they would carry out the assessments.