Holding children at Harmondsworth detention centre should be avoided wherever possible and in any case no child should stay there for more than a week, according to the government’s prisons inspectorate.

In its first report on the centre, the inspectors found 25 children detained there with their families. In her introduction, chief inspector of prisons Ann Owers said, “Staff had a child-centred approach and good child protection procedures were in place.  However, we considered that staffing levels on the units were too low to ensure security and provide practical help to children and their families; and creche staff and managers needed further training.

“In spite of some good teaching, we did not believe that the educational, recreational or developmental needs of children could be met for anything except a very short period.”

In general the inspectors found that Harmondsworth provided neither a safe nor a respectful environment.  “Many of the systematic problems that detainees experienced at Harmondsworth have already been covered in the Inspectorate's six previous removal centre reports, and need to be addressed centrally.”

They include: the inability of the Immigration Service to progress cases efficiently, or to communicate effectively with detainees; the absence of sufficient competent legal advice and representation; the need for independent welfare advice to assist detainees to deal with practical problems during detention and on removal; and the need for more activities for detainees, including the ability to work.

An inspection of Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre. HM Inspectorate of Prisons.