Exclusive: No child welfare assessments at Dungavel

No welfare assessments of children detained in an immigration
removal centre have taken place 18 months after the government
announced the policy, writes Amy
Taylor.

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.

However, he confirmed 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 currently
recruiting a social worker to be based at Yarl’s Wood on a
full-time basis and that they would carry out the assessments.

Sarah Cutler, policy and research officer at charity Bail for
Immigration Detainees, said that a number of families were still
being held in removal centres for over 21 days and that the
assessments were urgently needed.