Children's Commissioner reports on Yarl's Wood (North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats)

North Bedfordshire Liberal Democrats <bedford@bedfordlibdems.org>

Children's Commissioner reports on Yarl's Wood

February 28, 2010 12:00 AM

The Children's Commissioner has said that 'the detention of children for immigration control should cease'

The Children's Commissioner has published a report highlighting ongoing concerns and maintaining the view that 'the detention of children for immigration control should cease'.

Henry Vann, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Campaigner for Bedford and Kempston said:

"It is obviously welcome that improvements have been made, but child detention should simply not be happening in the UK. The Children's Commissioner is absolutely right to call for the detention of children to come to an end.

"The way children are arrested is still deeply concerning and early morning raids continue. Having visited Yarl's Wood and listened to the experiences of children, it is clear these raids are a horrifying and fearful experience, with no time for children to collect belongings and little explanation of what is happening.

"Despite immigration officials' hard work to mitigate the distress caused, the very nature of our system is inappropriate at best, and cruel at worst. Child detention must stop."

"Yarl's Wood Befrienders, Women for Refugee Women, and Medical Justice are some of the organisations that provide vital, much needed support, and their work cannot be praised enough."