Scotland’s Dungavel asylum seeker removal centre has come under fire from the Scottish Executive’s cross party group on refugees, amid concerns about the detainees’ wellbeing.
The group, which included MSPs Tommy Sheridan and Shona Robison and Sophia Marriage of the Scottish Refugee Council, described the centre as being run like a prison.

  It also found access to be severely restricted.

After the visit the group outlined its concerns, emphasising that it could see no justification for the detention of children.

“The risk of absconding does not outweigh the damage being done to children being denied their freedom. Dungavel is not an appropriate place for families,” it said.

There was also concern about the length of time asylum seekers were detained – which in one case amounted to 18 months. The group called for an explanation for some of the detentions. Some detainees had been living in the community and were not at risk of absconding, it claimed.

Also highlighted was the lack of information on the number of asylum seekers being detained and their progress through the application process.

The findings will be passed on to the Home Office and Scottish Executive.

Source

Housing Today