Figures published by the Home Office show that a total of 11 children were held under Immigration Act powers last month (April) – nine of them at the Tinsley House removal centre in Gatwick, and two at Yarl’s Wood in Bedfordshire.
That brings the total number of children detained between April 2014 and March 2015 to 118.
Added to the figures for 2013/14 (182), 2012/13 (202), 2011/12 (156) and the single month of March 2011 (6), the total comes to 664 children since the coalition government’s commitment to end child detention came into effect.
Judith Dennis, policy manager at the Refugee Council, said the government has "broken its word".
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