Editorial: Immigrant children remain children first

It's not before time. Police forces and youth offending teams, after all, are among those professionals already covered by Section 11. The move to bring UKBA into the fold is significant for two reasons. First, child safety is a pressing issue for those agencies that have the first contact with a child, and this is the case with the immigration service. And second, the powers of immigration officers and private contractors have been strengthened in recent years amid a heightened threat of terrorism, but there has been no counterbalancing law or policy to protect children. So while the UKBA's main purpose is still to protect borders, the move shows the Home Office is at least trying to bring about a cultural change in the organisation, driven by immigration minister Liam Byrne. Staff there will be encouraged to think about people who enter the immigration system as individuals with needs and special circumstances, in a way they probably haven't before.