His comment follows a damning report by Anne Owers, the chief inspectorof prisons, on three British centres in the French port of Calais."There was no child protection policy in any of the centres and none hadadequate childcare and child protection procedures," she said. "Staffhad not undergone enhanced Criminal Records Bureau checks at the time ofinspection and none of the custody staff had received child protectiontraining."
Staff referred to one centre as the "dog kennels". Owers said: "Theconditions are not suitable for anybody, let alone children. There isthe question of whether French or English law applies in these centres.When we went nobody knew."
The Home Office has since said that English law applies. But Owers saidthe Government must still answer questions. "Have they made links withlocal safeguarding children boards? How will this work in Calais?" sheasked. Her report also shows that social services were not involved atthe centres.
Lisa Nandy, policy adviser at The Children's Society, agreed: "Wehaven't had satisfactory answers from the Government on whatsafeguarding arrangements are in place. Until we do we can't be certainthat these children are safe."
Nancy Kelley, head of international and UK policy at the RefugeeCouncil, said: "The Government should immediately extend the duty tosafeguard and promote the welfare of children under section 11 of theChildren Act 2004 to cover immigration officials in these settings, aswell as private contractors managing the facilities."
Owers was also critical of short-term holding facilities at HeathrowAirport. "None of the five facilities was fit to hold detaineesovernight, or to hold children. Families and single men were heldtogether, and staff lacked child protection training or adequatecriminal records checks. Basic requirements for overnight stays -blankets to keep warm, toiletries, places to stretch out - were notavailable in all centres, though all held detainees overnight andsometimes for up to 36 hours," she said.
While admitting the possible need for more independent monitoring,immigration minister Tony McNulty insisted that the Immigration Servicetook the welfare of immigration detainees seriously, and said it hadalready implemented a number of Anne Owers's recommendations, includingcriminal record checks on staff and child protection training.
But according to Nandy: "What's really worrying is that these centresare another step removed from transparency, which is another barrier tomaking sure these children are safe."
- www.homeoffice.gov.uk.
