Barnardo's affirms commitment to failed asylum seekers' welfare

Barnardo's agreed in March to run family welfare services at the government's PDA centre in Pease Pottage, West Sussex, part of the government’s pledge to end the detention of children for immigration purposes.

The centre, on a school site near Gatwick Airport, will have nine apartments for families surrounded by a 2.3m-high fence. Children will be able to be held at the centre for up to 72 hours under the government’s plans.

But speaking at an event in London today (7 July), Barnardo’s chief executive Anne Marie Carrie set out "red lines", warning action will be taken if the welfare and dignity of any asylum-seeking family or child is at risk.

She said: "Barnardo’s decision to provide welfare and social care services to asylum-seeking families at the new pre-departure accommodation goes back to our core purpose; supporting the most vulnerable children in the UK.

"However, I am absolutely clear that if policy and practice fall short of safeguarding the welfare, dignity and respect of families then Barnardo’s will raise concerns, will speak out and, ultimately, if we have to, we will withdraw our services.

"Our goal is to ensure that the whole immigration process supports children. We already run services across the UK for refugee and asylum-seeking families, and from day one Barnardo’s has insisted it should only ever be used as a last resort. 

"I assure you our involvement in the PDA will not stop us campaigning tirelessly on behalf of asylum-seeking families."

Among the charity's requirements are that:

• It is free to speak out about any concerns;
• Families should not have to stay at the PDA more than once, or for longer than the one week, due to UKBA procedural error;
• Tinsley House immigration removal centre, not considered to be as child-friendly as Pease Pottage, must not be used as an overflow for families if Pease Pottage is full;
• Officers must not use disproportionate force on a family en route to or from the accommodation;
• An immediate review of personnel at the PDA be carried out should Barnardo’s report concerns around any member of staff’s behaviour towards families and children;
• A hardship fund be established so that Barnardo’s staff can help families with immediate costs incurred on return to their countries.

Barnardo’s has also called on the government to be held accountable to its commitment to end child detention and release figures each year on the number of families returned through voluntary, assisted, required or enforced return.

The charity said it will withdraw its services if after a year more than 10 per cent of these families are accommodated and returned through the PDA. As the process is new, this test will be applied by Barnardo’s after August 2012.