Health experts call for end to detaining child immigrants

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the UK Faculty of Public Health say the practice is "harmful" and "unacceptable".

Each year around 1,000 children are detained in immigration removal centres in the UK.

The children are members of families identified for enforced removal from Britain. They are detained indefinitely under administrative order without time limit and without judicial oversight.

Almost a third of children are detained for longer than a month.

Dr Rosalyn Proops, officer for child protection at the RCPCH, said: "We are very concerned about the health and welfare of children in immigration detention.

"These children are among the most vulnerable in our communities and detention causes unnecessary harm to their physical and mental health.

"The current situation is unacceptable and we urge the government to develop alternatives to detention without delay."

Professor Steve Field, chairman of the RCGP, said: "Detaining children for any length of time – often without proper explanation – is a terrifying experience that can have lifelong consequences.

"As well as the potential psychological impact, these children invariably experience poor physical health as they cannot access immunisation and preventative services.

"As a civilised society, we cannot sit back and allow these practices to continue – they are unethical and unacceptable.