Experiences of Child Detention

The UK has declared child detention to be over; but there is still work to be done. It is true that child detention at Yarls Wood is over but there are still children being detained at border entry points to the country.

Even short term detention has been shown to have detrimental effects on the health of children.

‘Sarah Campbell, research and policy manager at Bail for Immigration Detainees said: "Children can experience extreme distress in detention even when only detained for short periods and the prison's inspector has already outlined sometimes appalling conditions in short-term holding facilities which are not suitable for children."
Source: Alexandra Topping, 'UKBA accused of breaking pledge to end child detention'. The Guardian, 16/10/2011.

In September 2010 the charity Medical Justice looked into the effects of detention on children and found some chilling results.  Information here.

For a look at some quotes and a video expressing the feelings of some children in detention please go here.