Post by earl on May 16, 2007 15:47:20 GMT
A government report says asylum seekers are being handcuffed on the ferry across the Irish Sea to Scotland.
HM Chief Inspector of Prison also lambasts the "poorly equipped police cells in Belfast" where asylum seekers are kept prior to their journey to Scotland's Dungavel detention centre.
This included a female asylum seeker who was five months pregnant.
The report focused on the Strathaven asylum centre but also looked at transportation to it.
Among Anne Owers' other findings were a lack of legal advice and an increase in the number of children being held at the centre.
The report found that 122 children had been kept at Dungavel during the first 11 months of last year compared with 94 in the previous 12 months.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons also uncovered that adult asylum seekers were even handcuffed when they left Dungavel with their children to attend hospital appointments.
Human Rights
The Northern Ireland Human Right Commission, which says it is "currently investigating the process of immigration detention in Northern Ireland" released a statement welcoming the report.
"The Chief Inspector's finding that asylum seekers in Northern Ireland were found to be spending nights in poorly-equipped police cells in Belfast before making lengthy journeys to Dungavel in Scotland mirrors our own concerns," it continued.
"Over the last 18 months, the commission has been highlighting the human rights abuses involved in the process of detaining asylum seekers, who are particularly vulnerable and are often fleeing persecution."
Home Office Minister Liam Byrne welcomed the report but said the Border and Immigration Agency would detain illegal immigrants "wherever necessary to preserve the strength of our borders".
"The report illustrates numerous examples of good and innovative practice in regards to welfare, induction, religious affairs and education and also applauds staff for creating a supportive and comfortable environment," Mr Byrne said.
"Since there are no plans for a detention centre in Northern Ireland, small numbers of detainees from Northern Ireland are transferred to Dungavel generally within a day.
'Control'
"The Border and Immigration Agency recognises and acknowledges the need to keep detainee transfers to a minimum, however it is sometimes necessary to transfer detainees for operational reasons."
A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern said the transport of BIA detainees to other parts of the UK was "performed by the BIA and is thus outside the control of the PSNI".
"Borders and Immigration Agency detainees are on occasion held in designated police custody suites in Northern Ireland," the spokesperson said.
"Whilst in the care of police, the detainees are afforded all the same conditions and access to appropriate persons as any other detained person."
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6660085.stm
HM Chief Inspector of Prison also lambasts the "poorly equipped police cells in Belfast" where asylum seekers are kept prior to their journey to Scotland's Dungavel detention centre.
This included a female asylum seeker who was five months pregnant.
The report focused on the Strathaven asylum centre but also looked at transportation to it.
Among Anne Owers' other findings were a lack of legal advice and an increase in the number of children being held at the centre.
The report found that 122 children had been kept at Dungavel during the first 11 months of last year compared with 94 in the previous 12 months.
HM Chief Inspector of Prisons also uncovered that adult asylum seekers were even handcuffed when they left Dungavel with their children to attend hospital appointments.
Human Rights
The Northern Ireland Human Right Commission, which says it is "currently investigating the process of immigration detention in Northern Ireland" released a statement welcoming the report.
"The Chief Inspector's finding that asylum seekers in Northern Ireland were found to be spending nights in poorly-equipped police cells in Belfast before making lengthy journeys to Dungavel in Scotland mirrors our own concerns," it continued.
"Over the last 18 months, the commission has been highlighting the human rights abuses involved in the process of detaining asylum seekers, who are particularly vulnerable and are often fleeing persecution."
Home Office Minister Liam Byrne welcomed the report but said the Border and Immigration Agency would detain illegal immigrants "wherever necessary to preserve the strength of our borders".
"The report illustrates numerous examples of good and innovative practice in regards to welfare, induction, religious affairs and education and also applauds staff for creating a supportive and comfortable environment," Mr Byrne said.
"Since there are no plans for a detention centre in Northern Ireland, small numbers of detainees from Northern Ireland are transferred to Dungavel generally within a day.
'Control'
"The Border and Immigration Agency recognises and acknowledges the need to keep detainee transfers to a minimum, however it is sometimes necessary to transfer detainees for operational reasons."
A spokesperson for the Police Service of Northern said the transport of BIA detainees to other parts of the UK was "performed by the BIA and is thus outside the control of the PSNI".
"Borders and Immigration Agency detainees are on occasion held in designated police custody suites in Northern Ireland," the spokesperson said.
"Whilst in the care of police, the detainees are afforded all the same conditions and access to appropriate persons as any other detained person."
news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/6660085.stm