Children's welfare top priority says UK Immigration minister
January 07 2009 by Liam Clifford
The UK Border Agency is launching a new set of guidelines for how young people within the UK immigration system should be treated.
The code of practice, which will be included in the new Border, Citizenship and Immigration Bill, includes guidance on how to ensure the welfare of children being detained or being put into the care of the local authorities. The intention is to bring the Border Agency into line with all other government departments that deal with children.
UK Immigration minister, Phil Woolas, explains, "Treating children with care and compassion is a number one priority for the UK Border Agency....these rules bring together for the first time a common set of values all staff must abide by…No one wants to detain children and it only happens as a last resort, often because their parents seek to frustrate removal. In these difficult circumstances, we will treat children with the utmost sensitivity."
Most children are detained for less than a week and alternatives to detention are being actively tested in regions across the UK. However, while the detention of young people is still necessary, the new code will ensure that UKBA officials consider children’s welfare at every stage of their detention.
The guidelines include advice on making sure each child is treated as fairly as a British child would be, is not discriminated against and has their UK visa application dealt with swiftly. The code also includes a requirement that officials should try to identify children who are at risk from harm, with the child’s interests being the primary consideration.
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