UK IMMIGRATION NEWS

UK immigration system commits to protect children

Monday, 12 January 2009

The welfare of children in Britain’s immigration system is a top priority, according to new UK Border Agency guidelines announced on 6 January 2009.

The new Code of Practice lays down how youngsters should be treated during any stay in detention or while being transferred into local authority care. The Code is the first step in bringing the UK Border Agency into line with other UK government organisations concerned with the care of children.

The Code of Practice, among other things, contains the need to demonstrate:

• fair treatment which meets the same standard a British child would receive;
• the child's interests being made a primary, although not the only, consideration;
• no discrimination of any kind;
• having their asylum applications dealt with in a timely fashion; and
• identifying those that might be at risk from harm

Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:

"Treating children with care and compassion is a number one priority for the UK Border Agency. These new guidelines will reiterate that."

"It is right that the UK Border Agency is judged by the same standards as every other authority that deals with children. 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."

The UK Border Agency says that the majority of children are detained for not more than a week, and during that stay they are committed to treating them fairly and with compassion.

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