Our reaction to reports of a dawn raid in Glasgow
In reaction to reports of a dawn raid taking place in Glasgow this week, Gary Christie, our Head of Policy and Communications, said:
‘We are very concerned about reports of a dawn raid in Glasgow. After the UK Coalition Government promised to end child detention in 2010 the Home Office undertook to improve the way in which children and families were treated in the asylum process.
‘The new Family Returns Process (FRP) that they have put in place was intended to treat families with children more humanely if their case had been refused. We have grave concerns about how this process is being rolled out in practice for a number of reasons.
Asylum-seeking families still confused and scared
‘We are not convinced that all the steps of the process, which were intended to give families time to come to terms with a refusal decision and to allow them space to think about options other than enforced removal, are being followed here in Scotland.
‘We are also highly concerned that individuals, communities and organisations working with asylum-seeking families are not being fully informed about the new process by the UK Border Agency. This has meant people in Glasgow are yet again filled with fear and panic over what could happen to them and their children.
UK Government must stick to its commitments on asylum-seeking children and families
‘It is absolutely vital that the UK Government sticks to its commitment to improve child welfare within the asylum system; and that the UK Border Agency staff working on the ground treat families and children with respect and care in all stages, particularly the end of the process, when families may be at their most vulnerable.’
