This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2016/sep/29/asylum-seekers-in-scotland-at-risk-of-being-funnelled-out-of-country

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Asylum seekers in Scotland at risk of being moved to England Asylum seekers in Scotland at risk of being moved to England
(35 minutes later)
Vulnerable asylum seekers are at risk of being funnelled out of Scotland and away from family, friends and legal representation under new detention plans that are being challenged by politicians and campaigners. Vulnerable asylum seekers are at risk of being “funnelled” out of Scotland and away from family, friends and legal representation under detention plans that are being challenged by politicians and campaigners.
Both the Scottish government and local SNP MPs have called for “urgent clarity” about Home Office proposals to build a short-term holding facility near Glasgow airport to replace the controversial Dungavel immigration removal centre. The Scottish government and local Scottish National party MPs have called for “urgent clarity” about Home Office proposals to build a short-term holding facility near Glasgow airport to replace the controversial Dungavel immigration removal centre.
Robert Goodwill, the new immigration minister, said at the beginning of September that the Lanarkshire centre, which has been condemned as “barbaric and inhumane” and the focus of numerous protests, will shut down towards the end of 2017 in an announcement that is believed to have taken the Scottish government and the asylum sector by surprise. Robert Goodwill, the immigration minister, said at the beginning of September that the centre in Lanarkshire, which has been condemned as “barbaric and inhumane” and has been the focus of numerous protests, will shut towards the end of 2017. The announcement is believed to have taken the Scottish government and the asylum sector by surprise.
Groups including the Scottish Refugee Council, Amnesty and Detention Action are worried that the short-term airport facility, where individuals can only be held for a limited period, will result in asylum detainees being wrenched away from their support networks. Groups including the Scottish Refugee Council, Amnesty International and Detention Action said they were worried that the short-term airport facility, where individuals can only be held for a limited period, will result in asylum detainees being taken away from their support networks.
Since there is no long-term centre north of Lincolnshire, those removed from Scotland will be many hours away from friends and family. They will also face serious jurisdictional difficulties as they find themselves under a different legal system, may need to abandon any pending legal challenges in the Scottish courts, and find new representation in England. There is no long-term centre north of Lincolnshire, so those removed from Scotland will be many hours’ drive away from friends and family. They will also face jurisdictional difficulties as they find themselves under a different legal system. This means they may need to abandon any pending legal challenges in the Scottish courts and find new representation in England.
On Thursday evening, Renfrewshire Council will discuss a series of motions noting the lack of consultation over the proposals – which still require planning permission – and expressing similar concerns.On Thursday evening, Renfrewshire Council will discuss a series of motions noting the lack of consultation over the proposals – which still require planning permission – and expressing similar concerns.
Kenny MacLaren, deputy leader of the council’s SNP group and one of the local councillors for the proposed area of the new centre, said: “Simply moving the centre doesn’t address the concerns of many campaigners about the inhumane treatment that detainees have received at Dungavel.” Kenny MacLaren, the deputy leader of the council’s SNP group and one of the local councillors for the proposed area of the new centre, said: “Simply moving the centre doesn’t address the concerns of many campaigners about the inhumane treatment that detainees have received at Dungavel.”
MacLaren, who said that a number of constituents had already approached him with their concerns, added: “There is a danger that a new centre so close to the airport will result in rapid transfer of detainees, moving them further away from their families, friends and communities and making it harder for them to challenge their deportation.” He said a number of constituents had already approached him with their concerns. “There is a danger that a new centre so close to the airport will result in rapid transfer of detainees, moving them further away from their families, friends and communities and making it harder for them to challenge their deportation.”
Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International’s Scotland programme director, told the Guardian: “The context is the Brexit momentum behind restricting freedom of movement and the implementation of the Immigration Act 2016, which is about finding, reporting and deporting “illegal immigrants”. I’m increasingly pessimistic that this new facility is about funnelling people down to England away from their friends, networks and importantly, legal representation in Scotland.” Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty’s Scotland programme director, told the Guardian: “The context is the Brexit momentum behind restricting freedom of movement and the implementation of the Immigration Act 2016, which is about finding, reporting and deporting ‘illegal immigrants’. I’m increasingly pessimistic that this new facility is about funnelling people down to England away from their friends, networks and importantly, legal representation in Scotland.”
The UK government has argued that the closure of Dungavel would mean “a significant saving for the public purse” because the new facility would provide easy access to London airports, where most removals take place. The UK government has argued that the closure of Dungavel would mean “a significant saving for the public purse” because the new facility would provide easy access to London airports, from where most removals occur.
But Kate Alexander, director of Scottish Detainee Visitors, insists that there is little evidence to show that short-term facilities mean that people are removed more quickly. The most recent figures for Larne House, Northern Ireland’s short term holding facility, show that 44% of inmates were removed to another detention centre. Kate Alexander, the director of Scottish Detainee Visitors, said there was little evidence to show that short-term facilities led to people being removed more quickly. The most recent figures for Larne House, Northern Ireland’s short-term holding facility, showed 44% of inmates were moved to another detention centre.
Alexander adds that, in contrast with longer-term facilities, short-term units operate with no equivalent rules regarding the protection of inmates, with ongoing concerns about conditions and, in particular, treatment of women. She said that, in contrast with longer-term facilities, short-term units operated with no equivalent rules regarding the protection of inmates, resulting in concerns about conditions and, in particular, the treatment of women.
The Scottish Refugee Council notes that a previous guarantee Dungavel would no longer detain children simply resulted in families being moved to England. The Scottish Refugee Council said a previous guarantee that Dungavel would no longer detain children resulted in families being moved to England.
SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Gavin Newlands, is awaiting a meeting with Robert Goodwill to discuss the proposed move to his constituency, which he has noted “raises issues locally as well as on the UK government’s immigration policy.” The SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, Gavin Newlands, said he was waiting for a meeting with Goodwill to discuss the proposed move to his constituency, which he has noted “raises issues locally as well as on the UK government’s immigration policy”.
Nicola Sturgeon has also noted her “significant concerns” about the new facility, telling the Hollyrood parliament: “I think what all of us would want to see is a system that replaces Dungavel that is more humane than it, not less humane.” The first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has told the Scottish parliament: “I think what all of us would want to see is a system that replaces Dungavel that is more humane than it, not less humane.”