Not a minor offence: Unaccompanied children locked up as part of the asylum system

This report focuses on children and young people who have arrived in the UK separated from their parents or usual guardians. Not believed to be the age they say they are by social workers or immigration, they are detained in immigration removal centres as adults. The Refugee Council works with many of these young people and helps them to get released from immigration detentions. Recent figures show that in the first three months of this year, six were released from detention after being found to be children, four cases are outstanding.
– in 2011, 22 were released from detention after being found to be children
– in 2010, 26 were released from detention after being found to be children.
The Refugee Council is calling on the government to end the detention of children once and for all, by ensuring safeguards are put in place to prevent unaccompanied children from being detained.