News

Child detention to end but new system is queried

Child detention is to be phased out and will end completely by next May, deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has said.

The family wing of Yarl's Wood immigration centre, in Bedfordshire,closed in December. Mr Clegg pledged that no child would be held indetention over Christmas.

An end to child detention was one of the agreements made by the LiberalDemocrats and Conservatives when they formed the coalition in May (News,19 May).

Mr Clegg said, 'The coalition Government has always been clear that thedetention of children for immigration purposes is unacceptable. We areplacing the welfare of children and families at the centre of a fairerand more compassionate system. In recent years we have seen hundreds ofchildren who have committed no crime locked up in detention centres.Today we show how we will ensure it never happens again.'

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