A study by a team of doctors at the Yarl’s Wood Immigration Removal Centre has revealed that children exposed to prolonged detention in UK immigration centres are at a high risk of developing serious mental and physical health problems.

In what is believed to be the first study of its kind the evidence is clear that children are severely harmed by detention. The main problems were depression and anxiety which stemmed from enforced incarceration, with most of the children having arrived in the UK as asylum seekers.

The study, published last week, revealed that psychologists and paediatricians reported that within the group of two dozen children in the Removal Centre that were studied, around 73% had developed some form of clinical depression. None had ever shown signs of similar problems in the past. The symptoms developed in spite of the efforts of well-intentioned staff.

The study has prompted the doctors to call on the government to urgently address its policy of detaining minors. The group also suggested further clinical tests should be undertaken into the safety and health of children who are held in detention centres.

The UK Border Agency claimed that care and compassion is a priority when it comes to dealing with children but pointed out that there are often outside influences frequently make enforced detention inevitable.

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