I have campaigned long and hard for the Government to stop this inhumane practice because of the damage caused to the children and young people involved. The Government gives a robust defence of its stance by bringing to our attention what it is doing to improve conditions for families held in immigration removal centres, and it tells us it is investigating using more community-based alternatives to detention.

I really do welcome these commitments. But I still remain deeply concerned with the number of children who are detained for immigration purposes, and the length of time which some are held. I am unconvinced that detention is always used as a last resort and for the shortest possible time. Moreover, a substantial number of families are released from detention, which raises serious questions over the need to lock them up in this way in the first place.

Taking children away from the communities they know to unfamiliar "prison-like" surroundings, when they have committed no crime, is extremely stressful and damaging to these children and young people. It is shameful that we treat children in this way in this country."

Sir Al Aynsley-Green
Children's Commissioner for England, London SE1

On the Independent's website