In response to the publication of the first quarterly asylum stats for 2010, Donna Covey, Chief Executive of the Refugee Council said:

“Initial decision making in the asylum system continues to give cause for concern, with 27% of appeals being successful. The new government has pledged to review the speed of asylum decision making, and it is essential that this review focuses on the importance of getting decisions right first time.

“It should be noted that 230 children entered immigration detention in the first three months of this year and that of those remaining in detention on 31st March 2010 under Immigration Act powers 33% had been detained longer than 28 days. The longer a child is detained the more harm is caused to their long term well being.

“Furthermore of the 200 released from detention during the period 110 (55%) were released back into the community. This suggests that they had been wrongly detained in the first place. This is unacceptable and we look forward to the government honouring its commitment to end the practice of detaining children, so that families no longer experience such trauma.”