Statement on Yarl's Wood legal challenge

11.27.53pm GMT Tue 2nd Mar 2010

Lawyers are challenging the incarceration

Henry Vann has backed calls for a judicial review into the incarceration of innocent people in Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre.

Lawyers acting on behalf of Women imprisoned in Yarl's Wood Immigration Detention Centre are launching legal action against their incarceration.

The lawyers have called for a judicial review of the detention. Alleging that it is "cruel, inhumane and degrading" and that it breaches articles 3, 5 and 8 of the European convention on human rights.

Henry Vann, Bedford and Kempston Parliamentary Campaigner for the Liberal Democrats said:

"The truth must out, and the call for a judicial review offers just that opportunity. Despite recent improvements, many concerns remain and child detention must stop immediately.

"When more humane, and more affordable options for keeping track of illegal immigrants are available, it beggars belief that the incarceration of innocent people in this Gulag-like system continues.

"The Liberal Democrats are the only party to pledge the closure of Yarl's Wood."

Chris Huhne, the Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for the Home Department, said:

"We need to know the truth about the conditions of inmates and about how long people are being detained for. It is simply unacceptable to incarcerate women with young children for long periods of time when other countries have already ­pioneered more civilised alternatives such as tagging."