Dungavel Immigration Removal Centre has not been welcome in Scotland since it was foisted upon us by the Home Office in 2001.
The detention of vulnerable asylum seekers who have likely been subjected to torture and violence is inhumane.
And it is even more appalling that 38 under 18-year-olds have been held there since the detention of children was outlawed in 2010.
Five pregnant women have been held there since 2018, their babies put at risk through increased trauma and stress.
Last November an inspectorate report said it was “concerned” Dungavel females were being held beside “several men with a history of sexual violence against women.”
And now we know children were also being held in the same areas as predatory and violent sex offenders awaiting deportation.
It is inconceivable to effectively imprison innocent children under any circumstances, never mind alongside violent offenders, including rapists.
For children who have suffered so much before they even reached our shores to then be held like criminals is abhorrent.
It is terrifying for a child to be locked up in a strange place, isolated from other youngsters and any sense of community.
Pregnant asylum seekers have been so stressed that some have miscarried.
The Tory UK Government should be ashamed for its callous hostile immigration system which demonises people who have sought safety in our country.
Dungavel should never have opened and its closure is long overdue.
Rescue mission was team effort
Rod Stewart did a fine thing paying for trucks to take vital supplies to help refugees on the Poland- Ukraine border.
The veteran rocker didn’t hesitate in funding a mercy mission when his nephew said he wanted to help.
Rod dug deep and made sure it happened.
But the great man is right to turn the spotlight on Warren Cady and the other seven volunteers who made sure the aid got there before bringing people to safety.
These people are real heroes.
There have been many similar stories of people from across the UK who have been stirred into action by the horror of Vladimir Putin’s unforgivable war against a peaceful nation.
They have put themselves at risk, given their time and money, to help the innocent victims of war.
Their humanity, decency and kindness are an example to us all.
