​Civil society groups will gather to demand an end to detention at Dungavel

Hundreds of people will take part in a demonstration outside Dungavel Removal Centre to call for the end to detention in the immigration system.

The demo, which takes place on Saturday, 30 May, is being backed by trade unionists, community campaigners and faith groups.

Scottish Trades Union Congress (STUC) general secretary Grahame Smith said: “Detention is a blight on our immigration system. Detainees can be held for an indefinite period, with some being held for months and even years.

“The effect of indefinite detention on the people in the system is severe, with many suffering from mental health issues as a result of how the system works.

“We are holding this demonstration to shine a light on the plight to people being held in detention centres across the UK, and it should not be forgotten that children are still held in detention centres outside of Scotland.

“We also renew our demand to the Home Office to allow us to visit detainees together to hear at first hand of any difficulties they are facing and to provide such support for them as we are able to give.”

The demonstration will take place at noon outside the Dungavel Removal Centre, near Strathaven in South Lanarkshire, when those present will place messages of support on the barbed wire perimeter fence.