Immigration detention is not the answer, for anyone.
People are detained without a time limit, for months, sometimes even years.
It is harmful and expensive. It robs people of their dignity, spirit and lives.
This can’t go on.
We are working towards an immigration system that is based on humanity, compassion and fairness.
A 28-day time limit
on immigration detention for all
Automatic judicial oversight
of detention decisions after 72 hours
An end to the detention
of vulnerable people
Community-based alternatives to detention that respect rights can minimise the use of detention, reducing costs and helping people to live with dignity in the community while going through the immigration process.
APPG inquiry into ‘quasi detention’
We are delighted to see that the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Immigration Detention has launched an inquiry into the UK Government’s use of large-scale institutional sites, such as former military barracks and a temporarily ‘de-designated’ Immigration [...]
Our statement on the Home Office New Plan for Immigration
Asylum and detention We believe that the inhumane practice of detention should have no part in the asylum process (or indeed in a humane and just immigration system). We firmly believe that we should not lock up people [...]
Use of former army barracks
At our members' meeting last month, we heard from two of our members, Kent Refugee Help and Samphire, about the recent use of army barracks in Kent to accommodate people seeking asylum. Our members are really concerned at [...]
Proposed new detention centre
We were very disappointed, when we were alerted by one of our members recently, about a proposed new detention centre in the North East. The Northern Echo reported that Government plans to scrap a residential development in favour of [...]
New members
Over the last few months we have been having a series of conversations with organisations which are interested in our work and wanted to explore membership of our Forum. And we are delighted that Action Foundation, Ben and [...]
The UK’s detention regime exported: STHFs on the French coast
Frances Timberlake UK advocacy officer, Refugee Rights Europe In recent months, the UK-France border has been flung back into the public view following a sudden increase in media images of people attempting the sea crossing to the [...]
#Unlocked
Unlocking Detention is a twitter tour of the Detention Estate
Get in touch
The Detention Forum is hosted by the Refugee Council.
You can contact the Project Director at detentionforum[at]gmail.com, who works several days a week.
"The throwaway levels of protection, reception centres and other hostile policies outlined by Ministers are the result of decision making steeped in systemic racism and colonial thinking that racialises refugees and ignores their stories." - @RefugeeAction
"These cruel, unworkable and potentially unlawful plans bulldoze the right to claim asylum and tear up our international and moral obligations to some of the world’s most vulnerable people."
Our response to today's #QueensSpeech.
#StandUpForAsylum
https://www.refugee-action.org.uk/queens-speech-governments-cruel-asylum-plans-undermine-international-and-moral-obligation-to-refugees/
The govt's cruel proposals, announced in the #QueensSpeech, will make it even harder for LGBTQI+ people who are fleeing persecution to get safety in the UK.
Instead, what we need is a kinder and fairer asylum system so that we can better support everyone in need of protection.
Priti Patel’s ''New Plan for Immigration'' talks about fairness & care, but in reality it is about more enforcement, detention and criminalisation. It is the Hostile Environment 2.0!
But, we have a better plan, based on dignity and justice: https://firmcharter.org.uk
#QueensSpeech