“What is the point of being in politics if you don’t try to challenge what you think is wrong?”: Baroness Sally Hamwee named Detention Forum Champion
Baroness Sally Hamwee has been named Detention Forum Champion. She joins MPs Dame Caroline Spelman, Paul Blomfield and Stuart McDonald among parliamentarians recognised for their long-standing commitment to immigration detention reform. Last month, representatives from LD4SOS (Liberal Democrat Seekers of Sanctuary), Freed Voices, Detention Action, JRS UK and the Detention Forum presented Baroness Hamwee with a Detention [...]
“The very least we can do is speak up for those whose own voices cannot be heard.” Dame Caroline Spelman MP named Detention Forum Champion
Photo credit: JRS UK We are delighted to announce that Dame Caroline Spelman MP received the Detention Forum Champion Award last week. JRS UK, one of our member organisations, kindly presented her with the Award in her Westminster office. Dame Caroline was a panel member of the Parliamentary Inquiry into the Use [...]
Campsfield Detention Centre to close in May 2019
Image courtesy of Campaign to Close Campsfield The Home Office announced today that Campsfield detention centre will close by May 2019, as part of the detention reform programme announced by the Home Secretary in July 2018 in response to the follow-up Shaw Review. You can read the Home Office statement here. [...]
‘How do we make this work?’ – our BIG #Time4aTimeLimit meeting
Once a year, the Detention Forum hosts a reflection event for our members. It takes a lot of effort to organise it, but it is always worth it. Challenging immigration detention is exhausting. So celebrating our collaboration, reaffirming our purpose and preparing for the next stage gives us strength and [...]
Refugee Tales: 28 tales for 28 days
This is a guest post featuring Refugee Tales’ campaign 28 Tales for 28 Days, which runs for a month from 11 September 2018. During this time, Refugee Tales is releasing 28 tales online – one each day over 28 days – to highlight the call for a 28 day time limit for immigration [...]
Reflections from an expert: Freed Voice member Mishka responds to Shaw’s evidence to the Home Affairs Committee
This is a guest blog from Mishka, a member of the Freed Voices – a group of experts-by-experience calling for immigration detention reform. Mishka writes under a pseudonym. Last Tuesday, the Home Affairs Committee took evidence from Sir Stephen Shaw regarding the Government’s progress in implementing the recommendations in his first review on welfare in immigration [...]
Why a 28 day time limit on immigration detention?
Image by @Carcazan Earlier today, Sir Stephen Shaw gave oral evidence to the Home Affairs Committee. I was half listening to the section of the session which touched on the issue of a time limit – I will have to read it in full in Hansard later to fully understand [...]
“Everyone is vulnerable in detention”: The Bar Council calls for a time limit
Image by @Carcazan The Detention Forum is publishing a series of blogs looking at the evidence behind calls for a 28-day time limit on immigration detention. In this blog, we look at the Bar Council’s report, Injustice in Immigration Detention: Perspectives from legal professionals. Late last year, the Bar Council added [...]