Last week, Unlocking Detention paid a virtual visit to perhaps the UK’s best known detention centre, Yarl’s Wood – known for all the wrong reasons. Yarl’s Wood is one of the detention centres where women can be detained, and has become notorious as the site of widespread allegations of abuse. It has also become the site of widespread protest, with huge demonstrations being organised by Movement for Justice.
The ugliest part of Bedfordshire #Unlocked15 #SerHerFree pic.twitter.com/KaBmQAZ4pJ
— Heather Jones BCA ???? (@Heather_Jones5) November 19, 2015
Prison watchdog recently defined #YarlsWood as ‘a place of national concern’:https://t.co/1JNf8qOiEb
#Unlocked15 pic.twitter.com/pPN4FIgZGU— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 19, 2015
Local people have expressed opposition to detention at Yarl's Wood.Even local dogs are getting involved #Unlocked15 pic.twitter.com/5OBnb377Od
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 16, 2015
‘Last year 99 pregnant women were detained in #YarlsWood and only 9 of them were removed
’#Unlocked15 pic.twitter.com/b0TssleWpz— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 19, 2015
It was another week of moving and thought-provoking pieces on our blog, including this article by Heather Jones who has been visiting Yarl’s Wood for eleven years – “Pregnancy ought to be a happy time”
Moving testimony of what it means to be pregnant and in detention #Unlocked15 https://t.co/emSPFu1A5v
— The Justice Gap (@JusticeGap) November 19, 2015
Music in Detention also work with women in Yarl’s Wood, and shared some of the music created there:
'Life on the Road' – music straight out of #YarlsWood : https://t.co/I7A9xBRRLo #Unlocked15
— Hear Me Out (@hearmeoutuk) November 18, 2015
This week’s Justice Gap article was by Britte van Tiem, on how refugees and other migrants are being detained as they make there way across Europe, and if they make it to the UK, face indefinite detention here too. Refugees Welcome?
Detention is no way to 'welcome' #refugees. By @BritteTiem on @JusticeGap https://t.co/xmZat2MkCh #Unlocked15 pic.twitter.com/m4bmTIjVpZ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 17, 2015
Continuing our community perspective theme, this week we featured an intriguing perspective from Belfast, in a piece written by someone who both visits people in detention (at Larne House short-term holding facility) while also being at risk of detention him/herself:
"the fear of ending up there myself is always as fresh as it was 3 years ago when I came to N. Ireland" #Unlocked15 https://t.co/8qxxR6FJf8
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 16, 2015
And we heard directly from women detained in Yarl’s Wood. We heard from June, a fiery, inspiring woman who shared her voice via Women for Refugee Women – “It’s like an apartheid that’s gone underground”
Love this: "I’m too political to wash their dishes;if I’m going to work here,they can pay me min. wage!" https://t.co/U5sHYP6tRX #Unlocked15
— Right to Remain (@Right_to_Remain) November 17, 2015
We once again had a unique insight into life for those detained, thanks to Gloria who is currently detained at Yarl’s Wood.
Gloria tells #unlocked15 she's been in Yarl's Wood more than a month. Without a time limit, she doesn't know how long she'll spend there
— Jon Featonby (@jonfeatonby) November 20, 2015
Q for Gloria detained in Yarl's Wood: What impact has the demonstrations outside YW had on those detained there? #Unlocked15 @followMFJ
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
Gloria (1/2): Oh my goodness. We were dancing&crying.It gives us so much strength&determination, you wouldn't believe #Unlocked15 #YarlsWood
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
'Here I am. In someone else's cage'. Haunting words from Gloria, detained in #YarlsWood, without trial and without time limit #unlocked15
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) November 20, 2015
We rarely get to hear about these details of the day-to-day routine:
Gloria:7.30am roll call.Then they open laundry rooms.8am breakfast.After that,its either back to your room or go for smoke (1/5) #Unlocked15
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
Gloria: 9.30am computer rooms open. There is sometimes a big rush. People are desperate to work on their cases. (2/5) #Unlocked15
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
Gloria: 12pm they lock the computers,lunch from 12.30-1.30pm.Then 2-5pm I go to the library.I like to read the newspapers. (3/5) #Unlocked15
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
Gloria: Some people go to the gym. But my mind is my gym. 5.30-6.30pm is dinner. (4/5) #Unlocked15
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
Gloria: Roll call again at 9.45pm. I usually go sleep around midnight. (5/5) #Unlocked15
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) November 20, 2015
You can read the full Q and A in this Storify round-up.