This week Unlocking Detention has been ‘visiting’ Brook and Tinsley Houses, respectively. Together they make up the Gatwick site of detention, situated roughly 200 metres from the main runway at Gatwick Airport. On Friday afternoon, Ben from Detention Action conducted a live Twitter Q&A with Jon, whose detention in Brook House stood at 18 months and counting…
These Q&As offer vivid insights into life in detention. They're invaluable. Get involved send your question to @DetentionForum #Unlocked16 https://t.co/uz9sYaJd5Q
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) October 28, 2016
To kick off, a huge shout-out to the Gatwick Detainee Welfare Group (GDWG), who support individuals detained in Brook and Tinsley House:
Big thank you to @GatDetainees for putting us in touch w/ Jon, & also obviously to Jon himself for speaking-out from BrookHouse. #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
The first question came from Sam Grant, Campaigns Manager at Rene Cassin:
First question today comes from @Sammy_G1988 at @Rene_Cassin – Did you know about detention before you were detained? #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/Iu3TTNhOhg
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: I heard about it, all the usual stuff about ‘illegals’, but didn’t know what it be like&never thought it would apply to me. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/QZ0MVmljKR
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Question for Jon in Brook House. Horrified he's been there so long! #Time4aTimeLimit #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/X2AL6hf7EJ
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) October 26, 2016
Jon: I’ve been one and a half years in Brook House. Only here. And they give me no sign I will be anywhere else any time soon. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/zEyPezpCEA
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Another question from Scottish Detainee Visitors illuminated the central theme of this year’s Unlocking Detention tour: the impact of detention on those immediate relationships that shape who we are – family and loved ones.
What would you ask someone detained in Brook House for over a year? Here's one question #Unlocked16 @DetentionForum pic.twitter.com/wKWLj78NXI
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) October 26, 2016
Jon: My girlfriend used to come but we broke up now. When you locked away, people find other partners innit. Detention broke us. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/0zANeJftWm
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Next we had a series of questions on the vitality of visitor-groups:
Next question for Jon in Brook House comes from a participant at @Right_to_Remain's annual gathering earlier this year #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/obXn9LZCma
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: Every week I get visit from @GatDetainees. We have jokes, she helps me w/ contacting my lawyer. It’s a BIG relief, believe. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/f4uuMGT5PU
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
we'd ask Jon what three things could a visitor bring that would be helpful for someone in immigration detention to recieve
— Dulwich2Dunkirk (@Dulwich2Dunkirk) October 26, 2016
Jon: Books to read to keep your mind off the depression. Phone credit is very helpful. And any info on how to get out of here. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/xkOzcAOIz0
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Always nice to see people following #Unlocked16 (and the live Q&As in particular) from afar…
I'm following the live Q and A with Jon, (detained at Brook House) while I'm waiting to board my flight at Frankfurt Airport. #Unlocked16
— LisaLeziza (@LisaLeziza) October 28, 2016
This week also featured several questions about the physical and sensorial reality of detention – what it looks like, smells like, sounds like, how it feels…
Another question from an #Unlocked16 session @DetentionAction run with @Right_to_Remain earlier this year #Unlocked16 #Shutdown pic.twitter.com/rNnQrtKk1z
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: From 8am you free till 12pm. Lockup for 30mins, out till 5pm. Lockup for 30mins, out till lockup 9pm, lockup till morning. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/UA3nAiJxLG
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Another question for Jon in Brook House. #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/fJEdQ8h2nn
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) October 26, 2016
Jon: They have a yard & garden but you can’t see nothing. Big gate. Metal fence. Razor wire. Like some kind of military compound #Unlocked16 https://t.co/ysRNG4MQuP
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
@DetentionForum Hi Jon, what sounds/noises can you hear from your cell? What sounds/ noises do you wish you could hear? #Unlocked16
— Eleri Williams FRSA (@EleriCWilliams) October 28, 2016
Jon: Planes taking off all the time. Every 5mins. It has big mental affect: you thinking ‘that could be me next week, tomorrow’. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/qOQoOWjqVI
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Important question for Jon from the wonderful @WagingPeaceUK about restricted access to the outside world #Unlocked16 #ByuldTrustNotWalls pic.twitter.com/FGxlyvMH5i
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: We have it but they block some sites, ones that might help. I think maybe they don’t want you to be able to fight your case #Unlocked16 https://t.co/vJafdmG5QB
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Some people were unable to even access the @APPGRefugees #detentioninquiry website from within detention centres https://t.co/sNYqTV8gjK
— Jon Featonby (@jonfeatonby) October 28, 2016
Question for Jon detained in Brook House for already 18 months and counting… @DetentionForum #Unlocked16 #Time4aTimeLimit pic.twitter.com/NPJ8HigcrL
— Detention Action (@DetentionAction) October 28, 2016
Jon: Drives you mad depressed. Its difficult to sleep at night. Panic attacks. This place does strange shit to people, I swear. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/HDUIAnRl6s
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Question for Jon from 1`of our (friggin excellent) #Unlocked16 volunteers: Is there a good camaraderie between those detained at BrookHouse?
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: Yes..We have to stick together cos we all in the same boat. People that can’t speak English, we try translate for them… #Unlocked16 https://t.co/ZIVojnv0Jm
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Always encouraging to see amazing solidarity among those detained, fighting for eachother in a way that should inspire us all. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/ybEViWk38p
— Detention Action (@DetentionAction) October 28, 2016
#Unlocked16 live Q&A back on Friday, talking to Jon in Brook House. What do you want to ask? Send your post-it question @DetentionForum! pic.twitter.com/NkB2j324I2
— Detention Action (@DetentionAction) October 24, 2016
Jon: Phone is very important. You can speak to your family, solicitor, @GatDetainees. I’d feel lost without it. I am dependent. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/ad468rsCUy
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
@DetentionAction @DetentionForum question for Jon pic.twitter.com/9ZXLYwqFY0
— Tessa Hughes (@TessaMH1) October 28, 2016
Jon: Everyone share with one person. To get a single room you need a letter from the doctor. Otherwise they are all double-bunk. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Stymh9ktTq
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Towards the end of the Q&A, questions turned to the political reality that frames detention in the UK, and how Jon and others within detention think it should change:
Question for Jon in Brook House from @Right_to_Remain workshop on #Unlocked16 pic.twitter.com/Ojd2hlsazI
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: I know people fighting. It gives you hope something will change. Maybe not for me but for others coming through the system. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/SJP0xIvb5N
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: People here too long. Look at me! 1.5year! If you can’t deport me in a month, release them! I can never get back that time. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/8ZCWjYEX82
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: People here too long. Look at me! 1.5year! If you can’t deport me in a month, release them! I can never get back that time. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/8ZCWjYEX82
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
@DetentionForum Do you think there is a fairer way of treating people in your situation than detention? If so what and why?
— Fences&Frontiers ? (@FencesFrontiers) October 28, 2016
Jon (1/2): I been here so long I seen many people coming in, fighting hard to get out, released, and then re-detained again… #Unlocked16 https://t.co/gTxRAUhUYI
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon (2/2): It's a broken system. You could be out w/ your family, kids, wife AND your caseworker. Don’t need to be in detention. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/gTxRAUhUYI
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Pertinent question for Jon detained in Brook House from @Right_to_Remain #Unlocked16 workshop in Cambridge: pic.twitter.com/8E1OflPk6m
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
Jon: I been here 20yrs+, built up family/life. I don’t know my home country anymore. I’m scared to go back there. I'm British. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Tg5RP2uMAo
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
And to close proceedings, Jon spoke out about the links between Britain’s historical legacy of oppression and the routine indefinite detention of migrants today:
Jon: Irony not lost on Commonwealth citizens here. We getting a raw deal. They colonised us & here we are detained indefinitely. #Unlocked16 https://t.co/Xy7o8hgmnL
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016
.@DetentionForum thanks to Jon for answering our questions. Haunted by his description of the sound of planes & what it means. #unlocked16
— ScotDetaineeVisitors (@SDVisitors) October 28, 2016
Big big thanks to Jon for speaking to us/speaking-out today. A reminder of the courage & human resilience present in detention. #Unlocked16
— TheDetentionForum (@DetentionForum) October 28, 2016