Join the Detention Forum team! Call for social media volunteers
Social media volunteers needed! Deadline 9 April 2019 We are looking for a couple of enthusiastic and curious volunteers who have a deep interest in and commitment to challenging immigration detention and can help us increase our social media presence. This social media role includes tasks such as: Making sure our Twitter account (@DetentionForum) [...]
Detention Forum statement in response to the Home Affairs Committee report on immigration detention
Today, the Home Affairs Committee has published its long-anticipated report on immigration detention. The Committee strongly rebukes the Home Office for its ‘shockingly cavalier attitude to the deprivation of human liberty and the protection of people’s basic rights’. Over the course of our inquiry, we have found serious problems with [...]
Latest detention statistics: Much room for improvement
Last week, the Home Office published its latest immigration statistics. https://twitter.com/SDVisitors/status/1101524017373163521 As Scottish Detainee Visitors point out, there are some reasons for optimism. True to its promise, the Home Office has made significant progress in decreasing the number of people in detention. Announcing the closure of Campsfield immigration detention centre in [...]
Lord Ramsbotham named as fifth ‘Detention Forum Champion’
Lord Ramsbotham, former HM Chief Inspector of Prisons and a crossbench peer, has been named Detention Forum Champion in recognition of his ongoing work on detention reform. Lord Ramsbotham joins Labour’s Paul Blomfield MP, SNP Stuart McDonald MP, Conservative Caroline Spelman MP, and Liberal Democrat Baroness Hamwee in a distinguished [...]
End indefinite detention for everyone – send your photo message to Sajid Javid and your MPs!
It’s time to take action to end indefinite immigration detention in the UK. And the Immigration Bill that is going through Parliament right now presents an opportunity to secure a 28-day time limit on detention for everyone. Join this simple social media action to show the Home Secretary and parliamentarians [...]
Joint Committee on Human Rights calls for a 28 day time limit on detention
Image by @Carcazan Earlier this month, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCHR) published its long-awaited report on immigration detention. This report marks the culmination of an inquiry that began in July 2018 and received 64 written submissions, as well as oral evidence from experts-by-experience, detention sector organisations, independent monitoring [...]
Week 8: #Unlocked18 visits Dungavel
During week 8, the final full week of Unlocking Detention 2018, we visited Dungavel IRC, in Scotland. Dungavel is very isolated: more than 30 miles from Glasgow, 14 miles from the nearest train station, 6 miles from the closest town (Strathaven) and no local bus route. It was originally a [...]
“This is not a party issue”: MPs say it’s #Time4aTimeLimit
Image by @Carcazan The Immigration and Social Security Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill is currently on its way through Parliament, despite the chaos going on around it. Tomorrow marks the beginning of the House of Commons Committee Stage, which will involve several days of discussion about various aspects of the Bill, ending on 7 [...]