Not a minor offence: The unlawful detention of unaccompanied children
This piece by Judith Dennis was first published by openDemocracy on 3 November 2014. Judith is Policy Manager at the Refugee Council. Despite pledging to end child detention for immigration purposes in 2010, the UK Government is still quietly locking up children. It’s getting away with it by calling them [...]
Souleymane on indefinite detention
This post is written by Souleymane, who has experienced immigration detention. His testimony was provided for Detention Action's forthcoming annual report. I was in detention for three and half years. At first, I would look for signs it would end. I would get hopeful when I saw my solicitor or [...]
Looking beyond the border in Dover
By Fraser from Samphire. Samphire are a member of the Detention Forum. Dover Immigration Removal Centre stands above the town of Dover on its Western Heights, holding around 400 detainees. I work for Samphire, a charity in the town of Dover which provides emotional and practical support to those detainees [...]
A Letter to Harmondsworth
This letter was written by Shariff who was detained in Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre. Dear Harmondsworth IRC, I know you are very busy at the moment but I have a few questions about the three months you held me in detention. Why do the rooms in Harmondsworth feel like you [...]
Interrupting the implacable: Fighting the Detained Fast Track
This piece by Jerome Phelps first appeared in openDemocracy on 27 October 2014. Jerome is the Director of Detention Action. The UK Court of Appeal will hear an appeal this week over the lawfulness of automatically detaining asylum seekers while their appeals are heard. The era of expansion of this [...]
Handfast: A poem for Isa Muazu
Handfast For Isa Muazu by E. E. Jones Think of his starved hand Reaching for England As they stretchered him Towards the exit: his small wrist Helpless in the terminal Darkness, and his thin fingers, Through which Justice slipped. If you could stand and listen To his thin lips whispering [...]
Brook House week…
12 to 18 Oct - the Unlocking Detention team looks back on the week they visited Brook House detention centre, near Gatwick Airport. Unlocking Detention visited Brook House Immigration Removal Centre, near Gatwick Airport. This centre and another one nearby called Tinsley House, are visited and supported by our member, Gatwick Detainee [...]
Campsfield week…
5 Oct to 11 Oct - the Unlocking Detention team looks back on the week they visited Campsfield, Oxfordshire. Unlocking Detention visited Campsfield Immigration Removal Centre just as the most controversial development was taking place in the area. Recently, the Home Office made it clear that it intends to increase the size [...]