Unlocking Detention in Liverpool and Manchester
Estelle Worthington is Regional Activism Co-ordinator, North West. She writes about how local organisations came together to collect evidence for the ongoing parliamentary inquiry into immigration detention. Over the last month, I’ve had the opportunity to hear many tales about people’s experiences in detention. Some will stay with me for [...]
Animals or slaves? Memories of a migrant detention centre
Image courtesy of Michael Collins This article by H was published as part of Unlocking Detention series on Open Democracy. One man tells of his experience of being incarcerated in the UK for three years for being a migrant, and why the memories of violence and conflict in Brook House – where [...]
“Under detention they think you’re criminal”: Henry speaks out from Haslar
Henry, currently detained in Haslar detention centre and facing deportation to Nigeria, has been previously featured on this blog writing powerfully about "Too many laws, not enough justice". You can read Henry's blog post here. Henry has now been interviewed by Ben Fishwick of Portsmouth News: Henry, 53, has been [...]
The national shame that is healthcare in UK immigration detention
This article by Phil Miller and Clare Sambrook is from Open Democracy. Image: painting by Lucy Edkins from Mental Health in Immigration Detention Action Group Initial Report December 2013. Four years ago G4S was involved in the unlawful killing of an immigration detainee called Jimmy Mubenga. Now they're winning NHS [...]
What is it like being a local campaign group?
Campaign to Close Campsfield is a campaign group based in Oxford which has been calling for a closure of Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre for many years. They are one of the members of the Detention Forum. We asked them to tell us a little about their daily activities. [...]
Immigration detention in the media: Anarchy and ambivalence
This article by Melanie Griffiths originally appeared in Open Democracy's #unlocked series. Alongside calls for the reduction or ending of immigration detention, we must demand more balanced coverage from our media. Melanie Griffiths reports on two decades of ‘riots’ and fires inside Campsfield which is on track to become one [...]
A crisis of harm in immigration detention
This article was written by Jerome Phelps of Detention Action, a member of the Detention Forum. The article first appeared in Open Democracy on 15 September. A young Guinean woman has become the sixth victim in three years of ‘inhuman and degrading treatment’ in UK immigration detention, with the High [...]
Migrant vs. non-migrant: Two tier policing
This article was written by Rita Chadha of RAMFEL (Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London), a member of the Detention Forum. The article was originally published in Open Democracy as part of the #unlocked series. Growing police engagement in immigration enforcement distorts people’s rights, fosters mistrust and [...]