Unlocking Detention shone a spotlight on the hidden world of immigration detention. This ‘virtual tour’ of the immigration detention estate used Twitter, Facebook and a website to ‘unlock’ the gates of immigration detention centres.
Each week, Unlocking Detention ‘visited’ one of the UK’s detention centres. We heard from people who had been detained there, volunteer visitors, NGOs, campaigners and the families, friends, neighbours and communities over whom detention cast its long shadows.
We started Unlocking Detention back in 2014 and it ran for 6 years. While we no longer run this campaign with its dedicated website, it has left a powerful legacy of the impact of immigration detention. We have archived the key information, and we are now proud to continue to make it accessible via our website.
Light vs dark, humanity vs inhumanity: Unlocking Detention 2015
This piece, written by Lisa Matthews of Right to Remain, was originally published by Open Democracy 50:50. Life in UK’s indefinite immigration detention regime evokes the 'barbed wire disease' experienced [...]
Taking on the hostile environment
This blog post was written for Unlocking Detention by Anna Lindley. Anna is a senior lecturer at SOAS, University of London, and volunteers with Asylum Welcome and Close Campsfield. The [...]
Unlocking Detention ‘visits’ Dungavel
Last week, Unlocking Detention visited Dungavel, Scotland's only detention centre and the final stop of the #Unlocked15 tour. Also last week, Human Rights Day was held, a stark reminder of [...]
Some reflections on the closure of Haslar Immigration Removal Centre
This blog post was written for Unlocking Detention by Charles Leddy-Owen. Charles is a Trustee of Friends Without Borders and Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Portsmouth. Haslar [...]
Is there to be a “silver lining”? Detention reform and the Immigration Bill
This article was written for Unlocking Detention by Jon Featonby. Jon is parliamentary manager at the Refugee Council and parliamentary lead for the Detention Forum. This article was originally published [...]
Diary of a Dungavel Detention
This blog post was written for Unlocking Detention by Alison Phipps. Alison is Professor of Languages and Intercultural Studies at the University of Glasgow, and Convener of Glasgow Refugee, Asylum [...]
Where do we draw the line on migration and crime?
This blog was written as a reflection on a collaborative research project recently undertaken by Scottish Detainee Visitors (SDV) with people released on bail and temporary admission from immigration detention [...]
Unlocking Detention ‘visits’ Colnbrook
The latest stop on the #Unlocked15 tour was Colnbrook detention centre, near Heathrow airport. The virtual visit fell during a very busy week in the fight to end indefinite detention, [...]
Taking detention drama straight to the heart of Parliament
This blog post was written for Unlocking Detention by John Tomlinson of Strawberry Blond Curls Theatre Company, (@SBC_Theatre) who performed their play 'Tanja' at this week's Sanctuary in Parliament event. [...]
Visiting, unlocked – Danae on Colnbrook
This blog post is an #Unlocked15 interview with Danae Psilla, Advocacy Co-Ordinator at Detention Action. Can you remember the first time you visited Colnbrook? What were your hopes/fears/assumptions? I first [...]
What would the rabbis of Tzelem miss if they were detained without a time-limit?
Human rights organisation and Detention Forum members René Cassin have been working with the rabbis of the Tzelem group, a Rabbinical call for social and economic justice. For Unlocking Detention [...]
“The endless uncertainty of detention…it’s like tick tock…tick tock….tick tock”
Read about this recent event co-organised by Detention Forum members René Cassin. The event was held as part of Mitzvah Day, a day of faith-based social action. Although rooted in [...]