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.
Unlocking Detention ‘visits’ Tinsley House
Last week, Unlocking Detention visited Tinsley House, possibly one of the least well-known detention centres. https://twitter.com/DetentionForum/status/669464561573998592 https://twitter.com/DetentionForum/status/670167707975725057 https://twitter.com/DetentionForum/status/669973657825861632 https://twitter.com/DetentionForum/status/670185303580082177 We heard <a href="http://unlocked.org.uk/blog/almost-as-british-as-me/">powerful stories</a> of the men that Nic Eadie, [...]
“I’ve got a few questions for you”: A letter to Colnbrook
Image courtesy of Michael Collins This blog post was written by John for Unlocking Detention, in the form of a letter to Colnbrook, the detention centre where he was held for [...]
“They want us to imprison and deport ourselves”
This post was written for Unlocking Detention by Stuart Crosthwaite, Secretary of the South Yorkshire Migration and Asylum Action Group (SYMAAG), with thanks to the refugees and asylum seekers quoted [...]
All eyes on amendment 32: Time to stop the same trends repeating
This blog post was written for Unlocking Detention by Eiri Ohtani, coordinator of the Detention Forum. A sense of deja vu The latest statistics on the government’s use of immigration [...]
Time to listen to the experts: It’s time for a time-limit
This blog post was written for Unlocking Detention by Lisa Matthews, coordinator of Right to Remain. Right to Remain are a coordinating group of the Detention Forum, leading on communications [...]
The damage of indefinite detention
This blog post was written by Colleen Molloy, City of Sanctuary National Development Officer. The image used at the start of this blog post was produced for City of Sanctuary [...]
#Unlocked15 ‘visits’ Yarl’s Wood
Last week, Unlocking Detention paid a virtual visit to perhaps the UK's best known detention centre, Yarl's Wood - known for all the wrong reasons. Yarl's Wood is one of [...]
Almost as British as me
This blog post was written by Nic Eadie, director of Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (@GatDetainees). It was originally published by our #Unlocked15 partners, Justice Gap. I’ve been working with people [...]
Pregnancy ought to be a happy time: women in Yarl’s Wood
This post was written for Unlocking Detention by Heather Jones, who visits women detained in Yarl's Wood. In 2014 ninety-nine pregnant women were detained in Yarl’s Wood. This was despite Home [...]
“It’s like an apartheid that’s gone underground”
This blog post was written by June, who is currently detained in Yarl’s Wood. This piece was originally published on Women for Refugee Women's blog and has been republished with [...]
Refugees Welcome, to detention
By Britte van Tiem. who works for Amnesty International as Learning & Accountability Officer. In her free time, she visits people in detention with Detention Action. All views expressed here [...]
How detention affects my community: the view from Belfast
This piece was written for Unlocking Detention by the Larne House Visitors Group. Larne House is a short-term holding facility near Belfast. People are detained there for short periods of [...]