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.
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 [...]
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. [...]
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. [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
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 [...]
Haslar week…
28 Sep to 4 Oct - the Unlocking Detention team looks back on the week when the tour visited Haslar Immigration Removal Centre in Portsmouth. After looking at the Short Term [...]
Music in Detention: Reflections on three visits to IRCs in 2012
This post was written by Zoe Burton, Programme Manager (maternity cover, 2012 and 2014) for Music in Detention (MID). MID is a member of the Detention Forum. I was delighted [...]
Reporting Morton Hall: The media “myth”
Bridget Walker is an active member of the Detention Forum and works with a number of NGOs. She shares her personal reflection on the way the media keeps the myth of [...]
Helping the Other: Particular experiences, universal outlooks
This article by Shauna Leven and Sam Grant was published as part of Unlocking Detention series on Open Democracy. London’s synagogues have set up drop-in centres for destitute asylum [...]