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.
Week 1: Launching #Unlocked18
Welcome to our first weekly roundup for #Unlocked18. Each week of the tour, we’ll be recapping what’s been shared the previous week so you can look back to find your [...]
We can make this world like heaven, or we can make it like hell
This blog comes from Rafiq, who was detained in Brook House Immigration Removal Centre. It was originally published by No Walls. Rafiq is not his real name but has been [...]
Depicting wisdom: Drawings from detention
Trigger warning: suicide and self-harm Like Red, whose poem we published earlier this week, Mishka is a member of the Freed Voices, a group of experts-by-experience who are committed to [...]
“When I become untamed”: Reflections on life in detention
Trigger warning: references to death This poem was written and recorded by Red*, a member of the Freed Voices. The Freed Voices are a group of experts-by-experience, people with lived [...]
Immigration detention: The glossary
To help navigate the world of immigration detention, we’ve created a visual glossary with key terms and acronyms you might come across during Unlocking Detention. Let’s start at the beginning. [...]
Welcome to #Unlocked18!
Welcome! #Unlocked18 is Unlocking Detention’s fifth ‘tour’ of the UK’s immigration detention estate, shining a spotlight on the hidden world of immigration detention. Maybe you are a repeat visitor, maybe [...]
“The fight is in the street”: our reflections on #Unlocked17
Images courtesy of Scottish Detainee Visitors As our volunteers plan for the Detention Forum's work for 2018, here are some more reflections on #Unlocked17. Here's Gareth, with his message! Gareth [...]
The guide to #Unlocked17 blogs is here!
Thank you for following Unlocking Detention in 2017! We have listed all the blogs that were published during #Unlocked on this webpage for easy reference. Did you have any particular [...]
Week 9: #Unlocked17 visits Dungavel
In the ninth and final visit of #Unlocked17, the focus was on Dungavel, Scotland's only detention centre. Dungavel is 30 miles from Glasgow on country roads, with a journey time [...]
“If more people knew what was going on, more would recoil in disgust and demand explanations”
This year’s Unlocking Detention featured over 40 blogs. Massive thank you to everyone who contributed and shone a light on the reality of immigration detention! As we conclude this year’s [...]
Guantanamo Bay, a tube ride away
In the final week of Unlocking Detention, we are now looking at where we will go from here. And we believe it is a perfect opportunity to publish this speech [...]
Life After Detention: A Film
Images courtesy of Scottish Detainee Visitors / Life After Detention The harm caused by detention does not end once a person is released. For many, the trauma of detention, and [...]