Immigration detention is not the answer, for anyone.
People are detained without a time limit, for months, sometimes even years.
It is harmful and expensive. It robs people of their dignity, spirit and lives.
This can’t go on.
We are working towards an immigration system that is based on humanity, compassion and fairness.
A 28-day time limit
on immigration detention for all
Automatic judicial oversight
of detention decisions after 72 hours
An end to the detention
of vulnerable people
Community-based alternatives to detention that respect rights can minimise the use of detention, reducing costs and helping people to live with dignity in the community while going through the immigration process.
News
The Detention Forum response to the Home Secretary’s statement on the Shaw Review
24 July 2018 Earlier today, Home Secretary, Sajid Javid, made a statement to the House of Commons on immigration detention and the second Stephen Shaw review. This independent review focuses on progress made by the Home Office since [...]
The Detention Forum guide to navigating immigration detention statistics
The Home Office and Office of National Statistics regularly publish detailed tables showing the numbers of people held in immigration detention and subsequently released or removed from the UK. But what do these figures mean, and how can [...]
‘Don’t be like me 12 years ago, don’t walk away.’ – What you can do today to challenge immigration detention and hostile environment
Just a few nights ago, I was flicking through a very old report by the Joint Committee on Human Rights published in 2007. Its edges are frayed. Some pages still have post-it notes stuck on them. 12 years [...]
“A stain on our democracy and an affront to the rule of law”: Stuart McDonald MP named Detention Forum Champion
Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East MP Stuart McDonald has been named a Detention Forum Champion by members of the Detention Forum and local civil society organisations for his outstanding contribution to immigration detention reform. Stuart joins Paul Blomfield [...]
“There is a time to fight and there is a time to rest” – Paul Blomfield MP given the Detention Forum champion award by a Sudanese refugee in Sheffield
“There is a time to fight and there is a time to rest” – Paul Blomfield MP given the Detention Forum champion award by a Sudanese refugee in Sheffield 13 June 2018 Paul Blomfield, Labour MP for Sheffield [...]
Revisiting the first Shaw Review
4th June 2018 As we wait with bated breath for the results of Stephen Shaw’s second review of immigration detention, it’s worth taking some time to revisit his first. A former Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, Shaw was commissioned [...]
#Unlocked17
Unlocking Detention is a twitter tour of the Detention Estate
Get in touch
The Detention Forum is hosted by the Refugee Council.
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This week Unlocking Detention's stop is at #Dungavel, Scotland's only #detention centre.
Incredibly isolated and difficult to access, Dungavel sits more than 30 miles from Glasgow, no local bus and the railway station is 14 miles away.
#Unlocked18
Many thanks to everyone who has joined us on this year's virtual tour of immigration #detention in the UK. It has been quite a journey. We hope it has been eye-opening!
Just a couple of days of rounding up Unlocking Detention next week & then we'll be back in 2019.
#Unlocked18
Take a look at @SDVisitors' summary of the latest @HMIPrisonsnews
report on #Dungavel:
https://t.co/h5kvRy7cYW
#Unlocked18 #Time4aTimeLimit
What a visit means in #detention: "For someone like me who has no one to visit me, seeing you on visiting days is amazing." #Unlocked18 #Time4aTimeLimit #Dungavel