Category: Indefinite detention

Indefinite detention of people in the UK immigration detention estate.

Posted on

UN special rapporteur criticises Britain’s ‘in-your-face’ sexist culture

Rashida Manjoo also says Home Office refused to allow access to Yarl’s Wood immigration centre on fact-finding mission

 Rashida Manjoo, above, was told a call ‘from the highest Home Office levels’ had blocked her entry to the Bedford immigration centre. Photograph: UN/PA

The UK has an in-your-face “boys’ club sexist culture” which leads to certain perceptions about women and girls, a UN investigator into violence against women warned on Tuesday.

Special rapporteur Rashida Manjoo said there was “a more visible presence of sexist portrayals of women and girls” and a “marketisation of women’s and girls’ bodies” in the UK, which was more pervasive than elsewhere.

“Have I seen this level of sexist cultures in other countries? It hasn’t been so in-your-face,” she added. Continue reading “UN special rapporteur criticises Britain’s ‘in-your-face’ sexist culture”

Posted on

Deaths in the custody of immigration detention services

G4SChannel 4 : “Left to die in British detention: who was Alois Dvorzac?” – 18/03/14
“Until now we only knew a name: Alois Dvorzac. But who was the man behind the tragedy? … It went on to explain that despite being declared unfit for detention he ended up dying, in handcuffs, while still in detention two weeks later. … “.  Read the article in full and see the news-clip
Channel 4 :”Vaz wants ‘full inquiry’ into detention centre death” – 18/03/14
It is shameful that 84-year-old Alois Dvorzac died in handcuffs at a UK detention centre, and there needs to be a full inquiry, says Keith Vaz MP, chair of the home affairs select committee. See the news clip
CPS : “Death of Jimmy Mubenga – Charging decisions following inquest” – 20/03/14
In accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors, the decision now is that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest for Colin Kaler, Terrence Hughes and Stuart Tribelnig to be prosecuted for manslaughter.  Read the article in full
 
INQUEST – “CPS to prosecute G4S guards for manslaughter following death of Jimmy Mubenga” – 20/03/14
Deborah Coles, co-director of INQUEST said: “This decision reiterates the importance of legal aid for families to be represented at inquests. It is legal aid that ensured a robust examination of all the evidence, which has ultimately resulted in today’s welcome decision.  The cuts to legal aid mean that cases like this in the future may well not receive this kind of scrutiny.” Read the article in full
Posted on

We call on the Home Secretary to release Isa Muazu from detention immediately

 Detention Forum: 21 November 2013:  Isa Muazu, a refused asylum seeker from Nigeria, has been on hunger strike in Harmondsworth detention centre for over 85 days. His recent application to the High Court to be released failed – despite expert medical evidence in October that he was medically unfit to be detained. As he edges closer to death, the government’s response has been to issue an ‘end of life plan’ for Isa. Today’s application for interim relief was refused and Isa remains in detention. We fear that Isa might not survive until his appeal hearing on 25 November. Continue reading “We call on the Home Secretary to release Isa Muazu from detention immediately”
Posted on

The Home Office and its duty of care towards people in detention – a huge question mark

: The Home Office and its duty of care towards people in detention – a huge question mark  30 October 2013

In the latest of a series of fires in UK Immigration Removal Centres, two people from Campsfield House in Kidlington, near Oxford, have been hospitalised.  The Detention Forum is concerned that the Home Office may be failing to discharge its duty of care towards people held in Immigration Removal Centres across the UK.  Continue reading “The Home Office and its duty of care towards people in detention – a huge question mark”

Posted on

House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Immigration Bill 2013-14

The Committee has been announced and the link is below.  We will have to start lobbying the people below so that they are more likely to push for ending indefinite detention. Do you have contact with anyone on the list below?

House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Immigration Bill 2013-14

Here you can browse the record of the public proceedings of the House of Commons Public Bill Committee on the Immigration Bill.

Posted on

PROTESTERS MEET IN SADNESS OUTSIDE CAMPSFIELD HOUSE DETENTION CENTRE AT NOON TODAY

PRESS RELEASE – SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER 2013

‘What kind of country allows its government to lock up innocent people in a ‘prison’ that even the fire officials say is unsafe?’ where is the UK’s tradition of human rights now?’ says Liz Peretz,Member of the Campaign to Close Campsfield.
In the latest of a series of fires in UK immigration detention centres, two people from Campsfield House, at Kidlington, near Oxford have been hospitalised. This must call our attention, yet again, to the Home Office ‘duty of Care’ towards the people held in Immigration detention in this country. Continue reading “PROTESTERS MEET IN SADNESS OUTSIDE CAMPSFIELD HOUSE DETENTION CENTRE AT NOON TODAY”
Posted on

Anxious wait after Evenia is taken to Heathrow

October 25, 2013: Family and friends were waiting anxiously last night to find out if Evenia Mawongera had been put on a deportation flight to Zimbabwe.

After months of campaigning to persuade Home Secretary Teresa May to allow her to stay, she was due to board an Ethiopia Airlines flight from Heathrow at 9pm.

Ms Mawongera, 55, who has made Leicester her home and has children and grandchildren here, has been an outspoken critic of the Mugabe regime and fears for her life if she goes back in Zimbabwe. Continue reading “Anxious wait after Evenia is taken to Heathrow”

Posted on

Fire Officers Assoc renews Sprinkler call after Campsfield fire

Press Release – 23.10.2013: The Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) has renewed its call for sprinklers to be fitted in high-risk buildings, after a serious fire at Campsfield House Immigration Removal Centre last night.

Ten fire engines attended the fire at the Kidlington Centre and one casualty was rescued by fire crews, and remains in a critical condition.  One hundred and eighty people were evacuated from the accommodation block where the fire started, and there was substantial damage to the roof and second floor of the building. Campsfield House did not have sprinklers fitted, despite an earlier incident involving the same accommodation block, during which Oxfordshire FRS had strongly recommended their installation. Continue reading “Fire Officers Assoc renews Sprinkler call after Campsfield fire”

Posted on

Home Affairs Committee – Seventh Report – Asylum

Terms of Reference

Key Facts

In 2012, there were 21,955 applications for asylum in the UK.

  • As of 19 September 2013, of those 21,955 cases, 18,423 have received an initial decision and 12,632 have been concluded. This means that 3,523 people who applied for asylum in 2012 have yet to receive an initial decision.
  • Of the 12, 632 cases that have been concluded 41% (5173) of those cases were granted asylum although 12% (1543) of those 12, 632 cases only received their grant following a successful appeal.[1]
  • In comparison, 180,000 immigrants arrived in the UK for formal study in 2012 and 179,000 immigrants arrived in the UK for work related reasons.[2] Continue reading “Home Affairs Committee – Seventh Report – Asylum”