1 / 20

Refugee Action Group presentation

Refugee Action Group presentation. 4 th October 2011. What is AVID?. National umbrella group for volunteer visitors groups Set up in 1994 18 member visitors groups across the UK Also individual visitors

king
Download Presentation

Refugee Action Group presentation

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Refugee Action Group presentation 4th October 2011

  2. What is AVID? • National umbrella group for volunteer visitors groups • Set up in 1994 • 18 member visitors groups across the UK • Also individual visitors • Members visit in IRCs, short term holding facilities, and prisons – wherever detainees are held • Over 400 volunteers across the country • National ‘hub’ in London, staffed by full time Director and volunteers

  3. About AVID: what do we do? • Training, resources and support for groups (e.g. Handbook) • Assist and encourage new groups in response to expansion of UK Detention Estate • Advocacy work: to improve treatment and conditions for detainees, exposing gaps in detention policy and practice based on detainee experience • Research and Information: accurate and reliable data: statistics, conditions, comparisons • Visitors network: regular newsletter, annual conference, events and collective responses

  4. UK’s use of detention • Now around 3,500 spaces...compared to 250 when AVID began in 1994 • UK one of the largest detention estates in Europe, yet has one of the lowest removal rates • Also around 500 detained post sentence in prison • Largest Detention Centre in Europe: Harmondsworth (623 places) • UK derogated from the EU Directive= no time limit on detention

  5. Purpose of Detention UKBA Enforcement Instructions and Guidance: • To effect removal • Initially to establish a person’s identity or basis of claim • Where they believe a risk of absconding “Detention must be used sparingly and for the shortest period necessary”

  6. Current Detention Estate • 11 Immigration Removal Centres • 3 ‘types’ of IRC • ‘open prison’ model (eg Dungavel) • Purpose built, high security (eg Brook) • Prison service operated (eg Lindholme) • 3 residential short term holding facilities • Other non residential holding e.g. Ports , police custody suites (not in stats) • Prison • Pre departure accommodation

  7. Key Facts • About half of all immigration detainees are held for over two months • 20% are held more than six months (2010) • 60% of detainees will have claimed asylum at some point • Longest detention as at 2010 = 4.9 years • Two thirds are removed and one third released according to Home Office statistics • Cost £110 per night per person...

  8. Concerns • Length of detention: indefinite • Access to legal advice and bail • Detention of vulnerable people e.g. torture survivors, mental health • Discrepancies in provision and conditions • Private contractors: lack of transparency

  9. What is a visitor? • ‘in loco familiae’: acting in lieu of friends and family to immigration detainees • Befriend and give moral support • Ensure basic needs are met (clothes, toiletries, phone cards) • Facilitate communication between detainees and other sources of support • Acting as the ‘eyes and ears’ of detainees outside • Practical support where permitted • DO NOT give legal advice unless qualified and acting in that capacity

  10. Why visit? • May be only person detainee sees that is not an official • “lifeline” in difficult circumstances • Can relieve isolation, anxiety, provide moral support at a vulnerable time • Increase access to practical supports: legal advice, entitlements • Can be voice of detainees on the outside: helping to raise awareness of hidden practice

  11. Why visit? The Detainees perspective: “its just like a family for someone who has no one in here. How are you, how are you doing? Sometimes laughing, they make you laugh. Sometimes they ask to your case, what happened....Sometimes people try to suicide. When they feel down, they speak to LDSG, they feel different, better” London Detainee Support Group “I am proud of all that you are doing for me. For all the times you visit me, for all the time you listen to me. For the times you saw me cry. I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart” Haslar Visitors Group

  12. Why visit? Volunteers perspective: “it has allowed me to realise the problems that immigrants face, and so allowed me to be more sympathetic instead of judgemental” Dover Detainee Visitors Group “I was quite nervous before my first visit...going through the security. Afterwards, when I came out, I just felt kind of numb.....it makes me so angry that this is the normality for so many people” London Detainee Support Group

  13. What to expect • Most IRCs have visiting times, booking may be required • Visitor usually visits one named detainee (unless STHF- where practices vary) • Photo ID, proof of address, searching (possibly also finger printing, photo) • Check what is allowed inside (paper? pen?) • Be prepared: introduce yourself and visitors role, think of ice breakers and conversation in advance • Don’t push them to talk about their case

  14. Who will you meet? • Men and women will be held at Larne • Usually en route to UK detention facility • People who have not entered legally • Visa overstayers • Foreign nationals who have completed their sentence and awaiting deportation • Asylum seekers whose claims have been rejected

  15. Short term holding facilities • Can hold men and women in same facility • No on site legal advice provision (DDA in IRCs) • Detention Centre Rules and Operating Standards ‘in development’ • Independent oversight: HMIP, ICIUKBA, IMB • IMB provision is not statutory – but UKBA policy states they should have the same access

  16. Visiting in a STHF • Very different to an IRC: detainees held there temporarily – you will probably only meet them once • Knowledge and understanding critical: sources of help, further information, practical advice on next steps • Building trust in a short time: emphasise your independence, stress confidentiality • Empowerment: encourage them to be proactive

  17. Hints and Tips • Be realistic and practical about what you can and can’t do • Emotional support is as important as effecting change • Support Yourself • Remember you can only do your best- visitors are not responsible for detainees • Develop your own coping mechanism: and talk to other members of your group

  18. Setting up a visitors group • Building relationship with the facility – makes it easier to achieve practical changes • Recruiting and training volunteers: ongoing support is essential • Referrals: posters and flyers in the centre • Point of contact/administration • Information provision • Governance: management committee • AVID can help!

  19. AVID • Website: list of other visitors groups, information on detention • Handbook: practical source of information for visitors • Training: for all volunteers • Support on the phone: reactive support and advice • Advocacy: linking in to HMIP and UKBA

  20. AVID www.aviddetention.org.uk ali.mcginley@aviddetention.org.uk

More Related