Detention in the UK and closing pathways to detention

There are 10 detention centres in the UK holding 2-3,000 people at any one time. The UK detention estate is one of the largest in Europe.

In the year ending June 2017 27,819 people were held in UK immigration detained centres and 360 people were prison establishments for immigration offences. In the same year 48children were in the detention estate.

In the year ending June 2017, 12,542 people were removed involuntarily (enforced removals) from the UK. 1,970 out of the 12,542 people removed had previously sought asylum.

Also, in the same period, there was an increase of 4% from the previous year (44%) in the proportion of detainees being returned or ‘voluntarily’ departing from the UK on leaving detention.

In the year ending June 2017, there were 22,822voluntary returns not including returns from detention. For more information on this see the link below:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/immigration-statistics-april-to-june-2017/how-many-people-are-detained-or-returned

Migrant Action: Closing pathways to detention 

By providing information, advice & guidance, advocacy and access to justice, Migrant Action is providing vital early interventions that help to prevent migrants from detention pathways.  Enabling social and economic integration of new migrants offer better alternatives to detention. We will also offer advocacy and practical support for people who are in detention (see Daniel’s story on our website). 

Migrant Action also engages in Direct Action, research and campaigning for policy and system change. In November 2018, Migrant Action in collaboration with Dr Jonathan Burnett of the University of Swansea gave evidence at the Permanent Peoples Tribunal in London:

Migrant Action has completed further research on detention, see our full report at: https://migrantaction.org.uk/migration-briefs/reports/

Migrant Action is an advocacy and migrant rights based organisation. Our mission is to empower migrants and reduce vulnerability. Through our work we uphold migrant rights, aim to increase access to justice and enhance capacity for integration. We work to overcome the effects of government policies that create ‘hostility’ and foster vulnerability amongst migrants. Migrant Action advocates and seeks to ensure migrant justice.

Migrant Action continually seeks collaboration and partnerships with other organisations so as to adequately meet the needs of migrants and its wider objectives. As such, in August Migrant Actionand Rights to Remain charityestablished a new partnership as both seek to grow their organisational presence and provide support to various categories of migrants in the Leeds/Yorkshire.

In an increasingly complex migrant environment, Migrant Action is committed to a proactive and humane approach to responding to challenges faced by migrants in order to avert vulnerability and crisis oriented interventions. Therefore, as the direct implications of Brexit and the government’s new ‘compliance’ environment policy begin to unravel in relation to migrants, the new partnership will enhance Migrant Action’s commitment and capacity to provide migrants with appropriate support in terms of more awareness, impartial guidance and advice, advocacy support, access to justice and better integration.

We look forward to a great and mutually beneficial partnership with Rights to Remain!