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:
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/
