Conflicts
Immigration detention in the UK: 'Expensive, ineffective and unjust.'
A "landmark" report by a British cross-party parliamentary group concludes that immigration detention in the UK is ‘expensive, ineffective and unjust.’
The call follows a joint inquiry into the use of immigration detention in the UK by the APPG on Refugees and the APPG on Migration.
The panel, which included a former Cabinet Minister, a former Chief Inspector of Prisons, and a former law lord, considered evidence over eight months.
The inquiry panel conclude that the enforcement-focused culture of the Home Office means that official guidance, which states that detention should be used sparingly and for the shortest possible time, is not being followed, resulting in too many instances of unnecessary detention.
The panel recommend that the UK government should learn from best practice abroad where alternatives to detention are used, "which not only allow individuals to live in the community, but which also allow the government to maintain immigration control at a much lower cost to the state."
The panel argues that depriving an individual of their liberty for the purposes of immigration detention should be an absolute last resort and only used to effect removal.
Alternatives to detention, it says, must be used whilst a maximum time limit on detention of 28-days would greatly reduce human suffering.
“We try to help vulnerable forced migrants held in prison-like conditions in many European countries and it is very encouraging to read such a high-level report that recommends alternatives to detention.”
In most cases it is unnecessary, it asserts, to lock asylum seekers up at such great cost in both economic and human terms.
"Where detention is deemed necessary it is right that a time limit is put in place and 28 days would represent a huge improvement on the current situation of unlimited detention. The UK is the only country in the EU which detains people without limit – in some cases for several years. "
"JRS strongly urges the British government to implement the report’s recommendations as soon as possible, thereby giving asylum seekers more dignity and justice."
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