July 2006
IMMIGRATION DETENTION: A BETTER WAY FORWARD IN SOUTHWARK
by Dinah Gallop
An interesting experiment in Southwark has proved it is possible to provide cost effective and acceptable conditions for detainees held in police custody awaiting deportation or transfer to a detention centre. A joint report on the experiment from Southwark ICV Chair Avril Jones and Southwark custody managers recently went to the MPA.
Work by the Camden ICV Panel in 2004 highlighted the unacceptable length of time many immigration detainees were held in police cells (designed for short stays) after deportation papers had been served. This led to two meetings between the Home Office and the MPA and a promise of action to reduce time in police cells.
Southwark custody visitors, and indeed Southwark police, shared our concerns and their subsequent research into immigration detainees threw up a similar pattern to the one we found in Camden; an average time of over 40 hours in police custody and some detainees held over 100 hours. (The maximum permitted is 5 nights which can mean 7 days.)
The Southwark project set out to prove it was possible to improve the treatment and supervision of immigration detainees by removing such detainees into a specialist facility, thus freeing up cells and reducing pressure in other custody suites.
A formerly disused custody suite at Southwark Station has been designated an immigration custody suite. Immigration detainees arrested for whatever reason are initially taken to one of the main custody suites in Southwark or surrounding boroughs and processed in the normal way. However once detainees have been served deportation papers by the Immigration and Nationality Directorate (IND), they are removed to the Southwark suite as soon as possible. This releases cell space in other stations.
The Southwark suite contains only those awaiting deportation or removal to a deportation centre, and there is no competing pressure from the need to process other detainees within PACE time limits. Hence the suite can be organised around the needs of those likely to spend a few days in police custody awaiting removal.
Washing and showering facilities are offered twice a day, there is an (albeit limited) opportunity for exercise, and a recreation room allows periods of free association between detainees. A secure property store allows cases to be safely lodged, rather than left in the corridor or cluttering up the desk area as in Camden.
Regrets
We regret to pass on the sad news that Mr Peter Fisher passed away on 4th July 2006.
Peter was Chairman of the Scarborough Southern Areas Community and Police Liaison Group, Honorary Vice President of the Independent Custody Visiting Association and co-ordinator for the Scarborough Panel of NYPA Independent Custody Visiting Scheme.
On behalf of the executive committee, staff and members of ICVA, we would like to express our sincere sympathy to his wife and family at this time.