APPENDIX 13
Memorandum submitted by the Law Centre
(NI)
As you will know the Steele review made a brief
reference to the unacceptability of using prison as a place to
house immigration detainees. The Law Centre and a large number
of other voluntary organisations have long campaigned for an alternative
accommodation facility to be developed in Northern Ireland and
that detention be seen as a matter of last resort. At present
Maghaberry prison holds up to 60 to 70 asylum seekers in prison
each year for periods of up to 12 months in some cases. The asylum
seekers detained in prison have committed no criminal offence.
We recognise that the new enquiry is likely
to focus primarily on the question of separation of paramilitary
prisoners and safety issues for staff and prisoners. Nonetheless,
we would welcome the committee making a finding on the question
of developing alternative accommodation within Northern Ireland
to hold those who are detained for immigration purposes and that
such detention should be a matter of last resort.
2 October 2003
| 
