13. Memorandum submitted by Pamela
Cressey MBE
INTRODUCTION
I act as an assistant chaplain at Oakington
Immigration Removal Centre, and have done so for five years. I
wish to address mainly the topic detention policy and conditions,
which involves also race equality issues, and reporting, investigating
and punishing immigration offenders. I write this from personal
observation and consultation with the team of Religious Affairs
Chaplains at Oakington. I am writing personally.
1. In many press articles there is an assumption
that asylum seekers have no right to be cared for in Britain,
that they take "our" housing, jobs, medical facilities
and money. This is a false generalisation, which is not counteracted
by the Home Office to the general public, in fact they seem to
use this publicity as an excuse for their attitudes and actions
"This is what the public wants". In many cases the asylum
seekers are put into the worst housing in less safe localities,
they are not allowed to work, even if their case continues over
months or years, they often have difficulty receiving medical
help, and they may be in bed-and-breakfast accommodation with
no money at all.
2. The Prime Minister and members of the
Government speak of asylum seekers as statistical problems, and
not as humans who are in need of sanctuary in a world of strife
and poverty, causing political divisions and violence. The laws
are becoming harsher all the time, and human rights are not being
honoured, as the following examples show.
3. Some asylum seekers are detained as being
at risk of "disappearing" into the community. Prisons
are still used, and in Detention Centres the detainees are treated
as though they were criminals. At Oakington, for instance, the
compound is surraouded by high barbed wire, there are four roll
calls daily, and communication is often by loud "tannoy"
announcements from 8am to 10pm. Many asylum seekers have been
traumatised by capture and detention in prisons, and this makes
them very frightened of the atmosphere of uniforms, padlocks and
barbed wire.
4. Lack of adequate information and communication
causes distress. Language barriers are great, and though often
addressed by good interpreters, in other cases the interpreters
harass the detainees during interviews, making it impossible for
them to speak about embarrassing and painful subjects such as
rape, torture or bullying. They may be told that they must just
answer the questions the IND staff wish to ask.If interpreters
are used who are of a different tribe or political group there
may be painful tensions. Legal representatives may also be unhelpful,
though most are helpful. Detainees have no options or choice of
who gives them legal advice, especially if they have no money.
5. Though there is a complaints system if
detainees feel they have been unfairly or roughly treated, or
are misunderstood, they are frightened to complain in case it
counts against their case. Sometimes they are "discouraged"
from making formal complaints. If unfairly accused of a misdemeanour
the record is not corrected or erased, and SIR's remain on their
records, which may penalise them later.
6. Dawn raids and arrests of individuals
and families, from the community where they may have lived for
years, cause much distress. People are not treated with adequate
respect. Six or seven people (up to ten) arrive at their doors
to enforce their removal from their homes—they are given
about ten minutes to prepare themselves and gather posessions.
They arrive at Oakington very frightened, without most of their
possessions, and shocked at being behind barbed wire fences, having
committed no crime. A few weeks ago a middle-aged woman was brought
in with her son and 18-year-old daughter. She was so shocked at
being handcuffed for the journey that she developed a heart condition
which necessitated her admission to hospital. Her daughter was
bewildered and frightened, and did not understand what was happening.
7. Detainees are often not able to retrieve
their possessions before they are deported if they are arrested
in this way. Possessions often include important documents, family
heirlooms, money and valuable equipment as well as clothes and
other precious articles. We gather that these are often disposed
of, sold or stolen. Bank accounts are left unsorted when people
are deported. We consider that the Immigration Service is responsible
for detainees' possessions. We try to retrieve and return the
possessions of failed asylum seekers when we can, but can only
do this for a few.
8. Under-age asylum seekers are often detained
at Oakington if there is an age dispute, and this is very distressing
to them. When they are released to the Social Services they have
nothing to do, and are not allowed to earn, so are in danger of
becoming involved with drugs, crime or prostitution. I understand
there is some move by the Immigration Authority to remove failed
asylum seekers at the age of 16 years, even though they are traumatised
by their experiences, and may have no base in their country of
origin, so it is dangerous for them to be abandoned as soon as
they become 18.
9. The whole question of trafficking of
people, usually vulnerable young people and children, needs urgent
action. It is a huge issue, which is very inadequately addressed.
10. It is increasingly difficult for asylum
seekers to get proper legal representation, especially if they
have no money. If they wish to apply for a judicial review they
are often told they must pay (eg £1,000). The removal of
one tier of appeal has made appeals more difficult for them—presumably
the object of the changes.
11. Decision-making by the IND is often
inaccurate, perhaps because of the inexperience of the staff,
and reviews of the political situation in the countries to which
people may be returned are too infrequent—recently it was
said to take place every six months. It is vital to have up-to-date
information when considering whether return is safe—examples
are Niger, Eritrea, Zimbabwe, Iraq.
12. There is much concern about the "living
ghosts", who are in the community in this country with absolutely
no help because they have refused to sign a paper to return to
their country—they fear it is dangerous or very unsafe to
do so. In some cases the Foreign Office has said return is unsafe.
These people are on our streets, without food, shelter, money,
medical treatment or hope. Their children may be taken into care.
They can get emergency help if they sign a paper (which they are
urged to do) to say they are willing to go home, even if they
are not. This situation needs urgent investigation, especially
in the winter.
These are some of my present and immediate concerns.
Pamela Cressey MBE
Assistant Chaplain at Oakington Immigration Removal
Centre
1 December 2005
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