| Events |
Read more about upcoming events on the
Events page.
Demonstration at Harmondsworth and Colnbrook
2006-04-08 -
London
Scotland International Day of Action
2006-04-08 -
Glasgow
Communications House Demonstration
2006-04-10 -
London
Demonstration and March in Manchester
2006-04-15 -
Manchester
Demonstration at Campsfield House
2006-04-29 -
Oxford
Convergence on Villawood Detention Centre
2006-04-14 -
Australia
Solidarity Vigil at Perth Detention Centre
2006-04-?? -
Australia
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"I can't go back to my country and I'm asking for political asylum"
I arrived in the UK in March 2000 at Terminal 2 at Heathrow, having a two-year multiple-entry visa. I went to the check-in desk and I said: "I can't go back to my country and I'm asking for political asylum" and this guy looked at me and said: "It's not possible, you're joking. You came here tens of times, and what happens?" And I said, "No, I'm not joking. I'm really in trouble" So he said: "OK. Just wait" I had to wait for about three hours and I submitted, from the very beginning, all my documents, all my correspondence with Amnesty International, my personal ID documents, photocopies of my family's documents and things like this. I was taken to a small room in Terminal 2, and interviewed later that evening, about six o'clock - that was about six, seven hours after I came. The interview was not following the procedures that they are supposed to use for a proper asylum interview. I have made a complaint about these two days later. So, what they wanted to do, they wanted to extract some information, which is not relevant for the case. The immigration officer is actually instructed to conduct the case, to have full control of the case, and to make the case weaker. Because, you see, what happens with asylum policy, the law is made in order to restrict the right to asylum.
After the interview the Chief Immigration Officer took the decision to detain me. I knew about these things because there was quite a big possibility to be detained, being from a European country. I was taken to Campsfield House that evening about eleven o'clock at night. I was taken with a van and of course I was pretty shocked because it was the first time I had to be detained over all my life. In such case the first thing I was trying to do was to gather some information so I asked the people from Group 4 on arrival - basic things like how long I'm supposed to stay there and what happens with my case and solicitors and stuff like this. They were not very helpful and they responded in very general terms. One of my questions was, I asked them to tell me, what percentage of people got sent back to their country of origin once they were detained and all of the guys said about 40%, but now after a few years I think there is more than that. Once in Campsfield, I was forced to stay there for 32 days until I got bail.
Life in Campsfield was very interesting because you expect some things would go a different way in a country like the UK which is supposed to respect human rights including the asylum seeker's human rights. So, I got to be introduced, got the induction. Induction is a kind of process that tries to scare you and to make you very fearful, what you do and how you behave and how you act and everything. My first concern was that the access to information was totally restricted; that was the big problem. I have learned that detention centres are actually for people to be detained and then removed to their country of origin, so if you have the bad luck to be detained you have very little chance of getting a good asylum process all the way. Your asylum claim tends to be extremely minimised because you have this handicap from the very beginning. They say your case is weak and they expect you will be losing and they keep you there until you finish all your rights of appeal and then you get removed. I have met a lot of people from different countries, some staying there for maybe one year, some of them for maybe a couple of weeks until they get out. Mostly this depends on the nationality and the legal representation. The big problem consists in legal representation and the fact that you don't have access to the information. You don't have any information related to the asylum process so you know nothing about the asylum claim and how they proceed with a case and everything.There is only one book Immigration, Nationality and Refugee Law Handbook by Mick Chatwin but that is kept under the desk and you must ask for it otherwise you will not get it. First of all they have no listed solicitors; they have only the Refugee Legal Centre and the Immigration Advisory Service - some small posters - and everyone knows what sort of service they provide. Most of the people that were stuck in detention were there because of a poor legal representation and indeed sometimes you are better off without a solicitor, rather than having an incompetent legal representative. Some of them were detained because of a dodgy legal representation or because of their nationalities (the so-called countries free of persecution). Being from most European countries you get fast tracked. You have a certified case, which tend to be two or three months long and then you get removed.
After I got detained the next move was to get a solicitor. It took me about three or four days until I got a solicitor. What happened is that I went to the library and I got Mick Chatwin's book and I could see the name of the Campaign to Close Down Campsfield and I rang the two numbers listed and I had the chance to speak to Teresa Hayter. I told her about what happened and everything about me and she said, "OK, I'll help you with a solicitor." and she introduced me to Elizabeth Millar - one of the best private solicitors from London who actually bailed me in April 2002. The funny thing is that I have made a complaint two days after I arrived at Campsfield because I felt I was not properly assessed in my interview and the immigration officer abused the system. So what happens is that they responded to this complaint after about 25 days or so but they excluded the relevant information that I was referring to, especially about things not working properly.
Back to Campsfield, everyone was very nervous and every minute was very hard to get on; you are wasting your life there doing nothing and just waiting, waiting for some good news from a solicitor or some decision from immigration. There was a very boring schedule, apart from having the six regular everyday dishes and rotating them, very poor quality food. The soap was unimaginable to use it; I think nobody would buy this in a shop and the toothpaste had the date expired for two years - I have a sample with me now. The library was having a few thousand books and some foreign language books but not all the languages, obviously. You could read newspapers every day; the major daily newspapers from UK, plus newspapers for other nationalities like Albanians and some Arab press. Also they had some French language newspapers. Not too many recreational facilities - you had a gym where you could play some volleyball or handball or even football. They also have quite a nice space for exercise equipment and people were doing this lifting and keeping fit and everything. Every week they put some movies on - videos - and I remember that they used to put a video on a Saturday when the demonstration done by Campaign to Close Campsfield was outside taking place, just in order to distract the attention of the people.
The health facilities were very poor. The doctor was coming, I think, on a twice a week basis and you had to put yourself on a list and you had to first see the nurse and then if she considered that your case was pretty difficult she would refer you to the doctor. I have assisted some people with translation and I have to go to the doctor with them and I was really not very well impressed about the service that they provide and the only thing was they were just taking your blood pressure and giving you some paracetemol. Paracetemol was the most common medication for any disease. I know that people were waiting for some operation.
Talking about Group 4, I remember that I was asked to do a translation for an induction for a new guy and he asked me specifically to translate to this new detainee. This guy said, "If you give us shit we will give you back more shit". So he asked me specifically to translate this. I think they have a policy of people being subjected to a high dose of fear and not to do any foolish things. I have been once to the information desk and asked for the UNHCR telephone number and I was very surprised to receive a response that they don't have this but this guy was pretty helpful and said, "Look, try the enquiries on the phone and they'll give it to you." So I just rang when I could UNHCR because they are quite concerned of what happens in detention and they still give me a ring from time to time to ask me how I'm going with my case and everything. I managed to contact also the Terminal 2 at Heathrow, Immigration Service and they were not very helpful in discussing with me because I made a complaint and I think they were instructed not to say too many things.
I can say something about a European who had to be removed to Germany because he was a third country case. So this guy had the notice of removal, but he tried to mutilate himself so he actually cut himself on the belly and the arms and on the chest with a razor blade. They took him to the hospital and after a few days he was back. He was with guards in a special room, supervised and they actually managed to remove him later that week. He was very much afraid that after being sent to Germany he would be sent back, but the good thing is that he gave us a ring when he reached Germany, and in Germany they don't detain you so he was left quite OK to live, with social services and everything, so he was quite happy.
Visitors were a very important issue. When you had a visitor, I mean, from a morale point of view it was very positive. You had some confidence that someone is interested in your case and that things are going to be OK. I managed to have a visitor, sent by Asylum Welcome, who was also my surety, who agreed to stand surety for £2000. After two years she was discharged of this so she is very happy that she could help, and also I'm very happy that I got help in this respect. There were some people that did not have visitors. I cannot say how they felt about it but I think they felt very miserable that nobody is interested in them, just a phone call or something. I think detention was probably what motivated me to do what I am doing at the moment, being involved in cases of asylum seekers being detained, doing bail things, assisting them with advice as a registered caseworker on immigration and asylum matters.
Detention was probably my second important experience after living under a communist regime for almost 30 years, that in the end proved to be beneficial and self-motivating.
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Read more |
Escape?
2003-01-26 -
A prisoner in HMP Bullingdon writes.
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Campsfield House is hell fire on Earth.
2003-01-26 -
The account that follows is from someone who was forced to flee from Nigeria. He is certain that if he returned his life would be in extreme danger. If he were to succeed in his request for asylum, he would enrich the UK with his many working skills. All he is asking for is a chance to work and get on with his life, while coming to terms with the trauma he has experienced. This trauma has been intensified by experience in detention.
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...something needs to be done...
2003-01-26 -
The following account was given at a conference to end detention in Europe, in September 2000 in Oxford. HK is a Ugandan refugee, who spent 17 months in Harmondsworth and Tinsley House. He is still waiting for refugee status.
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Appeal for Urgent Intervention
2003-01-29 -
Gabriel Nkwelle had been held in detention in six institutions in England since 2001. The accounts that follow are excerpts from his letters from Rochester, Haslar and Belmarsh. The full letters can be found on the website for the Close Campsfield Campaign at http://www.closecampsfield.org.uk. He has finally been granted refugee status.
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"I can't go back to my country and I'm asking for political asylum"
2003-01-29 -
This account describes arrival in the UK, experiences of the immigration service and detention in Campsfield. It comes from a man from a European country who, after two years of being subjected to immigration bail restrictions, has finally won his case on appeal. He has been recognised as a refugee under the 1931 Geneva Convention. Since his arrival in the UK he has helped numerous other asylum seekers including detainees.
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Campsfield Monitor 1998
2003-01-29 -
Highlights from the Campsfield Monitor 1998. Conditions are shown to be deteriorating.
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I have been five months in detention. I have had no antenatal care.
2003-01-29 -
This short piece is the only one from a woman who has been detained.
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...when you are in the minority yours will be a test of courage.
2003-01-29 -
A speech given at the Conference to Defend Asylum Seekers, held at Cross Street Chapel, Manchester, Saturday March 23rd 2002.
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