7 September 2021 – As part of its ongoing inquiry into quasi-detention, the APPG on Immigration Detention has published an interim report summarising key points raised by witnesses during the inquiry’s oral evidence sessions held in July 2021.
Witnesses who spoke at the sessions included current and former residents at Napier Barracks and Penally Camp, and doctors, lawyers and NGOs working directly with residents.
They reported many issues and concerns, including unsanitary, crowded, ‘prison-like’ conditions at the sites; chronic levels of sleep deprivation; ineffective safeguarding; inadequate access to legal advice and healthcare; problematic changes in the processing of residents’ asylum claims; and intimidation and mistreatment of both residents and NGO workers supporting them.
Much of the evidence provided during the sessions also highlighted the profoundly negative impacts the sites were having on the mental health of residents, many of whom were already vulnerable.
Please note that a full inquiry report will be issued by the APPG in the coming weeks.