On 26th November 2020, the APPG held an online meeting to discuss the Home Office’s approach to processing people arriving by small boats to the UK.
Over 70 participants attended, including parliamentarians, experts by experience, and representatives from relevant external organisations.
The group heard presentations from:
- Helen Bamber Foundation – Jennifer Blair, Co-Head of Protection
- HM Inspectorate of Prisons – Charlie Taylor, HM Inspector of Prisons; and Hindpal Singh Bhui, Inspection Team Leader
- Independent Monitoring Boards – Dame Anne Owers, National Chair
- Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association – Sonia Lenegan, Legal Director
- Medical Justice – Theresa Schleicher, Casework Manager
- Survivors Speak OUT – Kolbassia Haoussou MBE, Co-Founder and Co-ordinator
Evidence presented at the meeting was deeply troubling. Speakers described an approach to processing people that was overly accelerated, with serious problems in terms of safeguarding children and vulnerable people, and little done to ensure people have adequate access to justice. They also spoke of unprecedented levels of distress, self-harm and suicide attempts being observed amongst detainees.
To read the evidence presented in full, please access the meeting minutes here.
Many people arriving by boat are spending time at the new institutional asylum accommodation sites in Penally and Kent. Both sites are former army barracks.
Residents from the Penally site compiled an alarming report for the APPG that was shared at the meeting. It raised serious concerns about conditions at Penally, including a lack of adequate medical facilities, washing facilities, sleeping quarters, heating, or Covid-19 safety measures. Unsurprisingly the residents also commented that they felt unsafe at the site, particularly given its status as a target for racist protests and threats.
A copy of the Penally residents’ report is available here.
Following the meeting, various members of the APPG wrote to the Home Secretary to raise key points and concerns, and to share a copy of the Penally residents’ report. A copy of the letter can be accessed here.