London, 15 May 2020 – Members of the APPG on Immigration Detention, chaired by MP for Glasgow Central, Alison Thewliss, have written to the Home Secretary today to express concern over the hundreds of people still being detained for immigration purposes in the UK, despite the spread of COVID-19.

The group’s letter – signed by 16 MPs and peers from different parties – calls for the immediate release of all detainees. The parliamentarians highlight the fact that social distancing measures are impossible in detention, with detainees having to share bathrooms and catering areas. They also point out that transfers of people around detention centres,
and the arrival and departure of staff each day are likely to be increasing the risk of infections.

There have so far been three confirmed cases of COVID-19 in detention. But with very limited testing taking place, the true figure may be much higher.

The group had written previously to the Home Secretary on this matter on 25 March and 9 April, and only recently received a response dated 30 April, following the publication of a story regarding a lack of transparency from the department.

Last week, it emerged that the Home Office had written to the President of the Tribunal, Immigration and Asylum Chamber, asking that explanations be given for a rise in the number of detainees being granted bail and released from detention. The move was seen by many as attempting to interfere with the independence of the judiciary.

Commenting, Alison Thewliss MP said:

“It’s been a pretty bad few weeks for the Home Office – even by their own standards – and we as a group remain deeply concerned that the department is continuing to put detainees at risk by holding them unnecessarily in IRCs.

“We already know that a number of people have tested positive for COVID-19 within the detention estate, and the fact that the Home Office is continuing to transfer detainees, and insisting on keeping people in situations where they can’t socially distance, shows a complete disregard for the health and well being of those detained, and the public at large.

“We remain particularly alarmed at the train of events that led to the Home Office at last responding to the group’s previous correspondence on this matter. Indeed, it would seem that they only care to respond once matters appear in the press. This is no way to run a department, and speaks to a complete lack of openness.

“It’s important to remember that people are not held in detention as part of any criminal sentence. With the majority of international flights still suspended, and very little possibility of deporting detainees in the short-term, the Home Office has no good reason to continue holding people in IRCs – if it ever did.

“The Home Secretary must seriously consider the important points raised in this correspondence, and she should look to do it with a little more urgency than has been the case so far”.

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

1. Contact: Elspeth Macdonald – Secretariat, APPG on Immigration Detention, e.macdonald@medicaljustice.org.uk / 07784034660
2. A copy of the APPG’s letter can be accessed here.
3. The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Immigration Detention comprises over 35 parliamentarians from across all main political parties who share concerns about the use of immigration detention in the UK. More information about the group, including its full membership list, is available at www.appgdetention.org.uk.
4. The secretariat to the APPG on Immigration Detention is provided by the charity Medical Justice. More information about Medical Justice is available at www.medicaljustice.org.uk.