We previously wrote about the public inquiries into the proposed expansion of Campsfield and Haslar Immigration Removal Centres. To recap: the Home Office plans to create around 1,000 additional detention spaces, expanding the UK’s detention estate by approximately 40%. 

We cannot let this happen, and Right to Remain is challenging this, with all of you. 

Thanks to a large number of people who wrote to oppose the Campsfield planning application, there is now an public inquiry into this matter, and we will be formally giving evidence as an interested party. Our submission is based on the evidence provided by many of you in our community, especially by people who have first-hand experience of detention – thank you. 

We must stand together to stop this expansion plan, as we work towards abolishing detention altogether. We are therefore absolutely delighted that JCWI (the Joint Council of Welfare for Immigrants) and Asylum Matters agreed to be the lead endorsers of Right to Remain submission.  

Lavanya Pallapi, Chief Executive of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said:

“We unequivocally support Right to Remain’s submission to the inquiry, and oppose the expansion of Campsfield.

Immigration detention is a cruel and inhumane punishment that this and successive governments have used against migrants and people seeking asylum, many of whom have faced horrific and traumatic journeys to seek safety in this country. This expansion is a costly, punitive and unnecessary solution to the government’s aggressive increase in forced removals.

People caged in these detention centres are not able to access the necessary trauma-informed healthcare that they need, leaving them with significantly worse physical and mental health if or when they are able to get out, as well as ruptures to their relationships, housing, education and employment. People detained are often also prevented or restricted from accessing proper legal advice, to which they are legally entitled. Despite this, most people detained are still ultimately released.

People have repeatedly been subject to violence and trauma in these dark prison-like institutions, where they can be held indefinitely, and which have repeatedly been found to systematically violate people’s human rights.

We must seek to invest in and build communities, not cages.”

Lou Calvey, Executive Director of Asylum Matters said:

“1,000 more beds at Haslar and Campsfield means thousands more people suffering completely unnecessarily. It means thousands more people trapped in fear and uncertainty; thousands more families, neighbourhoods and communities torn apart; thousands more people left trying to recover from the trauma of detention. 

And, at a time when racist, anti-migrant sentiment is being spread aggressively in the UK, continuing to push for this expansion means our Government giving in to those who want to divide our communities. Expanding immigration detention harms all of us: so we all need to come together to prevent it. 

We stand with everyone who has been directly harmed by immigration detention, and we support Right To Remain and all those intervening in the public inquiry against this plan – it’s vital that we all unite against this cruel expansion.” 

If your group also would like to endorse our submission, alongside JCWI and Asylum Matters, please contact Ally(at)righttoremain.org.uk. You can find out more information about it here. 

Can you also help us get more people to sign the petition to stop the detention expansion? Can you share it in your network? Can you help us distribute petition flyers, at your meetings, events and in your local area? Please contact Esther(at)righttoremain.org.uk if you want the flyers.