Publications
The Detained Lives report on the real cost of indefinite detention
In January 2009 LDSG published the "Detained Lives" report, which presents evidence of the ineffectiveness and the human cost of the practice of indefinite detention. The report reveals the ineffectiveness and the human impact of the UK’s hidden practice of indefinite immigration detention without time limits. It presents the perspectives of people detained for more than a year on all aspects of detention. The research explores whether indefinite detention achieves its stated aims of deporting people, through analysis of London Detainee Support Group’s case files. The evidence suggests that indefinite detention simply does not work: as a means of deporting people it is ineffective and grossly inefficient. The testimony of detainees shows the human cost to be vast: the opaque implementation of detention without time limits leads many people to despair.
The report is available here.
The report was covered in the national press, including The Guardian, which also featured the story of LDSG client Ahmed Abu Bakar Hassan
The New Statesman published a detailed article on indefinite detention and the Detained Lives report.
The Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law
have published an analysis of the lawfulness of indefinite detention (copyright Bloomsbury Professional).
Please visit the campaign website at www.detainedlives.org
Dossiers for legal representatives
In August 2007, LDSG published evidence that Iranian and Algerians without passports or other ID are being refused travel documents by their embassies, meaning that they cannot return. As a result, many are spending unnecessarily long periods in detention. In many cases, detainees are repeatedly told at bail hearings that they will be removed within a specified period, but no removal takes place.
Summaries of the reports are available here.
The full dossiers are available from the LDSG office, and are free for detainees or their legal representatives.
Similar dossiers were published in early 2006 on Mauritania and Niger and late 2006 on Sierra Leone. In each case, all LDSG clients from those countries were released shortly after the publication of the dossiers.
Reports and submissions
LDSG is very concerned about the proposals contained in the draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill 2009. These proposals would give extensive new powers to the UK Borders Agency to detain people for long periods, and would reduce the powers of the courts to scrutinise detention. Some detainees could be prevented from applying for bail altogether. LDSG's submission to the Home Affairs Committee consultation is available here.
LDSG made a submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into the treatment of asylum seekers, published 22 March 2007. LDSG is concerned at the use of extreme long-term detention with no prospect of deportation. The detention of victims of torture is also routine, in contravention of Home Office procedures. LDSG’s submission is available here.
LDSG also raised our concerns with the Independent Asylum Commission in November 2007. LDSG's submission is here.
Download the 2008-09 Annual Report here.
Download the 2007/08 Annual Report here.
Download the 2006/07 Annual Report here.
Detainee newsletters
LDSG has also produced newsletters of detainees’ writings and art-work. Copies are available by donation from the office.
In January 2009 LDSG published the "Detained Lives" report, which presents evidence of the ineffectiveness and the human cost of the practice of indefinite detention. The report reveals the ineffectiveness and the human impact of the UK’s hidden practice of indefinite immigration detention without time limits. It presents the perspectives of people detained for more than a year on all aspects of detention. The research explores whether indefinite detention achieves its stated aims of deporting people, through analysis of London Detainee Support Group’s case files. The evidence suggests that indefinite detention simply does not work: as a means of deporting people it is ineffective and grossly inefficient. The testimony of detainees shows the human cost to be vast: the opaque implementation of detention without time limits leads many people to despair.
The report is available here.
The report was covered in the national press, including The Guardian, which also featured the story of LDSG client Ahmed Abu Bakar Hassan
The New Statesman published a detailed article on indefinite detention and the Detained Lives report.
The Journal of Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Law
have published an analysis of the lawfulness of indefinite detention (copyright Bloomsbury Professional).
Please visit the campaign website at www.detainedlives.org
Dossiers for legal representatives
In August 2007, LDSG published evidence that Iranian and Algerians without passports or other ID are being refused travel documents by their embassies, meaning that they cannot return. As a result, many are spending unnecessarily long periods in detention. In many cases, detainees are repeatedly told at bail hearings that they will be removed within a specified period, but no removal takes place.
Summaries of the reports are available here.
The full dossiers are available from the LDSG office, and are free for detainees or their legal representatives.
Similar dossiers were published in early 2006 on Mauritania and Niger and late 2006 on Sierra Leone. In each case, all LDSG clients from those countries were released shortly after the publication of the dossiers.
Reports and submissions
LDSG is very concerned about the proposals contained in the draft Immigration and Citizenship Bill 2009. These proposals would give extensive new powers to the UK Borders Agency to detain people for long periods, and would reduce the powers of the courts to scrutinise detention. Some detainees could be prevented from applying for bail altogether. LDSG's submission to the Home Affairs Committee consultation is available here.
LDSG made a submission to the Joint Committee on Human Rights inquiry into the treatment of asylum seekers, published 22 March 2007. LDSG is concerned at the use of extreme long-term detention with no prospect of deportation. The detention of victims of torture is also routine, in contravention of Home Office procedures. LDSG’s submission is available here.
LDSG also raised our concerns with the Independent Asylum Commission in November 2007. LDSG's submission is here.
Download the 2008-09 Annual Report here.
Download the 2007/08 Annual Report here.
Download the 2006/07 Annual Report here.
Detainee newsletters
LDSG has also produced newsletters of detainees’ writings and art-work. Copies are available by donation from the office.
“I hope for patrons travel like birds and cross wastelands as if they were short, singing as well as I can with my stumbling tongue.”
W., Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, LDSG newsletter
W., Harmondsworth Immigration Removal Centre, LDSG newsletter
