Measuring Misery

An increasing number of asylum seekers to Northern Ireland are being locked up in prison as part of the Home Office’s detention policy, according to a report launched by the Refugee Action Group (RAG) on Thursday 17 June.

The report called ‘Measuring Misery’ comes just days before the Prison Service is due to move asylum seekers and other immigration detainees from Maghaberry Prison to Crumlin Road prison and Hydebank Wood Young Offenders Centre.

Measuring Misery (214Kb)

Patrick Corrigan of Amnesty International , one of the report’s authors, said: "The detention policy is contrary to international human rights standards. Asylum seekers are not criminals - they are fleeing persecution in search of a life, not a better life. Convicted criminals know their release date, asylum seekers don’t know how long they will be detained. We are especially concerned by the separation of couples, the lack of visiting arrangements, the increase in the number of women and the detention of babies for the first time ."

Les Allamby, Law Centre (NI) and Chair of the Refugee Action Group, said that the report is based on the prison visits of the Refugee Action Group, which has carried out weekly welfare visits to immigration detainees. RAG welcomes volunteers to take part in these visits and to help with its other campaigning work. Contact the Law Centre (NI) 028 9024 4401 or Amnesty International 028 9064 3000.