Immigration Detention Emergency Helpline
Refugee Action Group has recently launched its Immigration Detention Emergency Helpline. Your help is needed to publicise the number!
Tel: 0800 8400 495.
This free and confidential service is designed to assist people who are stopped and held by Immigration Officers when travelling to/from or within Northern Ireland. Detainees can contact the Helpline and a trained volunteer will try to notify the detainee's family and to contact an Immigration Adviser who may be able to assist the detainee in challenging her/his detention.
Several NGOs and voluntary sector organisations, such as Law Centre (NI) and Amnesty International, welcome the launch of the Helpline which will provide an invaluable service to detainees.
People may be at risk when travelling between Northern Ireland and GB or between the Republic of Ireland and GB. They may be stopped and detained at one of Northern Ireland's sea or airports or when travelling across the land border. It is not only immigrants who are at risk; non-white British and Irish people have also been detained.
Paul Kazadi, Chair of RAG, states: "People should not be frightened to travel around the UK as we all have the right to move freely. We are aware of instances where people have been detained and sent to detention centres despite having lawful status. People must be able to seek assistance to prevent this from happening."
The Helpline number is 0800 8400 495 and is available outside office hours, weekends and holidays. Please note that the Helpline does not provide general immigration advice.
RAG urges everyone in Northern Ireland to make a note of the number or to carry a RAG card in their wallets at all times. The Helpline volunteers want to hear from any individual who has been detained but also from any member of the public who witnesses a detention taking place. Northern Ireland is a democratic society: it is essential that human rights are fully respected and that every individual - regardless of their immigration status - can travel without fear and can gain assistance if detained.
If you require further information about the Helpline or would be willing to distribute RAG cards, please contact Liz Griffith at:
RAG
C/O Law Centre (NI)
124 Donegall Street
Belfast
BT1 2GY
Telephone: (028) 9024 4401
Email: elizabeth.griffith@lawcentreni.org
For more information about RAG please see www.refugeeactiongroup.com
Please help us publicise this Helpline!
