Title: Beyond alternatives to detention?
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2Beyond alternatives to detention?
- The UK experience an NGO perspective
3Beyond alternatives to detention
- UK achievements show value of moving beyond
narrow model of detention or alternatives. - UK has explored a range of approaches based on
enforcement and / or engagement.
4International good practice
- International Detention Coalition documented a
range a of strategies to keep individuals engaged
in immigration procedures while living in the
community... Successful programs support
clients through the bureaucratic process with
information and advice to explore all options to
remain in the country legally and, if needed, to
consider all avenues to depart the country. - There Are Alternatives, 2011
5A range of approaches
- The UK has explored
- End of process alternatives to detention
- Early interventions that reduce the need for
enforcement
6The challenge for UK immigration control
- Credibility
- Convince migrants and public of effectiveness
- Trust
- Obtain compliance of migrants with a system that
is seen as fair -
7Strategies for overcoming barriers to removal
- Enforcement
- End of process, returns-orientated
-
- Engagement
- Early intervention, explore different outcomes
-
8The enforcement approachlong-term detention
- Can enforcement alone guarantee returns, with
sufficient investment? - The UK uses long-term detention of ex-offenders
in order to overcome barriers to removal. - Yet 57 of detainees held for over a year are
released.
9End of process engagement to promote voluntary
returnThe Glasgow Family Returns Project
- Pilot residential alternative to detention for
families at end of asylum process. - Families receive support from social workers.
- Aims
- Increase take-up of voluntary return
- Maximise child welfare at end of asylum process
- No additional cost compared to detention
-
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10Glasgow Family Return Project outcomes
- Evaluation (May 2011)
- 25 families entered the project
- 3 agreed voluntary return, but refused by Home
Office - 3 enforced returns
- No voluntary returns
11Glasgow Family Returns Project analysis
- Families felt lack of trust in the system and did
not believe that they would be removed - Most were long-term resident in Glasgow
- End-of-process intervention with exclusive focus
on return did not create trust - But positives partnership approach, improved
information for families, avoidance of detention
12Early engagement approaches1) Early Legal
Advice Project
- Provides early legal advice and representation to
improve the quality of initial asylum decisions - Rolled out in Midlands / East region since
November 2010
13Early Legal Advice Project outcomes
- Outcomes of earlier Solihull pilot
- 75 higher than national average rate for case
conclusion within 6 months - 73 higher initial refugee status grant rate
- 50 lower successful appeal rate.
- Early signs that current project also yielding
positive outcomes
14Early engagement approaches2) FamilyKey Workers
Pilot
- 2011 pilot carried out by Refugee Action NGO in
Liverpool area, based on an earlier pilot between
April 2010 and 2011. - Refugee Action Key Workers support asylum-seekers
throughout process to meet welfare needs and
improve understanding - Discuss voluntary return options at early stage
- But no involvement of legal representives
15Key Workers Pilot objectives
- Asylum-seekers welfare needs are met
- Asylum-seekers understand the asylum process
- Asylum-seekers better able to take decisions
about their futures, including voluntary return - Asylum-seekers experience reduced stress
16Conclusions
- Early engagement can build trust in the system
and improves case conclusion rates - Trust is essential to successful processes
- Projects suffer from not being integrated with
each other into end-to-end systemic engagement
17Beyond alternatives to detention