Immigration detention in the UK

Welcome to this history of the use of immigration detention in the UK

This interactive timeline tells the story of the use of immigration detention in the UK, from powerful campaigns, legal challenges to government policy, and the formation of new visitors groups to evidence from the frontline, detention statistics, and the work of artists, actors, and photographers. ;xNLx;;xNLx;Follow the story of immigration detention in the UK from the 1990s to the present day using this simple timeline.;xNLx;;xNLx;

1971-10-28 00:00:00

Immigration Act 1971

1983-12-13 00:00:00

R v. Governor Durham Prison, Ex parte, Hardial Singh, [1984] 1 WLR 704

The authoritative statement of the implied limitations of the power to detain conferred by the Immigration Act 1971 were first stated here by Woolf J in what have since become widely known as the 'Hardial Singh principles'.

1985-12-24 00:00:00

Medical Foundation for the Victims of Torture (now Freedom From Torture) granted charitable status

The organisation works to assist, protect and promote the rights of torture survivors who arrive in the UK.

1993-06-01 00:00:00

London Detainee Support Group (later Detention Action) formed

London Detainee Support Group was set up to provide support to immigration detainees in Harmondsworth and Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centres.

1993-11-25 00:00:00

Campsfield House opened

Located in Kidlington, about 5 miles north of Oxford. Maximum capacity since opening: 276. Currently holds men only. (Source: AVID). Visitors group: Asylum Welcome

1993-11-29 00:00:00

Campsfield House - first immigration detainees transferred to centre

Source: Asylum Welcome

1994-01-01 00:00:00

Haslar Visitors Group launched (now Friends Without Borders)

1994-01-10 00:00:00

Campaign to Close Campsfield launched

1994-01-29 00:00:00

The first of hundreds of monthly demonstrations outside Campsfield IRC

Since this date in 1994 the Close Campsfield Campaign have demonstrated outside Campsfield IRC at noon on the last Saturday of every month.

1994-11-25 00:00:00

Association of Visitors to Immigration Detainees formed

AVID is the national membership network of volunteer visitors to immigration detainees held in removal centres and prisons. AVID was set up to provide training and support for visitors groups, raise awareness of detention, and improve conditions and treatment for those people held in detention. In 2014 AVID celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Immigration detention in the UK

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