20 Apr '16

What to do if you are detained

Call your lawyer: If you do not have a lawyer, visit the detention centre legal surgery and demand an appointment. Keep copies of all your documents and make a note of your request to the legal surgery.

Don’t sign any paper in the Detention Centre that says you agree to return to your home country, even if immigration officers and detention centre guards intimidate or threaten you. You can call the Unity Centre for emotional support or to chat.

Have you claimed asylum yet? If you claim asylum when detained call the Unity Centre if you want any information about what the interviews will be like. There is also information on this website…

Solidarity in the Detention Centre, talk to people around you – you will be amazed at how others can help you deal with your case, and in turn how you can then pass this knowledge on to others facing similar problems in the asylum detention process.