Reflections on our February Zoom gathering

Once a month, the Refugee Tales community comes together in solidarity with those who have experienced immigration detention. It is a chance to reflect, in company, on the big questions that do not always get asked about detention.

These monthly gatherings are currently structured around the Walking Inquiry, the Refugee Tales community response to the Public Inquiry currently underway into mistreatment at Brook house in a five month period in 2017. This month’s gathering was prefaced by two videos; one, by R, which showed us first hand accounts of detention, from those who have experienced it themselves and those that have visited people in detention centres. This was complimented by a second film by Lucy Williams, which was a very informative account of the structures underpinning the detention system.

R kicks off the session by welcoming both new and familiar faces and everyone takes part in a warm up. Next, we were able to witness a moving letter exchange between two people; one who had lived experience of detention, and another who was a friend during this time. This raised some interesting points and lead the way nicely for Ton to introduce us to this month’s questions:

- How are people detained? The systems and structures of detention?

- What does this say about our society?

- What are the risks of such a system?

- What do I find acceptable or unacceptable about the way people are detained, and those systems and structures?

- What could be different?

Dividing into break out groups provided the opportunity for more free flowing conversation and to get to know those in our groups. I found in my group that conversation flowed easily and, establishing that we’d battled a range of weathers across the UK to go for a walk in preparation for the Walking Inquiry, we moved on to discussing the films. Everyone in the group remarked that the combination of R’s powerfully emotive film, and Lucy’s informative yet accessible account of the structures of detention really got everyone thinking about these issues. When we came back to the main gathering and all 11 groups shared what they had discussed, it was clear that all the conversations were varied and unique, yet key themes kept cropping up.

The theme that struck me the most was a sense of shame from the community, that we live in a country that allows detention to happen in this way. Some groups mentioned that this was their reaction to the video made by R, which mirrors one of the contributors to that video, who feels ashamed when reflecting on their time in detention. At least half of the groups feeding back discussed that there were overwhelming feelings of shock and shame.

A second theme that came across strongly, particularly from those in the community who have lived experience of detention, was that detention never leaves you. Some spoke of how the memories and trauma still affect them, referencing avoiding passing places where they have previously been detained, or the triggering nature of seeing a fence after that experience. One community member said that once they’d left detention they still felt detained, feeling unable to leave their room for days.

Many groups found that after watching the videos, they were struck by the visual similarities between detention centres and a prison. Someone commented that this feels like an extension of the country’s drive to lock people up, as the UK has the highest prison population in Europe. However, there was a consensus running through every discussion that whilst the structures and conditions were broadly similar to that of a prison, (an example that stood out included the light being on for 24 hours a day in detention) in detention you don’t know when your time there will end. At least in prison, you know when the sentence will end. This tied into another comment that judicial court proceedings are generally wrapped up much quicker than immigration proceedings which can take up to ten years. The process of detaining someone is bureaucratic rather than judicial, and it is felt that this can hide the stories of those experiencing the system.

Similar to prisons, something that struck the community as a result of Lucy’s video was how detention centres and the processes supporting them are treated like a business. Detention for profit has resulted in many processes feeling dehumanising and tick-box. One example given was the added trauma of someone being forcibly removed from the country, or moving between detention centres late at night for the sole reason that it is cheaper than during the day. There is concern that the privatisation of detention has resulted in centres being understaffed with insufficient training. Someone commented that it would be wonderful if detention centres could be supportive rather than exploitative.

Despite acknowledging all of these horrors of detention, the group all felt a positive drive to be able to take action to tackle the issues at hand. There was a will to share these two powerful videos with others so they too can become aware of the realities of detention and the structures surrounding it. There was a definite feeling that whilst national rhetoric compounds the hostile environment, which in turn causes our community to feel shame, this can be countered by hearing individual stories, and understanding that each statistic in a tabloid article is a person with their own life and experience. It was felt that hostilities towards migrants and asylum seekers could be deeply reduced once someone understood the realities of detention, and the realities of life for the people who experience it. One member of the community had the idea that MPs should spend some time in a detention centre to understand the impact that being in this space can have, even in the shortest of times. Whilst this could never truly replicate the experience, as an MP knows they will be able to leave, knows when they'll be able to leave and has security when they do leave, it was felt that this may be enough of an eye-opener for more empathy to feature in policy decisions. There was still a drive within the group to press for an end to indefinite detention and to detention itself.

However, it is also important to note that community members with lived experience of detention felt that labels like ‘refugee’ and ‘asylum seeker’ have negative connotations for them and can make them feel like they were seeking charity. They want to be treated as the independent individuals that they are, with respect and choices available to them.

I left the session feeling invigorated with a refreshed need to share what I’ve learned through the videos and discussion with other people who may not yet be aware of the randomness of detention. A warm down at the end ensured the session ended on a high, with the group resolved that we can do better as a country for people in these situations. I am looking forward to the next gathering on the 13th March.

—Chloe O’Connor