Freeing Asylum Seekers from Oakington
Relayed by Cambridge IMC | 11.11.2003 11:01 | Anti-racism | Migration | Cambridge
Concerned individuals in Cambridge have therefore set up the Cambridge Bail Circle. The Bail Circle aims to attract individuals from the area and link them up with Oakington detainees identified by lawyers as having arguable cases. The individuals are asked to meet the detainee, attend court with them for a "bail hearing", and stand as "surety" for the them. The asylum seeker is then at least freed from detention whilst they await the review, although conditions are imposed.
Proposals now being put before parliament even remove the possibility of challenge by way of Judicial Review. Yet records from the Refugee Legal Centre show that they were routinely winning around 30% of cases appealed from Oakington - a reflection on the poor quality of the original decision-making.
The Cambridge Bail Circle is conducting some training for would-be sureties in the afternoon of Saturday 6th December at Oakington itself. The training will be essential for anyone thinking of standing as a surety and will cover in detail all aspects of what is expected. Many people who have stood as a surety for an Immigration detainee will attest to the fact that it is one of the most fulfilling things one can do for another human being. If you would like to be involved in the training you will need to book a place before 4th December as the training will take place within Oakington and arrangements will need to be made for your entry into the centre. For further details email Adrian Matthews or write to him c/o the Refugee Legal Centre, Oakington IRC, Oakington Barracks, Longstanton, Cambridgeshire, CB4 4EJ.
This is an edited extract of an article by Adrian Matthews, (Regional Manager of the Refugee Legal Centre) that will appear in Issue 2 of Campeace Forum.
Relayed by Cambridge IMC