I'm not sure how long the group has been running but they all volunteer to make at least one visit per fortnight to prisoners at Oakington, most managing to get in once a week.

In one of my earlier posts on the nasty goings on at the Oakington barracks Immigration prison, I mentioned that on my first visit there was only one other visitor there for the 300 odd men, women and child prisoners.

The other person was one of the Oakington Friends. Most prisoners are snatched without being able to contact or keep contact details for friends and family. Many do not have friends and family who are able or inclined to support them during imprisonment - lock someone up, call them illegal and you'll be surprised how quickly 'friends' abandon you.

Oakington, for many, is out in the 'back & beyond'. Making regular visits is not possible, either financially or time wise, to most people around the country.

Prison is a cruel regime to enforce on people, hence it is usually reserved for criminals. In Oakington, you have hundreds of non criminals locked up with their children/babies, being treated despicably and most are isolated from any external support or contact.

Being in such a repressive environment, one of the few things that'll actually help relieve some of the mental anguish being suffered is to have contact and/or support with the outside world - a brief respite from the brutal surroundings through a visit, a card, a letter, etc.

Although most are pretty powerless to stop this kind of inhumane treatment, we are, nevertheless, able to stand side by side with these people in one way or another, and express our shared humanity.

I had quite a nice Xmas this year. The miserable prison surroundings of Oakington were home to several hundred men, women and children this yuletide. With the threat of imminent expulsion hanging over their heads, they sat down to Christmas dinner a la Group4.