Joan Ryan slams immigration detention policy

JOAN Ryan MP has called on the Prime Minister and the UK Government to apologise for the torment suffered by victims of torture and other vulnerable people resulting from their imprisonment in the country’s deteriorating immigration detention system.

Ms Ryan, in a major debate she secured in Parliament on Thursday 14 June, strongly criticised the Government’s Adults at Risk policy – intended to safeguard vulnerable individuals by routeing them away from or out of detention – which, far from increasing protection to vulnerable detainees, has increased the risk of harm.

Joan Ryan MP said:

“The new Home Secretary has pledged to re-evaluate the Government’s ‘hostile environment’ policy because of the Windrush scandal. The treatment of victims of torture and other vulnerable people in our country’s immigration detention system is nothing short of scandalous too and these issues should be an important part of the Home Secretary’s review. We need a fundamental review of Government policy because the system in place runs counter to this country’s proudest traditions of helping those most in need.”