Over 200 protest outside UK’s only female migrant detention centre

Over 200 people showed up at the gates of a Durham immigration detention centre this weekend, in a powerful display of solidarity with migrant communities. The demonstration, held on 18th October outside Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), also known as Hassockfield, called for the release of the women trapped inside and:

an end to the traumatic, unnecessary and expensive practice of immigration detention.

Solidarity outside detention centre

Derwentside IRC, as the Canary reported last week, is the sole women-only immigration detention centre in the UK and is on the site of the former Medomsley Detention Centre, where a very different type of atrocity took place for young men in the 80s and 90s.

The event, organised by The No to Hassockfield Campaign, These Walls Must Fall and Right to Remain, brought people together from cities all across the North – Newcastle, Durham, Manchester, Liverpool and Sheffield – to Derwentside IRC. For those who couldn’t attend, local events took place all over the country, from London to Glasgow, as part of a national day of solidarity to end immigration detention.

The day highlighted that contrary to what the government and media are portraying, many of the public do have solidarity and support people who are subjected to the cruel immigration in the UK, and call on the Government to stop ‘ramping up the hostile environment’.

First hand testimony

Protestors heard from those with first-hand lived experience of the deep trauma of detention centres. Speeches highlighted the treatment of women inside Derwentside, many of whom are survivors of trafficking, sexual abuse, violence, and exploitation.

One speaker told the crowd:

The moment you step in there, you are called by a number. You don’t have a name. When you go in there, you come out your life will never, ever be the same. Even when you have your papers, you will still be traumatised. You cannot live in a house with a bunch of keys because the sound of keys will remind you of that detention. That is what we are fighting against.

Another said:

I’ve been in there. To be in there is trauma, it’s depression. It’s inhuman. I’ve been in this country for 20 years, they tell me to go, where should I go? This is my community, I’ve been here, I’ve been helping in the NHS, I came here fleeing a tyrant and I find the same oppression here.

She continued

We are one family, let’s unite and build the country together, let’s treat each other with dignity. We are gathered here as one family to fight the system. It’s inhumane to be in here, the people who are in here are not criminals, they are seeking sanctuary.

‘Set her free’

The day was a particularly emotional one for campaigners from women’s group 4Wings, in Liverpool, who, whilst preparing to attend the event, had been hit with the shocking news that one of their own members Arjeta, a trafficking survivor and vital part of the community, had suddenly been taken to Derwentside. Demonstrators chanted “set her free” as Arjeta spoke from inside the detention centre on speaker phone to the crowd outside, telling them the women inside could hear their songs and chants.

As well as powerful speeches, the aim of the event was to show the women inside that they are not alone, that people are fighting for them. As well as wearing bright colours and holding colourful posters, the crowd sang, chanted and let off orange smoke flares so they could be seen and heard from inside the centre. They also highlighted how unnecessary and wasteful detention is, when the majority of detainees are released back into the community, and evidence shows alternatives to detention are better for everyone.

Maggy Moyo, campaign organiser at lived experience campaign group These Walls Must Fall, said:

Today was important for us to show solidarity to women detained not only in Derwentside but in many other detention centres. Detention compromises people’s mental health permanently, it’s not a policy but a punishment tool that our government uses to punish already vulnerable communities.

Dr Helen Groom from the No to Hassockfield campaign drew attention to the government’s involvement in creating the narrative against immigrants. She said:

Whilst this government and right-wing agitators ramp up the hostile environment, we remain steadfast in campaigning to shut it down. In a world riven with conflict it is no surprise that vulnerable and desperate people are seeking sanctuary.

She continued:

Kindness and compassion should be our watchwords. At No To Hassockfield we remain steadfast in our campaign to end the cruel practice of detention. The protest was vibrant, peaceful and loud: we made sure that the women imprisoned in Derwentside know that they are not forgotten. We will not stop protesting against Derwentside IRC whilst it remains open.

Featured image via Simone Rudolphi