Source · Select Committees · Women and Equalities Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Not Addressed
Ensure foreign language legal advice information and improve mobile phone reception in detention centres.
Recommendation
We welcome the Government’s announcement that all Detained Duty Advice Scheme appointments in immigration detention, including Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre (IRC), will now be delivered face-to-face. However, the Government must address further potential barriers to accessing legal advice in Derwentside IRC. It must ensure that information in foreign languages about how to access legal advice is more readily available and displayed on posters throughout Derwentside IRC and the wider immigration removal estate. The Government must also take steps to improve mobile phone reception in Derwentside IRC and set out in response to this Report the steps it has taken to do so. (Paragraph 175) UK/Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership
Government Response Summary
The government's response describes existing verbal advisories on legal representation provided during induction, with interpreters available, but it does not address the recommendation to display information about legal advice in foreign languages on posters or to take steps to improve mobile phone reception in Derwentside IRC.
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
In relation to the recommendation at paragraph 175, the Detained Duty Advice Scheme (DDAS) is currently advertised in immigration removal centres (IRCs) in England and Wales, including at Derwentside IRC, in line with our published IRC Operating Standards, all individuals who arrive at an IRC in England and Wales (including those moved from prison) must be advised of their right to legal representation and of how they can obtain such representation, within 24 hours of their arrival at an IRC. All individuals detained in an IRC in England and Wales are provided with a list of the Detained Duty Advice (DDA) scheme duty solicitors and are made aware that they are eligible for a free 30-minute consultation regardless of financial eligibility or the merits of their case. There are at least two occasions when signposting to legal advice is provided; firstly, an IRC supplier conducts an induction interview within 24 hours of arrival and in this induction, suppliers ensure that individuals are made aware of how to access legal advice. Suppliers also advise individuals of the time of the surgeries under the DDA scheme, which operate daily in most centres. Inductions are carried out with the use of interpreters where appropriate. Secondly, our induction occurs within 48 hours of arrival and is conducted by an Engagement Officer within the Detention Engagement Team (DET). Issues explored include: whether an individual has a legal advisor, the signposting of the Detained Duty Advice scheme and an explanation that the individual has the right to contact their Embassy or Consulate. The DET induction is carried out with the use of an interpreter where deemed appropriate to do so. At all times, interpreters are made available where needed. Further details about the induction process are set out in operational guidance4. Guidance for staff on the provisions available for interpretation in detention and the circumstances in which each method for interpretation should be used is also published5.