Member

Alas, the reality is that access to justice for people in immigration detention is largely illusory. Evidence shows that existing government schemes to provide access to legal advice in immigration detention are simply not working. People detained in immigration removal centres—IRCs—are entitled to just 30 minutes of free advice via the detained duty advice scheme, the DDA. However, a survey this year by Bail for Immigration Detainees found that only 27% of respondents held in IRCs had a legal aid solicitor. This contrasts with a figure of 75% before LASPO. The situation is equally dire for those detained in prisons. These individuals are entitled to 30 minutes of free legal advice via the telephone legal advice service. However, a Bail for Immigration Detainees survey last year found that 71% of respondents had not received legal advice under that scheme.