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Concern has been expressed locally, nationally and internationally. In September 2008 Thomas Hammarberg, the Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, expressed his concern at the British Government's plans to expand immigration detention facilities.
In July 2008 the Independent
Asylum Commission published its report Deserving
Dignity in which it argues
that the British public supports the concept of providing sanctuary
to those fleeing persecution. An opinion poll carried out
for the Independent Asylum Commission indicated that 70 % believe
people should not be detained unless they have committed a crime
or posed a threat to society.
The Centre
for Social Justice, which is chaired by Iain Duncan Smith, MP
and former leader of the Conservative Party, has added its criticism
to Government's policy of expanding the detention estate.
A report
by the Centre's Asylum and Destitution Working Group, Asylum
Matters, published in December
2008 argues that the Britain's lack of success in persuading failed
asylum seekers to return home voluntarily is part of a broader policy
failure. It argues for a complete overhaul of the system as
current strategies are not working. It suggests more supportive
and less punitive measures are likely to be more appropriate.
"The vast majority of asylum seekers currently detained do not pose a threat to security and studies suggest there is little risk of absconding. However, the Government feels that it is in the interests of the country to detain large numbers of asylum seekers for long periods at great expense to the taxpayer, and it is currently in the process of planning an increase in the capacity of the detention estate. We think this is an unnecessary waste of money. We recommend that alternatives to detention are implemented such as bail bonds and voice recognition reporting…."
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