In collaboration with ten other NGOs, Medical Justice has produced a joint briefing for parliamentarians about alarming recent changes made by the government to the Adults at Risk in Immigration Detention Statutory Guidance (AARSG) that further reduce the already inadequate protections for vulnerable people in detention.
You can download and read a copy of the briefing here
The revised AARSG was published in draft form in April, and came into effect on 21 May 2024. You can read more about the changes here and here (paywall).
Our joint briefing explains the changes in detail and highlights key concerns, including that:
- the revised AARSG is likely to result in more vulnerable individuals being detained, for longer periods or time, with an increased risk of suffering harm including human rights violations (e.g. breaches of Article 3 ECHR).
- the changes run entirely counter to the recommendations of the recent Brook House Inquiry. The Inquiry found that safeguards for vulnerable people in detention should be strengthened, not reduced.
- there were deficiencies in the Home Office’s ‘consultation’ with NGOs on the changes, including lack of necessary information being provided and too short a time-frame.
- the House of Lords’ Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has issued a critical report on the changes, following evidence submitted by Medical Justice.
The briefing is jointly badged with Bail for Immigration Detainees (BID), Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) UK, Refugee Council, Women for Refugee Women, the Helen Bamber Foundation, Detention Action, Association of Visitors to Immigration Detention (AVID), Immigration Law Practitioners’ Association (ILPA), Freedom from Torture, and Gatwick Detainees Welfare Group (GDWG).
Medical Justice plans to continue work to oppose the changes once Parliament returns following the general election.