Working against the clock

During a one-week period in March 2006, BID researchers observed all fast track asylum appeal cases that were heard before the Asylum and Immigration Tribunal (AIT) at Harmondsworth IRC (a total of 22 cases). Fast track detainees whose cases were observed during this period were then contacted by telephone in detention and asked if they would agree to be interviewed about their experience, as were their legal representatives. As a result of this research BID identified the following areas of concern:

i) A lack of time to prepare the asylum claim and appeal
ii) Claims of torture are made but not investigated due to time constraints, risking a breach of detention policy
iii) 60% of detainees were not represented at their appeal and not told about their rights
iv) Solicitors failed to make applications to have cases taken out of fast track
v) Lack of access to bail.

Published in July 2006