I'm running the Hackney Half Marathon to raise money for Bail for Immigration Detainees. BID provides free legal advice and representation to people held in detention.

All across the UK, from Heathrow, County Durham to South Lanarkshire there are 'Immigration Removal Centres' in which thousands of migrants are detained. Some are detained for indefinite periods, with no understanding of when they will be released. 

Some detention centres are placed nearby airports, intended to make it easier to remove people from the UK. With the recent legal changes, including the so-called 'Illegal Migration Act', the Home Office is trying to increase its capacity to detain people who are subject to immigration control. That means reopening detention centres, cramming more people in, and above all, it means more fear and confusion in our communities. 

It's worth saying there are still very limited options for people to actually be removed (to Rwanda, or other countries in Europe), so people are likely to be detained for longer.  

Research from 2023 shows that of the 15,864 people detained in 2023, 61% were ultimately bailed, meaning that in the majority of cases, the Home Office is using its powers to detain unlawfully and excessively.  

We know there is extremely limited access to legal advice in detention. The vital work that Bail for Immigration Detainees does goes some way towards addressing this. It is so important that people have access to legal advice to help them challenge their own detention. 

My fundraising target is £250: enough to keep BID's advice phone line running for a week. 

Thank you!