Key Points for Visitors

Whilst AVID and visitor groups in the AVID network recognise the inherent flaws of these safeguards, they remain an important mechanism for visitors and people in detention to be aware of as the main safeguard in detention and, ultimately, a primary means of release. Visitors play a vital role in making people aware of these safeguards and making sure people in detention understand what to expect and what they can do, as is discussed in the next section of this chapter. It is important for visitors to be aware of these challenges when talking to people in detention about Rule 35/Rule 32 so that they can provide people in detention with an understanding of their rights, what they can expect and what to look out for. It is also important to note that the guidance that supports the Adults at Risk policy[1] recognises the role of visitors and that they may be able to identify vulnerabilities of the people they are visiting in IRCs. Where a visitor raises a concern about risk to a member of staff then this should lead to notification to the healthcare department and the detention engagement team at the IRC, i.e. the Home Office team responsible for face to face interactions with detained people.

It is also important that visitors support people in detention and work with their co-ordinator to hold the system to account.