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.

Read more about What can visitors do.

Searchable lists of immigration and public law solicitors, and immigration advisors

• The Immigration Law Practitioner's Association (ILPA) website has a list of members searchable by geographic area via the ‘Find immigration advice’ button on their homepage. ILPA’s list allows you to restrict your search to legal aid or free advisors, and to find advisors that can work with clients in particular languages.

• The Law Society website Find A Solicitor feature has searchable lists of members operating in England and Wales, including approved immigration legal advisors and public law specialists. See also The Law Society of Scotland and The Law Society of Northern Ireland.

• The Immigration Advice Authority, which regulates immigration advice provided by non-solicitors barristers, has a “Adviser Finder” feature on its website which allows you to search the register of accredited advisors.

• Citizens Advice may be able to help people find solicitors in some cases.

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[1] Paragraph 44 of the guidance dated 10 January 2025