Detaining the destitute. PAFRAS briefing paper number 2

Aims

This briefing on detention is part of a series that provides concise analyses of key policies and concerns relating to people made destitute through the asylum process.

Methodology

Policy analysis and data from interviews with people who use the Positive Action for Refugees and Asylum Seekers [PAFRAS] drop-in.

Key issues

The paper provides some figures on those in detention and describes the use of detention as a form of coercion and criminalisation. The paper also discusses issues of contracting out detention to private companies.

Conclusions

The suffering of destitute asylum seekers is further silenced by a coercive policy climate which uses destitution as a policy to remove people from the country.