Understanding the current and future challenges of immigration detention

Professor Mary Bosworth of Oxford University will partner with Dr Hindpal Bhui of HM Inspectorate of Prisons to help build a mutual understanding of and shine light on sites often hidden from the world – immigration detention centres.

In this ESRC IAA funded knowledge exchange fellowship, Dr Hindpal Bhui, team leader for immigration in HM Inspectorate of Prisons (HMIP), will work with Professor Mary Bosworth and the Border Criminologies research group to help build a mutual understanding of and shine light on sites often hidden from the world – immigration detention centres.

HMIP is the lead member of the UK National Preventive Mechanism (NPM), whose role is to monitor human rights under the terms of the UN Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT).  HMIP inspect and report on conditions in custodial sites, including prisons and detention centres.

As a senior member of HMIP, Dr Bhui incorporates a long-term vision about how to deal with migration in an increasingly globalised world into his monitoring work.  With the support of academic staff of Oxford University, Dr Bhui will examine the work of inspection bodies that monitor immigration detention in other countries to improve HMIP's practice.  He will also explore the role of staff in immigration detention centres.  Together Professor Bosworth and Dr Bhui will develop a briefing paper on this issue to be delivered to other immigration professionals. 

Dr Bhui will bring with him to Border Criminologies his practical experience, which will help academics like Professor Bosworth to develop a ground-level understanding of the key issues around immigration detention.  His presence will also allow the academics to design realistic and pragmatic policy recommendations and to reinforce their impact to improve the lives of some of the world’s most vulnerable people – those kept in immigration detention centres.

Mary Bosworth is a Professor of Criminology in Faculty of Law at the University of Oxford. She is also Assistant Director of the Centre for Criminology and Director of Border Criminologies.

This project was funded by Oxford's ESRC Impact Acceleration Account.

 

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