Home Office Refuses to End Signing at Patchway

Dear Supporters,

On Tuesday of this week, the Home Office met with representatives of Bristol Refugee Rights, Bristol Signing Support, Borderlands, local MPs' offices and the police commissioners' team. They were presented with our 1000 strong campaign petition to reduce signing frequency for migrants and bring signing back into town where people can access it more easily.

Despite this demonstration of overwhelming support the Home Office refused to end signing at Patchway. This shows an ongoing lack of respect for the people who have to travel so far to sign and a disregard for the community and civil servants who have shown a lot of concern for signers. We are outraged by this lack of accountability to the public from a government office. Sadly this reflects what we have seen in the past with regard to their decision making process on people's asylum applications.

However, the Home Office was forced to concede two things as a result of all the pressure: signing for families will be reduced to every six months, and people in education will be able to request to sign out of term time only. The Home Office has agreed to review the move to Patchway again after another three months.

For families and students, these changes will be significant. However, people who are destitute are still having to get themselves to Patchway with no money. Even those who are entitled to support with travel expenses are still having to apply for it.

People are still having to sign weekly, fortnightly or monthly at great cost to their emotional health and with no reasonable justification as to why they should have to sign so often. People are still at risk of being detained despite having committed no crime.

This is why we must continue to be organised. These two concessions happened because we were organised. We came together, people signing and their allies. We believed it was worth naming this injustice and demanding change. We organised events, petitions, speakers, trained ourselves to speak to the media and got good coverage; we tweeted and blogged on social media, getting support from across the country, and momentum grew. The Home Office was forced to defend its decision publicly and had to make some concessions. Many more people know about the signing regime as a result of this campaign. We celebrate this.

Imagine what more could happen if we were louder and stronger....

We will be reconvening soon to work out our next movements in this campaign and how we can continue to fight for justice for all migrants. If you would like to get more involved in the next stage of our campaigning please email us on asylumisnotacrime@mail.com

From all at Dignity Group

Bristol Councillors across all major political parties vote YES

Tonight, Bristol City Council voted YES to support the first aim of our campaign - to end Signing at Patchway. They will join us in putting pressure on the Home Office. 

Listen to Janet and Claire speak about the challenges for migrants to sign at Patchway.

Congratulations @DignityBristol re @BristolCouncil motion of support 4 #longwalktopatchway campaign! And thanks for bringing to my attention
— George Ferguson (@GeorgeFergusonx) December 16, 2014

Here is what the Councillors said in the debate.

Cllr Ron Stone (who presented the motion)
"It is hard enough for most of us to drive to patchway. even more difficult to work out a route that makes sense on public transport. Imagine yourself someone in this country, fear of life back home, maybe limited english, restricted financial support and legally required to sign at a police station in this city and your only option is to walk.

We claim to be a city of sanctuary. We have plaques that we have congratulated ourselves, of being supportive, of being humanitarian and understanding, yet this is a nonsense. What we should do to deserve this plaque, all of us in the council chamber tonight is to recognise the difficulty of that lady who spoke earlier, to give her 100% support. We need to lobby the Home Office and get better, more flexible, signing for people who are here trying to get legal application to become british citizens. I ask you seriously tonight to support this motion, across the political divide

Cllr Hopkins
"Last week i took opportunity to meet with the Police and Crime Commissioner to raise this matter, and we have their full support. There will be a police presence within the Lawrence hill area, it will be sufficient to allow the service to be provided from that area. We are pushing at an open door. It is also right that we get the Mayor to put energy into this matter and solve this very important problem.

Cllr Bolton
"There are times when it is difficult to understand how such crass decision are made. One can only hope the decision was an act of stupidity. If it is deliberate then it is quite a deliberate act of malice against some of the most vulnerable people in our city. Either way, it has no place in a caring city and the decision should be reversed.


Cllr Melais
"Cllr Ron clearly feels very passionate. Our group fully supports this. UK has long and honourable respectable reputation for assisting those who seek refuge on our shores. I have no intention of widening this debate in to the rights and wrong of national policy on the subject. All too often these arguments get reduced to different views over how asylum applications are handled and resolved.  As far as this resolution is concerned, as Ron explained, since 1st October of this year there is a requirement for many migrants to travel out to report at Patchway police station. I'm sure most members here will agree given our less than perfect transport system this is an unreasonable task and less than sensible arrangement. Bristol Refugee Rights website also advise us that the policy is to be reviewed in 2015. No doubt our Police and Crime Commissioner will be as interested as us in finding an alternative sensible location where the signing can take place. Of course no harm calling our Mayor to work with Sue Mountstevens and do what he can. We support the motion.

Mayor Ferguson
"I thank the petitioners and Ron for bringing this to our attention. I will absolutely work with Police and Crime Commissioner to lobby the Home Office to see if we can get a much more satisfactory arrangement.

Cllr Khan
"I know we have lots of issue around this asylum seeker. I have to mention the abuse that has been done to asylum seekers, such as introducing a van going round,and when they go to sign and they are detained for no reason, and now they have to travel to Patchway to sign. Underlining all of the good things that people do in this country, they are always on the spotlight for no reason. Again they are on the spotlight, lack of funds and physical illness are causing too much stress. I as well also ask the Mayor and Police Commissioner to do everything possible to bring a signing in the city so that these people can be left alone and abide the law and do their everyday business."

Cllr Jama
"As someone who was a former refugee and asylum seekers, and a big supporter of Bristol City of Sanctuary status, it makes me angry and galls me, that our city leaders, whether in the police or in the council, that in terms of this City of Sanctuary status, it is about celebrating this status. It is about being proactive, embedding in the actions we take, making sure that these poor vulnerable people who live in everyone of our wards, are safeguarded and not further hurt by some indirect action the border agency has taken.
I raised this issue with the Police Crime Commissioner over 3 months ago and with Senior Offices within the Council and I am really embarrassed and angry that it has come to to. We knew this was going to happen. We knew the signing was going to change from Trinity Road police station and it was going to now happen at Patchway. The asylum seeker and refugee community, with Labour party raised this issue. Why has the council and the police, with all its mights and personnel and resources not managed to be proactive about this and stop the signing changing from one location to another?

We have heard that this feels like a punishment to this community, some of these people have been persecuted in their country. They are hear looking for a safe haven. I am really disappointed in the council and in the police and I hope George Ferguson the Mayor and the Council will work with us to ensure this catastrophe is bought a very quick end and also that the learning from this, that  when decisions are made that we are know are going to impact negatively on a poor community, that we stop them before it actually happens."

Cllr Hance,
"All kinds of ghastly indignities inflicted to asylum seekers across the country. I am quite proud that in this city we have caught the, we have cross party agreement, we noticed and we are going to try and do something about it. That is quite unusual."

Everyone except the UKIP councillor voted in favour. He did not speak against it. 

Press Release -Council debate whether to support campaign and bus stop solidarity demonstration

Council debate whether to support campaign and bus stop solidarity demonstration
 

Tomorrow morning, Wednesday 17th, a group of refugees, migrants and allies will be holding a city centre bus stop solidarity protest with all people who have to report with the Home Office at Patchway.

Over 500 migrants in Bristol are required by the Home Office to sign in regularly. Until recently, people reported at Trinity Police Station. Since 1st October 2014, they have to travel to Patchway police centre, a 14 mile round trip from the centre.

Over half of the people signing are asylum seekers, having fled their country due to war or persecution. The group will be holding their protest near the bus stops by Primark, holding images of bombed out Broadmead to make the link between war and people seeking safety here in the UK.

Asylum applicants are already struggling with anxiety and depression - finding solicitors, gathering evidence, facing cultures of disbelief in the Home Office, not being allowed to work, being made destitute. Reporting at Patchway is making this situation even more unbearable. 

The protest is part of a Campaign to end signing at patchway and reduce signing frequency. The Dignity group, with the support of Bristol Refugee Rights and Bristol Defend Asylum Seekers have already collected over 800 signatures in support of their campaign goals. They will be asking more people to sign in support of dignity and freedom.

"It is all too common for people claiming asylum to have to wait years for their case to be resolved. The majority who are initially refused go on to win their leave to remain in the UK.  During this long wait, people have to keep signing every week. Each time they go, there is the chance they will be detained, taken to a detention centre and deported. Signing is a stressful experience for all, traumatic for some." said Claire, from East Bristol and Dignity member

On Tuesday evening, the council will be debating a motion tabled by Cllr Ron Stone, and will vote as to whether to lobby the Home Office to end signing at Patchway.

"I have a daughter aged 3 and she goes to school in Soundwell from 9am till 12. On my signing day, Tuesday, she misses school, because I have to be at Patchway between 10.30 and 11.30. From Easton it takes 1 hour30 minutes each way. It is not possible for me to take her to school in Soundwell, then go to Patchway and return in time to pick her up at 12. So she misses school. When I signed at Trinity Road she didn't miss school, because the journey was not so long." S, Bangladesh

The protest will take place by the bus stop from where the buses to Patchway leave to offer solidarity to those going to sign. However, not all can afford the bus. Only those in receipt of support from the Home Office are entitled to travel costs. Destitute asylum seekers either have to walk all the way or beg lifts or bus fares. Parents have to take children out of nursery, students are forced to miss college classes, disabled people find it even more difficult to travel to Patchway.

"I see no reason why people should be signing so often. Two to three days before signing you can't eat. After signing you are happy, then after 3 days you start to worry again. I feel so worried for those still signing weekly. Nothing guarantees you will sign and go back home. It is very sad. It dominates lives. We must end signing" M, West Africa and Dignity member

The Home Office have committed to a 3 month review of the decision to move signing to Patchway.

Will your councillor vote to support the campaign?

Tomorrow, Tuesday 16th December, Bristol City Council will debate whether to support our campaign to end signing at Patchway and reduce signing frequency?

Can you ask your councillor if they plan to vote in support of the campaign?

Councillor Finder

We will be outside from 5.30 - 6.15 to draw councillors attention to the campaign and to show support for people going in to speak about their experiences of signing. Do come and join us if you can.

17th December - Long Walk not to Patchway Solidarity Protest

Two to three days before signing you can't eat

Long Walk to Patchway.....Long Walk to Freedom

We had a great campaign launch night last week. 45 people came and heard people speak about their experiences of signing.

"I see no reason why people should be signing weekly. Two to three days before signing you can't eat. After signing you are happy, then after 3 days you start to worry again. I feel so worried for those still signing weekly. Nothing guarantees you will sign and go back home. It is very sad"

"Whatever we can do to stop weekly signing is good. It can kill you. You are the only one who know how you feel."

We watched a film about Oraisha, from Leeds speak about his experience of signing, detention and the asylum system. We felt sad and worried for him and many others, people can feel so overwhelmed. Yet at the same time Oraisha and many more people are speaking out and coming together.

E, from Ivory Coast, spoke about having to walk to patchway, how long the journey is, how he has been waiting months now for his support (eg a room in a hostel type accomodation and 35 quid a week) to come through but still waiting. He has to beg money from friends.

We talked together about our ideas for the campaign and ended the evening with dancing and drumming together.

Since then over 600 people have signed our online petition and we are busy organising a protest for Wednesday 17th December, 9.30 -1pm near Primark, Broadmead, opposite the bus stop where people who have to sign and have bus money, get the bus to Patchway. 

It is scary seeing them.

D's experience

I am a mother of four children and I have been signing for one year 

and a half. It often takes me two hours to get to Patchway with the 

bus. I am always worried when I go to signing. I have been detained twice before. I always think about the people at the desk, what are they going to say, what are they going to ask, what are they going to do. It is scary seeing them.

Cells at Patchway Police Station where people seeking safety in UK are detained

Join us on Thursday 27th November 6.30pm - 9pm at Kebele, 14 Robertson Road, Easton for the launch of our campaign to end signing at Patchway and reduce the frequency that people have to sign.

Long Walk To Patchway..Long Walk to Freedom

Dear friends,

We invite you to our Campaign Launch Night:

'The Long Walk to Patchway, The Long Walk to Freedom'

27th November, 6.30pm – 9.pm

Speakers      Short films     Food       Drumming      Dancing

Asylum seekers and other migrants are required to regularly report to the UK Border Agency.

Every time someone turns up to sign, there is a chance they will be detained with no warning, transported to a detention centre and deported to a country they had to flee from. For many, reporting to the UKBA is a terrifying and stressful experience.

In October, the signing location was moved from the centre to Patchway. A 14 mile round trip. Some people are having to walk as dont have the money for the bus, some have to take their children out of nursery to attend, others are missing college. Some have to make the journey every week.

UKBA have said they will review the decision at the end of December.

We are organising a month of action in December. 

UKBA must end reporting at Patchway. They must reduce signing frequency.

Come to the launch night to meet people and find out more. All proceeds from food go towards our detention legal fund.

6.30pm, 27th November

Kebele Social Centre, 14 Robertson Road, Easton

asylumisnotacrime@mail.com

building our movement to end detention