Detention

Detention, which means to imprison people, is one of the most inhuman steps, that are taken to attack the dignity of those who are straying through Europe and search for a safe place to stay.
We will try to give an overview about the different conditions in detention centres in Europe and it should not be forgotten that even those places are sites of protests, hungerstrikes and revolts for freedom of movement: "Freedom, Azadi..."

Austria > Detention

If either a ban on further residence or deportation is issued against a person, he/she must leave Austria. If he/she does not leave Austria, he/she may be held on detention pending deportation. A person can also be held on remand to safeguard legal proceedings (for example while proving your Dublin II status), in the case of a ban of further residence or of deportation. Basically, detention pending deportation should last for as short a time as possible. But a foreigner may be held on remand for up to 10 months.

Belgium > Detention

The Blog gettingthevoiceout wants to give a voice to those who are imprisoned, abused and deported at the hands of Belgian detention centres every year. We want their voices to be heard: http://www.gettingthevoiceout.org/

Bulgaria > Detention

Under the current regulation the State Agency for Refugees, a ministerial body, is in charge of the functioning “reception centers” in Bulgaria.The detention centers on the other hand, are being managed by the Ministry of Interior.

Denmark > Detention

There is one detentation center in Denmark, it is called "Ellebæk" and it lies next to the main asylum camp, "Sandholmlejren". A detention center works like a prison and is run by the probation service in Denmark.
As an asylum seeker you can be detained without having committed a crime, for example if you are a rejected asylum seeker and they believe you will go underground or leave for another country. There is a maximum limit on 18 months of keeping people in Ellebæk. In most cases the detention period is shorter

France > Detention

As a foreigner, you must be able to present an identity document, and depending on your nationality a document proving the legality of your stay. If you do not have identity documents, police can detain you for four hours for identity verification. But the simple fact of being illegally is not a crime punishable by a prison sentence, and you can not be detained in custody just because you do not have papers.

Greece > Detention

Most of the immigrants in Greece are in prison for “illegal entry”, “illegal stay” or “illegal exit”. That means, for not having valid papers. The police then usually issues an administrative detention decision and a deportation order – even if they cannot deport most of the immigrants. Detention can endure for a few days and up to 18 months in the worst case

Latvia > Detention

Every border checkpoint on Latvia’s eastern border has detention facility, but there is one main detention centre - the Olaine Detention Camp, located 25 kilometres from Riga. This centre is in poor conditions, education and activities are limited, you can not get psychological consultations...

Lithuania > Detention

Undocumented immigrants are detained in the Foreigners’ Registration Centre (near the border of Belarus). This centre is a former military base and has two sections: one for undocumented immigrants with movements restrictions and one for asylum seekers (during their application procedure).

Netherlands > Detention

When the police arrests you, always ask for your lawyer before you talk to the police. When you are in alien detention, you will not know how long it will take. The imprisonment may be up to 18 months.

Poland > Detention

Even before it joined the EU, Poland's neighbors spent lavishly to boost the country's border controls. The country's sizable immigration detention infrastructure reflects its intended role as a gatekeeper for the region. It currently boasts 12 long-term detention centres, which have a total capacity of just under a 1,000. Observers report that these facilities are rarely at capacity.

Serbia > Detention

Under the pressure to harmonise its legislation with the EU standards, as a condition to become an EU candidate state, Serbia has passed the Law on Foreigners in 2008. This law regulates the entry, movement and residence of foreigners and largely harmonises it with the legislation of EU countries.

Spain > Detention

Guide about legal questions...

Sweden > Detention

To be taken in detention in Sweden means that you can be locked in without time limit. The decision is retried every eighth week. You have no right to leave the detention. First there is a negotiation with you and the police, this is often made directly in the detention.

Switzerland > Detention

In Switzerland, there are several possibilities to take you into prison even if you didn't do anything. They call it administrative detention. The Detention Project counts up to 32 administrative centers in Switzerland and gives you a lot of informations on it. Also you will find there some links to groups working on this matters: http://www.globaldetentionproject.org/countries/europe/switzerland/introduction.html.

Turkey > Detention

If you are travelling through Turkey and do not apply for asylum, your application has been rejected, you don’t have a current “living permit”, or you have left the city that you have been assigned to without permission the police can imprison you, if they catch you. The police also detain people for “illegal entry” and exit.

Uk > Detention

You may be held in a detention centre for different reasons, for example, the government sometimes keeps refugees in detention centres while they make a decision on their case. If this happens, it does not necessarily mean that you will be deported. If you are detained in a detention centre, you may have to stay there for a number of months. You should not be kept there if you have been been tortured, or if you are ill, you are pregnant, or you are under age.

Ukraine > Detention

Although Ukraine has seen a steady decrease in the numbers of arriving and transiting migrants in recent years, EU policymakers remain fixated on the country as a stepping stone into Europe. A case in point is the enormous sums of money Europe has spent to boost its detention capacity.

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